www.AgencyInformation.org

Who is REAFRA, and why AgencyInformation.org?

REAFRA is "Real Estate Agents For Real Agency, Inc." We are a coalition of Massachusetts REALTORS formed to educate the public, government leaders, and other real estate agents about the anti-competitive and anti-consumer statute now being proposed by the Massachusetts Association of REALTORS (MAR).

We represent a diverse group of REALTORS, including well-respected leaders in our industry. Our coalition comprises both Seller Agents and Buyer Agents, who are very concerned about the harmful impacts such new legislation would have on consumers (both buyers and sellers) and on smaller, independent real estate offices.

Massachusetts must not legalize the concept that real estate agencies may try to "serve two masters" in the same transaction, going against centuries of common law. After two years of major scandals in the financial services sector, our industry should not be allowed to introduce "Designated Agency" with similar fiduciary based conflicts of interest.

Just as lawyers are not allowed to represent both sides of a lawsuit, real estate agencies should not be allowed to claim to seek both a higher price for a seller, and a lower price for a buyer in the same transaction.

For the past decade, the National Association of REALTORS has been pushing the introduction of designated agency into our industry. Over this period of time in Massachusetts, there has been no consumer demand for this deceptive practice and no court cases involving our current legal agency options. Only a few very large real estate companies are really seeking this change, as a convenience for their own expansion plans.

In 1997, our legislature turned down a previous attempt to introduce this deceptive practice in Massachusetts (H# 2465). New Hampshire and Wisconsin legislatures have also followed suit.

We hope you will review the resources, information and links on our web site. We firmly believe that MAR's legislative proposal will again be defeated once our legislative representatives, real estate agents and the public understand the full implications of this proposed MAJOR change in the way we serve consumers.