Comments:

From: fmking@marisnet.com [mailto:fmking@marisnet.com]
Sent: Thursday, November 03, 2005 4:49 PM
To: ATR-Real Estate Workshop
Subject: "Competition and the Real Estate Workshop" -- Comment, Project
No. V050015

Antitrust Division
U.S. Department of Justice
Liberty Place, Suite 300
Attention: Lee Quinn
325 7th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20530

To whom it may concern,

The real estate industry is a model of competition that works. In an economy in which large, national corporations -- such as Wal-Mart and Microsoft -- dominate the marketplace, real estate stands apart. We are an industry made up predominantly of small businesses and independent contractors who represent the entrepreneurial spirit this country was founded on.
All of us serve localized markets where we compete for business every day. Fierce competition is fueled largely by the uniquely intense and personalized nature of the service we provide to our clients -- which, in turn, determines our future success through referrals and return business.
Barriers to entry are low. If you are willing to take the time to learn the business in your local market, pass the state license examination and adhere to the REALTOR® code of ethics, there is nothing to stand in the way of success in this industry. I had to learn the business and pass the state licensing examination, but it is my own work ethic, commitment to professional standards and dedication to client satisfaction that determine my success.
Even through the economic downturns our country has experienced in the past few years, our industry has continued to provide opportunity -- something I would say is confirmed by the thousands of new agents that join our profession every year and the over 2 million Americans who are now licensed to provide professional real estate services in communities across the country.
Nothing encourages a competitive business environment more than providing consumers with choice. In the residential real estate marketplace, consumers not only are able to choose from more than 76,000 brokerage firms and more than 1.2 million REALTORS®, but also from a variety of business models. In my personal experience, I understand that my license is granted to protect the general public, whether they are my clients or customers. I always approach the business with their best interest in mind. I know my clients feel that they have an advocate for their interests in the real estate transaction! My business could not and would not survive if I didn?t work this way everyday! I also understand that if I failed to do so, my competitors would provide the service and take my business.

Mark King GRI
Mailto:fmking@marisnet.com
Heritage Realty
Office: 636-239-6941
Cell: 636-358-3526
Selling Missouri Wine Country