The National Association of Realtors, the regulator of the real estate industry, intends to limit the ability of online operators to show information about homes for sale.

The new regulation would affect the systems called multiple-listing services (MLS) that display houses available for sale in a certain location. The rule suggests that brokerages that are members of an MLS would have the right to forbid other members of the system from putting information about the homes belonging to the clients of this firm. There is even a provision that allows the firm to pick those who will be allowed to list their homes, while permitting other competitors to place their information.

The rule may be an attempt by the industry group to counteract discounters. On the surge in housing prices, the average commission has dropped to 5.1% from 6% in the early 1990s, according to Real Trends publication. The move comes at the request of two most important members of the industry, Cendant Corp. and Coldwell Banker brands.

The decision is opposed by the newer firms that use websites as a primary vehicle of search for clients. These newer upstarts are charging a lower commission, typically 3% to 4%, as opposed to 5-6% charged by a traditional brokerage that has established local relationships. Now the value of these links is dwindled by the advent of online search facilities that make access to local databases easier.