With hosting accounts Wordpress should be free.

For that fee, there must be more than just the "Wordpress blogging platform

Where are you getting this price for $100 or $300/year?

Hi Jenna. WordPress is the right plateform for any real estate agent. I run a weekly podcast thats all about WordPress which has advice that usesful for beginners to experts. I'm sure you get some great tips and tricks by listing to the show. http://www.wp-tonic.com/

I be more then happy to give you some addtional advice just email me on jonathan@mail-right.com

What is the $99 or $299 per year fee for?  Is that for the IDX?

Wordpress.org is what you should be using.  Wordpress is in fact free, but costs money to run: 1) monthly hosting fees, 2) paying web designer (could be 1 time fee) and sometimes 3) sometimes paying for theme, 4) paying yearly fee for domain.

1) hosting - I am currently paying $15/month = $180/yr.  You can have multiple domains for same amt.

2) this is your variable cost.  Could be $300-$1500 but that is a guess - varies based on what needs to get done and how expensive the place you use is.

3) theme - minimal (one time) - usually around $30-$50.  There may be some others that may be $100-$200.

4) domain cost - maybe $10-20 per year

IDX may cost you additional and I can't give you an opinion on that.  BUT, it's important that you do this on wordpress.org and have your own domain name.  Otherwise, you are probably wasting your time (plus your money...but we are not talking about a lot of money here.

I like wordpress as you can add plugins.  I blog and post my listing plus buyer/seller have to register on my website.

I used Active Rain and a Wordpress Blog with IDX Jenna.

I use worpress myself but I don't use it that much.

Great question and will subscibe to the answers.

ActiveRain is the best by far and cheaper and gives you SEO, training, social media types etc etc.  There is no comparison.  Why would you spen $300 a year for an inferior product?