Hi --

"Creative" raises a number of thoughtful ideas regarding unions, agents, and where the industry is going.

However, the conclusion that in a few years agents will be vastly more independent seems unlikely to me.

The agents who now operate on a 100 percent system tend to be top producers with extensive experience -- a description which does not apply to most licensees (there are 2.2 million licensees nationwide).

Also, listing are contracts between brokers and consumers, not agents and consumers. Given this reality, there is only so far that salespeople and associate brokers (or their local equivalents) can go.

An alternative scenario looks like this: With brokerage costs rising and profit margins falling, fewer firms will survive. Those who do remain will do a higher volume of business per agent. And brokers will still control all listings.

All the best.

Peter G. Miller