Clareity Consulting and RIS Media will be putting on their ShootOut '99 at the National Asssociation of REALTORS® midyear conference in Washington D.C.

Last year's D.C. ShootOut focuses on how home listings are the victims of a tug-of-war between the listing services, large online MLS databases, Realtors, and of course, consumers.

Gregg Larson, co-founder of Clareity Consulting, and a seasoned MLS industry veteran will discuss this year why he thinks free MLS service is inevitable and may happen sooner than expected.

A written report on the subject of Free MLS and an explanation of this new economic model will be distributed to all Shoot-Out attendees.

Jay Huffman and Dale Ross, CEOs of the nation's two largest Multiple Listing Services, and executives from one or more leading MLS vendors will share their perspectives and differences regarding Larson's latest prediction.

A panel of industry experts will discuss the latest phenomenon, real estate Internet auctions. Most real estate is sold by auction in Australia today. Is this trend from 'down under' going straight online in the US? Will it sweep our industry and radically change the way real estate is sold, or will it take years to catch on? How does the online auction work and how will the broker's, agent's, and service provider's role change? Will both sides of the commission be protected? Will consumers adopt the e-auction sale of real estate as they have for simpler transactions as seen in the phenomenal success of e-Bay, OnSale, and uBid? Doesn't everyone want to sell their home quickly with less fuss? Are industry professionals prepared to embrace this change or do they fear it?

The panel will include speakers from Clareity Consulting, Internet real estate and e-commerce leaders, Realtor.com, Yahoo! and online auction pioneers. Tom Stevens, owner of Coldwell Banker Stevens, and Bruce Benham, VP of Technology at RE/MAX International will share their thoughts on the future of online real estate auctions.

Jim Sherry, CEO of Innovative Solutions and former CEO of Interealty Corp, will moderate a panel that examines the Online Mortgage Explosion.

Questions to be addressed include whether this is the year that demand for online mortgages goes vertical. Will E-Loan and HomeShark have successful IPOs this year? Is it true that Intuit or Microsoft might become online lenders, leverage their huge cash reserves, and challenge Norwest and Countrywide in Cyberspace loan origination? The pioneer online lenders and loan brokers have proven they can thrive in an era of low interest rates and plentiful A-grade refinancing. Will they suffer or thrive if rates go up? Will they develop products and services for B or C borrowers? What are the plans for this category and how will its success affect agents and brokers? Will the agent finally lose first touch with the homebuyer and end up paying referral fees to the online lenders?

The panel will include speakers from leading online loan brokers and lenders. Companies such as Microsoft, Intuit, Countrywide, HomeShark, and newcomer Priceline.com have been invited to participate.

For more information about the ShootOut, you can visit Clareity's site .