Realtors Take the Stress Out Of Home-Buying

Regarding your Nov. 1 editorial “A Big Legal Defeat for the Realtors”: You imply that, since a federal jury found the National Association of Realtors liable, your stance has been validated. But the large increase in home prices over the past few years has made 5% or 6% commissions seem much larger. This is what really bothers home buyers. They see the closing statement and think that the realtor is making too much money. But even with these commissions, the housing market in the U.S. is much larger and more robust than in many other countries and financing a home purchase is much easier here.

Technology has allowed airlines and hotels to make booking online very easy and online brokerage companies have also all but eliminated the need for a personal stockbroker for individual retail investors. But these transactions require only a credit card and a click. They are made at a fixed price and do not require an inspection, appraisal, credit report, prequalification letter from a lender, nor, most importantly, a tour of the property by a potential purchaser that helps him decide whether or not he is interested in buying it.