Nation's Largest Residential Brokerage Group Advises Members To Stop Flying Aircraft, Using Existing Video

The nation's largest residential real estate brokerage group has advised its members not only to stop flying UAVs to get video and aerial images of their listings ... but also to stop using images and video they have already obtained, even from outside sources.

Forbes reports that the company, NRT, sent out the advisory in light of what its lawyers described the FAA's "aggressive stance regarding the use of drones specifically for real estate marketing purposes."

NRT owns and operates real estate brokerages in 40 of the 100 largest metropolitan areas of the country, according to Forbes. Among them is Coldwell Banker Preferred. The warning came in the form of a letter from Coldwell Banker Preferred attorneys Bob McCauley and Mark Daaleman on NRT letterhead. In the letter, the attorneys wrote that its agents should not use UAVs to make videos of their listings, nor would it allow any use of video made using a UAV in the marketing of properties. The ban on all aerial video extends to that which may have been captured by a homeowner using a personal aircraft ... which would be allowed under the vague FAA rules.

While the FAA prohibits the "commercial" use of the aircraft, it does not restrict the use of images captured by by UAVs.

(Image from file)

FMI: NRT Letter, www.faa.gov