The San Francisco Association of Realtors and our local MLS are FINALLY getting in touch with reality. That reality being, sharing a listing on Facebook and Twitter should not mean having to go to yet another third party to make it easy.

Listings can now be posted on Facebook and Twitter directly from SFARMLS. The icons for Facebook and Twitter are displayed in the Links section of the Listing Detail page just beneath the listing’s photos. Please note that only listing agents will be able to view and use the social media links for their own listings. Users can click the Facebook and Twitter icons to be taken to the corresponding social media site. If they are already logged into Facebook or Twitter on their computer, they will be automatically redirected to the post editor. If they are not logged in, the site will ask for the user’s credentials. Once they are on the site, they will redirect to the post editor. A public link to the listing, as well as basic information on the property, will show on the user’s Facebook or Twitter page with any agent comments.

All it took for them to get on board was a multi billion dollar IPO. Still trying to hold on to a sliver of control however, “Please note that only listing agents will be able to view and use the social media links for their own listings.” Isn’t the whole point of social media to get more exposure?

Why wouldn’t I want other agents to share my listings on their Facebook profiles? All they have to do is grab the link and they can share it that way anyway. In fact, why wouldn’t MLS want a Facebook or Twitter icon to go on every listing page, so anyone anywhere can share that listing with someone else? Why bother with the “only with their own listings” bull shit? Just let it go man!