Thanks for the info, powayseller, and I will take a look to see if I can find that realtor. I just find it strange that the prices for such a highly valued asset such as real estate are more or less secret. Stocks, bonds, gas, etc., all have benchmark prices that are based on open market transactions. One might say that home prices are also based on the open market. But is this true if potential buyers are being provided with only a portion of the available market, a portion that biased realtors want them to see?

Who would support or fund this? I would. It could easily be included as a public tax of some sort. Now, I personally hate taxes. But if it means I will pay the true market value for my home, rather than a smoke-and-mirror price, I think it would be worth it. The devil’s advocate will add that taxing everyone for this type of service is not democratic or fair because not everyone owns a home or existing homeowners don’t need it. But don’t we do this for freeways or other roads?

I know there are ethical realtors out there who will give me the straight scoop. Unfortunately, it’s hard for me to just “trust” this notion because, well, I guess I am just too skeptical a buyer. I would feel a lot more at ease if prices were based on a transparent, open market.