While they are looking at this flawed system of housing sales, perhaps taking a look at the way real estate agents are paid for a transaction would be useful.  How is the current percentage of sale a reasonable way to recompense an agent?  This further pushes the price of housing as agents set up bidding wars to increase the price of homes and line their pockets!  It's true that the seller benefits to some degree, but the commissions that agents make on sales are obscene!