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Consider These Top Flat Fee MLS Companies in Iowa and Sell Your Home without Getting Ripped Off

When it comes to selling your home the “For Sale by Owner” (FSBO) approach in Iowa, a flat fee MLS business will be much more useful and will help you reach a bigger audience of eligible local buyers without burning a hole in your wallet. Buyer’s agents utilize the MLS to find houses for their clients.

The MLS also distributes data to several local real estate websites, such as Houzeo, Redfin, and Zillow, to mention a few. Registering your FSBO property on the MLS is critical because it puts your FSBO property in front of as many potential purchasers as possible.

You cannot, however, upload your property to the MLS on your own. The MLS is accessible only to licensed brokers and agents. Flat fee MLS providers provide a low-cost option.

These flat fee MLS providers charge a comparably low one-time cost to advertise your FSBO house on the MLS portal. This means you receive greater exposure without having to pay the standard total commission of 6% charged by real estate agents to sell your house.

How Do You Go About To Choosing The Apt Flat Fee MLS Company in Iowa?

If you are selling without the assistance of a broker, it is vital that you select the best flat-fee MLS Company for your purposes. They are not all alike. Some are all about cost savings, while others offer extra help to sell your FSBO house – either built-in or a la carte.

What’s The Process Of Getting Started With A Flat Fee MLS Company?

The first step is to choose from the list of flat fee MLS Iowa companies. Evaluate the services offered versus the price point and see if it suits your taste. After collecting all of the necessary information about your home, the fixed cost listing agent will publish your property on the flat fee MLS Virginia and other real estate websites. As a result, buyer agents will be able to examine your home on the MLS and promote it to potential purchasers.

Are You Still Liable To Pay Buyers’ Commission?

Think of it this way…

Flat Fee MLS companies cut you some slack by helping you save some bucks when it comes to paying a listing agent’s commission which is about 2.50 – 3.90 % of the sale price.

For your benefit, it is beneficial if you pay a buyer’s agent commission as it will be a motivation to real estate agents to give preference to you as opposed to your competitors when it comes to footfalls.

It is entirely up to you how much you pay a buyer’s agent, although typical selling agency commissions in Iowa range between 2.50 and 3.30 %.

What Are The Types Of Fees You Can Expect When Hiring A Flat Fee MLS Company?

When working with a Flat Fee MLS listing business in Iowa, you should be aware of two expenses.

Upfront Fees: This is the amount you’ll have to pay to be listed on the MLS, which can range between $300 and $500.

Closing Fees: Unless you purchase extra services such as a “Contract to Close Consulting Package” or pick one of the high-service plans, there is usually no cost at closing for a Flat-Fee MLS listing agent in Iowa.

Other (Hidden) Fees: Many deceitful agents may entice you with a $99 listing. Buyers beware: this is only the beginning. If you have to spend an extra $500 or more on hidden charges, you’ll be upset. For a $50 yard sign, you will be charged $135. Some brokers will charge you hidden fees at closing that you will not be aware of until you are ready to close. At that time, it’s far too late to do anything.

If you’re wondering which company is right for you and which one should you lockdown on…

Don’t worry!

We’ve already scavenged the market and scooped the best ones for you listed below. Consider working with any of these flat fee MLS Iowa companies if you want to make the process of selling your home hassle-free.

Houzeo

Houzeo is one of the most reputed Flat fee MLS listing companies in Iowa, providing quick listings and assuring a smooth process when it comes to selling your house.

Within no time (almost in a few minutes), your listings get submitted and are live within one business day. Sellers might save up to $15,000 by using a listing agent that does not take a commission.

With state-of-the-art technology, sellers are able to wrap up all of their paperwork online, set up open houses, and make adjustments to their listings. Documentation is the most important factor for sellers that utilize for sale by owner websites. Where seller disclosures are concerned, Houzeo’s brokers have made it an easy-peasy affair as everything is streamlined and done online.

As a seller, you are in control of everything— from end to end of the selling process. You also have the flexibility of customizing your chosen package while keeping expenses under control.

The various packages offered by Houzeo are:

Bronze: Priced at $249, the bronze package features a three-month flat-fee MLS listing. Sellers can include up to six images in their listing. Because Houzeo also lists on Zillow, Trulia, and hundreds of other comparable platforms, your property’s visibility will skyrocket. You also have the liberty of canceling at any moment with an additional cost of $25.

Silver: With a price tag of $299, the silver package provides a 6-month listing with 24 photos that is synced with most of the leading MLS websites. You have the liberty to make as many changes as you possibly can with this package.

Gold: With a price tag of $399, this subscription gives you the freedom to post an unlimited amount of photographs, make unlimited listing changes, and cancel them at any time. It also makes it easier to submit federal and state disclosures. It also helps with the administration of showings, as well as the analysis and comparison of offers.

Platinum: With this option, your house will be listed for a year for $449. Aside from the Gold package’s features, this one offers virtual full-service with a trained broker who will aid with price and contract review.

Finally, everything is in the open and Houzeo assures no surprises and hidden fees. You can checkout Houzeo reviews for the same.

Fizber

Fizber offers three different packages ranging in price from $95 to $395. All three packages include an Open House Manager who will assist you with open house scheduling. Only if you purchase the Digital Boost Package (worth $95) will your house be listed on Redfin and Fizber. As a consequence, your house will get very little attention.

The MLS Boost and Premium MLS Boost packages are $295 and $395, respectively. Your house will be posted on local MLSs as well as a variety of listing websites. The sole distinction between these systems is the number of photographs that may be submitted. This number varies between 6 and 25. Both packages have a 6-month listing term.

Choose the MLS Boost or Premium MLS Boost packages to gain maximum exposure. The number of images allowed with the MLS Boost Package, on the other hand, is rather limited. If you submit at least 10 images, many other companies charge the same fee. Fizber does not offer internet brokers, thus you will have limited options. It takes roughly 4 days to list your property on the MLS. They also do not provide a money-back guarantee if they are unable to assist you in selling your house.

Flat Fee Group

Flat Fee Group is a Flat Fee MLS listing platform that links you with local brokers across the United States; however, they are lacking in technology, hence the majority of their property selling process is manual, and thus time-consuming and sluggish.

The bundles are rather expensive when compared to the other organizations on the list. The standard package costs $399, plus a 3.5 % closing charge. They have two full-service packages available for $799 and $1395. In each of these packages, you must pay an extra 3 – 3.5 % at closing.

Apart from that, you are liable to pay $20 in shipping charges during the purchase process. CSS – highlighting service and feedback, realtor-sized sign with frame, and Market Analysis is not included in their base package (CMA).

If you pick Houzeo’s Virtual Full-Service Package, you will only pay $399 + 0.75 % at closing, regardless of the value of your home, thus you will practically get all of the services of an agent for a much lower price!

Flat Fee Realty

Flat Fee Realty is an excellent option if you want a low-cost plan, but there are certain things you should know before listing with them. Before you pick any firm, you need at least to have a basic understanding of how to sell a house by owner so that you understand the fundamental requirements that the company requires.

Only the major MLS websites in Iowa are covered by the listing service. They only provide a Flat Fee MLS Iowa listing package priced at $199 and give you the liberty of uploading only 6 photographs to. If you want to upload more photos then you have to pay an additional $50.

While their package is very rigid and they only provide a single MLS Iowa package, there are no à la carte choices to pick from. In a nutshell, you’re left with the option of selling your property with that one and only package they have to offer which may not always be what you desire.

FSBO

FSBO (For Sale by Owner) is an Iowa Flat Fee MLS listing service that allows you to market your house for as little as $99. Their base package, on the other hand, is exclusively accessible through their website. If you want total MLS coverage in Iowa, the $399 membership is the way to go.

The most significant advantage of FSBO is its low cost, with no hidden costs. It does, however, have significant drawbacks. They do not provide the bulk of à la carte services, such as a professional photographer or a real estate attorney.

A yard sign, open house posts, leaflets, and other FSBO-related items are priced individually because they were not included in the whole package or available on an à la carte basis. In addition, for services not specified on the website, the listing broker charges an extra 0.5 % at closing.

Pro Metro Realty

Pro Metro Realty is an Iowa Flat Fee MLS listing company that offers a fantastic package, but their package – priced at $2,495 – is one of the most costly we’ve seen.

They do provide free market analysis research that may assist you in appropriately pricing your property, as well as a no-obligation consultation that can be very valuable to first-time home sellers. Even after paying such a high amount, they want extra expenses for filming, aerial photography, and even house staging.

Moreover, they have not specified how long your house would be shown on the MLS or how many photographs may be uploaded. As a consequence, you can get a surprise!

I Sold My House

I Sold My House is a flat-fee MLS listing service in Iowa, with flat-fee packages ranging from $299 to $399. With their packages, you may schedule open houses without incurring any additional costs.

One of the most beneficial features is that they transmit all buyer leads straight to you, the home seller. You may also pay $50 per month to have your property highlighted on their site and sidebar, increasing visibility for your house and perhaps resulting in a quick sale. There are also no additional charges for scheduling an open house.

These packages are quite rigid and do not allow for much flexibility, and there are few à la carte possibilities.

Conclusion

Some companies claim flat-rate MLS services but then impose “hidden” fees after the sale. We’ve even heard of organizations claiming to offer a “free” MLS listing only to charge you a percentage of the sale price after closing.

When you expect to pay only a few hundred dollars, these deceptive activities may cost you thousands.

Before joining up for any service, always read the fine print. Aside from the first flat price, keep a watch out for “closing costs” or “admin fees” that you’ll owe the broker.

In addition, some flat-fee MLS businesses incorporate a la carte services including photographs, paperwork assistance, and signs. Be cautious while using these services to save time on DIY tasks. These extras might rapidly add up!

It’s always good to be prepared than to be caught off guard by unexpected costs.

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Google’s Search Dominance Is Unwinding, But Still Accounting 48% Search Revenue

Google is so closely associated with its key product that its name is a verb that signifies “search.” However, Google’s dominance in that sector is dwindling.

According to eMarketer, Google will lose control of the US search industry for the first time in decades next year.

Google will remain the dominant search player, accounting for 48% of American search advertising revenue. And, remarkably, Google is still increasing its sales in the field, despite being the dominating player in search since the early days of the George W. Bush administration. However, Amazon is growing at a quicker rate.

Google’s Search Dominance Is Unwinding

Amazon will hold over a quarter of US search ad dollars next year, rising to 27% by 2026, while Google will fall even more, according to eMarketer.

The Wall Street Journal was first to report on the forecast.

Lest you think you’ll have to switch to Bing or Yahoo, this isn’t the end of Google or anything really near.

Google is the fourth-most valued public firm in the world. Its market worth is $2.1 trillion, trailing just Apple, Microsoft, and the AI chip darling Nvidia. It also maintains its dominance in other industries, such as display advertisements, where it dominates alongside Facebook’s parent firm Meta, and video ads on YouTube.

To put those “other” firms in context, each is worth more than Delta Air Lines’ total market value. So, yeah, Google is not going anywhere.

Nonetheless, Google faces numerous dangers to its operations, particularly from antitrust regulators.

On Monday, a federal judge in San Francisco ruled that Google must open up its Google Play Store to competitors, dealing a significant blow to the firm in its long-running battle with Fortnite creator Epic Games. Google announced that it would appeal the verdict.

In August, a federal judge ruled that Google has an illegal monopoly on search. That verdict could lead to the dissolution of the company’s search operation. Another antitrust lawsuit filed last month accuses Google of abusing its dominance in the online advertising business.

Meanwhile, European regulators have compelled Google to follow tough new standards, which have resulted in multiple $1 billion-plus fines.

Pixa Bay

Google’s Search Dominance Is Unwinding

On top of that, the marketplace is becoming more difficult on its own.

TikTok, the fastest-growing social network, is expanding into the search market. And Amazon has accomplished something few other digital titans have done to date: it has established a habit.

When you want to buy anything, you usually go to Amazon, not Google. Amazon then buys adverts to push companies’ products to the top of your search results, increasing sales and earning Amazon a greater portion of the revenue. According to eMarketer, it is expected to generate $27.8 billion in search revenue in the United States next year, trailing only Google’s $62.9 billion total.

And then there’s AI, the technology that (supposedly) will change everything.

Why search in stilted language for “kendall jenner why bad bunny breakup” or “police moving violation driver rights no stop sign” when you can just ask OpenAI’s ChatGPT, “What’s going on with Kendall Jenner and Bad Bunny?” in “I need help fighting a moving violation involving a stop sign that wasn’t visible.” Google is working on exactly this technology with its Gemini product, but its success is far from guaranteed, especially with Apple collaborating with OpenAI and other businesses rapidly joining the market.

A Google spokeswoman referred to a blog post from last week in which the company unveiled ads in its AI overviews (the AI-generated text that appears at the top of search results). It’s Google’s way of expressing its ability to profit on a changing marketplace while retaining its business, even as its consumers steadily transition to ask-and-answer AI and away from search.

google

Google has long used a single catchphrase to defend itself against opponents who claim it is a monopoly abusing its power: competition is only a click away. Until recently, that seemed comically obtuse. Really? We are going to switch to Bing? Or Duck Duck Go? Give me a break.

But today, it feels more like reality.

Google is in no danger of disappearing. However, every highly dominating company faces some type of reckoning over time. GE, a Dow mainstay for more than a century, was broken up last year and is now a shell of its previous dominance. Sears declared bankruptcy in 2022 and is virtually out of business. US Steel, long the foundation of American manufacturing, is attempting to sell itself to a Japanese corporation.

Could we remember Google in the same way that we remember Yahoo or Ask Jeeves in decades? These next few years could be significant.

SOURCE | CNN

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The Supreme Court Turns Down Biden’s Government Appeal in a Texas Emergency Abortion Matter.

(VOR News) – A ruling that prohibits emergency abortions that contravene the Supreme Court law in the state of Texas, which has one of the most stringent abortion restrictions in the country, has been upheld by the Supreme Court of the United States. The United States Supreme Court upheld this decision.

The justices did not provide any specifics regarding the underlying reasons for their decision to uphold an order from a lower court that declared hospitals cannot be legally obligated to administer abortions if doing so would violate the law in the state of Texas.

Institutions are not required to perform abortions, as stipulated in the decree. The common populace did not investigate any opposing viewpoints. The decision was made just weeks before a presidential election that brought abortion to the forefront of the political agenda.

This decision follows the 2022 Supreme Court ruling that ended abortion nationwide.

In response to a request from the administration of Vice President Joe Biden to overturn the lower court’s decision, the justices expressed their disapproval.

The government contends that hospitals are obligated to perform abortions in compliance with federal legislation when the health or life of an expectant patient is in an exceedingly precarious condition.

This is the case in regions where the procedure is prohibited. The difficulty hospitals in Texas and other states are experiencing in determining whether or not routine care could be in violation of stringent state laws that prohibit abortion has resulted in an increase in the number of complaints concerning pregnant women who are experiencing medical distress being turned away from emergency rooms.

The administration cited the Supreme Court’s ruling in a case that bore a striking resemblance to the one that was presented to it in Idaho at the beginning of the year. The justices took a limited decision in that case to allow the continuation of emergency abortions without interruption while a lawsuit was still being heard.

In contrast, Texas has been a vocal proponent of the injunction’s continued enforcement. Texas has argued that its circumstances are distinct from those of Idaho, as the state does have an exemption for situations that pose a significant hazard to the health of an expectant patient.

According to the state, the discrepancy is the result of this exemption. The state of Idaho had a provision that safeguarded a woman’s life when the issue was first broached; however, it did not include protection for her health.

Certified medical practitioners are not obligated to wait until a woman’s life is in imminent peril before they are legally permitted to perform an abortion, as determined by the state supreme court.

The state of Texas highlighted this to the Supreme Court.

Nevertheless, medical professionals have criticized the Texas statute as being perilously ambiguous, and a medical board has declined to provide a list of all the disorders that are eligible for an exception. Furthermore, the statute has been criticized for its hazardous ambiguity.

For an extended period, termination of pregnancies has been a standard procedure in medical treatment for individuals who have been experiencing significant issues. It is implemented in this manner to prevent catastrophic outcomes, such as sepsis, organ failure, and other severe scenarios.

Nevertheless, medical professionals and hospitals in Texas and other states with strict abortion laws have noted that it is uncertain whether or not these terminations could be in violation of abortion prohibitions that include the possibility of a prison sentence. This is the case in regions where abortion prohibitions are exceedingly restrictive.

Following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, which resulted in restrictions on the rights of women to have abortions in several Republican-ruled states, the Texas case was revisited in 2022.

As per the orders that were disclosed by the administration of Vice President Joe Biden, hospitals are still required to provide abortions in cases that are classified as dire emergency.

As stipulated in a piece of health care legislation, the majority of hospitals are obligated to provide medical assistance to patients who are experiencing medical distress. This is in accordance with the law.

The state of Texas maintained that hospitals should not be obligated to provide abortions throughout the litigation, as doing so would violate the state’s constitutional prohibition on abortions. In its January judgment, the 5th United States Circuit Court of Appeals concurred with the state and acknowledged that the administration had exceeded its authority.

SOURCE: AP

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Supreme Court Rejects Appeal From ‘Pharma Bro’ Martin Shkreli, To repay $6.4 Million

Washington — The Supreme Court rejected Martin Shkreli’s appeal on Monday, after he was branded “Pharma Bro” for raising the price of a lifesaving prescription.

Martin appealed a decision to repay $64.6 million in profits he and his former company earned after monopolizing the pharmaceutical market and dramatically raising its price. His lawyers claimed the money went to his company rather than him personally.

The justices did not explain their reasoning, as is customary, and there were no notable dissents.

Prosecutors, conversely, claimed that the firm had promised to pay $40 million in a settlement and that because Martin orchestrated the plan, he should be held accountable for returning profits.

Supreme Court Rejects Appeal From ‘Pharma Bro’ Martin Shkreli

Martin was also forced to forfeit the Wu-Tang Clan’s unreleased album “Once Upon a Time in Shaolin,” which has been dubbed the world’s rarest musical album. The multiplatinum hip-hop group auctioned off a single copy of the record in 2015, stipulating that it not be used commercially.

Shkreli was convicted of lying to investors and defrauding them of millions of dollars in two unsuccessful hedge funds he managed. Shkreli was the CEO of Turing Pharmaceuticals (later Vyera), which hiked the price of Daraprim from $13.50 to $750 per pill after acquiring exclusive rights to the decades-old medicine in 2015. It cures a rare parasite condition that affects pregnant women, cancer patients, and HIV patients.

shkreli

He defended the choice as an example of capitalism in action, claiming that insurance and other programs ensured that those in need of Daraprim would eventually receive it. However, the move prompted criticism, from the medical community to Congress.

Supreme Court Rejects Appeal From ‘Pharma Bro’ Martin Shkreli

Attorney Thomas Huff said the Supreme Court’s Monday ruling was upsetting, but the high court could still overturn a lower court judgment that allowed the $64 million penalty order even though Shkreli had not personally received the money.

“If and when the Supreme Court does so, Mr. Shkreli will have a strong argument for modifying the order accordingly,” he told reporters.

Shkreli was freed from prison in 2022 after serving most of his seven-year sentence.

SOURCE | AP