Next week I will be speaking to the NAR Strategic Planning Committee in Washington DC. The committee consists of all of the NAR top brass and other influential leaders. I am putting together my presentation this weekend and I want to reach out to our membership to see what types of things you would like addressed with our leadership.
Please think big. My sole focus in going to Washington DC is to speak on behalf of our members and I am not afraid to be bold.
To learn more about the NAR's current Strategic Plan click here: http://www.realtor.org/research/research/strategicplanning
Lobby Congress for home owner relief from negative equity.
Lobby State lsgislators for higher entry standards for licsnsure.
Jonathan, I would love to see it require more than writing a check to become a REALTOR(R). Maybe some meaningful classroom hours. How about a test on professional standards.
Last month I went down to our local board to take the every 4 years ethics class. There were about 20 of us in the class. Anyway the lady came in and plug in a DVD and told us we could sleep, work on our computers or whatever we wanted to do as long as we didn't leave until the DVD ran out. We were there for about 3 hours then we grabbed our certificates stating we were "ethical" and we were good to go for another 4 years. It was not only a joke but it was embarrassing to have been a part of it.
Being a REALTOR(R) means nothing.
WOW Jonathan, Congratulations!! Can't wait to hear your update on this...
1) Develop some kind of uniformity/standardization among all the MLS groups as far as listing input is concerned.
2) Make the cost of utilizing Realtor.com more affordable, with greater benefits to membership.
Better standards for what it takes to be a broker. Part of fixing and expanding realtor consumer relations is getting the trust factor back. The internet allowed for many fraudulent activities that put a bad reputation on the whole industry.
Lobby for healthcare as they did two years ago.
I agree with Lenn...there isn't much else they are good for.
Wow! 20 minutes since I posted this and I am already blown away.
I am not going to reply (too much) to the comments because I do not want to steer the discussion, or stifle it.
This is about what you want. Times are challenging right now, this is when we need strong leadership from the NAR the most.
Hi Jonathan,
The National Association of Realtors and Realtor.com have a huge amount of information on listings all across the country already in the system.
All our members should have access to more information with a special login so Realtors have more info than the general public.
All the best!
Let's be sure we understand something before we start dishing how how to make it better.
NAR does not issue real estate licenses, establish educational standards for states, or any of those things related to licensure.
NAR is a trade organization who advocated for the benefit of their members.
"NAR Strategic Plan at a Glance
Vision
The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® is the business and public policy advocate for its members and the consumers they serve.
The Strategic Initiatives
1. Strengthen the relationship between REALTORS® and consumers
2. Be the most comprehensive source of real estate information
3. Increase the professionalism of REALTORS®
4. Position the REALTOR® as the most valuable provider of real estate services
5. Strengthen the relationships between the REALTOR® Organization and REALTORS®
They can wake up and smell the coffee. NAR needs to become more consumer oriented in their public announcements. Their figures last year quoted over 5 miilion units, and in reality it was 4.5 million. The public is getting tired of "It's a great time to buy!"
Also, as far as the lobbying for DPA, there are many that know that they are a big time loser. NAR does nto speak for all its members. They cannot keep lobbying for Nehimiah DPA when historically we are coming in at over three times the default rate of normal borrowers.
Please ask them to raise the standards to be a REALTOR.
We have raised the standards of the entire profession, but our membership isn't getting much of a benefit from that work. They could require every member to have at least one R Designation within a certain time period.
Change the annual billing to Summer. For most agents in a northern climate, winter is the lest financially flush time of the year. And we have taxes, holidays and other expenses that seem to pile up in January.
National also needs to start thinking about changing the focus of the media campaigns to refocus buyers to local markets. No more Blanket Statements!
More integration of rank & file members in policy decisions. There is an entrenched bureacracy that permeates our Association, local, state, national. And entrenchment necessarily does not encourage new ideas or change.
There is more, but the national things have to be kept simple. Some of the more complex solutions may need to be addressed at local and state level associations. But National could certainly make requirements of local and state Boards to encourage specific goals.
These are great suggestions. I have been out of the day to day practice of selling property so I have become a little out of touch. Please do not hesitate to repeat something someone else said. It will give me a better idea of what the real pain points are, and I plan to address this post in my presentation and repeated points will help bring clarity of what is most important.
1. I love the ideas of increased training and classes before one obtains a license but not sure if that is a NAR thing ??
2. In regards to realtor.com, I definitely think that the cost of enhancing listings should be much more affordable... I believe we pay $300 a month or so. The only reason we do it is because our competition does it, but I think if it was more affordable, many more agents would do it. I think MOVE and NAR could do a much much better job marketing realtor.com as well. Our traffic is down from realtor.com and I think they should take notice. Also, the cost to market yourself in a zipcode is too high as well.
3. NAR should also promote a $25,000 tax credit for all buyers, not just first time homebuyers. I think it would be smart to focus more on the demand side instead of the supply for now.
Jonathan, this sounds like an excuse for a little area-wide Active Rain gathering. I can do it at my house, which is centrally located. Lemme know.
Jonathan - I have read all comments. I want to second the motion for #1 - Per Rich, a National MLS would be ideal. #2 - Per Bryant - Higher Standards & Ethics & Education #3 Per Lenn - require higher criterial for licensure nationwide. ANd finally the biggest mistake is that REALTOR.COM is NOT owned by all of us "dues paying members". NAR should own and operate it - and I have always felt that was NAR's biggest mistake....don't get me started on that issue. BUT...you go knock em dead and tell em like it is !!
Make Realtor.com a national MLS and do away with local MLS and the cost involved. Maybe even do away with local boards altogether and do seminars by web cast. Local boards ( I belong to four in three different states) are nothing but political wanna bs. They are over staffed, over funded and full f none Realtors doing Real Estate.
Look at BB comments and you get a glimps of what they are, I can tell you stories that would make you puke.
Patricia,
Sounds like a plan! Can you spearhead it? (I will use whatever influence I have here to promote it ;)
Tuesday night would be best for me as I fly in on Monday and fly out on Wednesday.
Hi Jonathan...I really have two areas of concern (as well as most of those posed by the others).
I believe that NAR owes it to its membership to educate the public on the how we get paid. Some folks have the impression that we are salaried and it does not matter if they are loyal or not. I am sure this can be conveyed in a subtle but affective way.
Yes, I understand the importance of showing our clients how much value we provide. That often comes when we have been able to spend time face-to-face.
In my market much of our initial work is done by e-mail and some by phone before we get to meet them. We may do a fair amount of work before that day comes along. This is true for many agents with people thinking of relocating or buying second homes in a different area.
Years ago NAR had a TV ad that told the world "Real estate is my life." I did not approve of that ad. It is not my life. It is part of my life. As long as the public has the first impression some will not value our services nor our time.
You have no idea how much I appreciate that you asked us for input.
Kate
Sure!
NAR needs to spend a higher focus on industry perception. Our industry has been in existence way to long for the average consumer to still not grasp what it is a REALTOR actually does on a day to day basis.
1. Educating the consumer more.
2. Increase education requirements for ALL Realtors. Set higher expectations & not FEE's! More education means higher productivity, less complaints and less ding dongs chasing a license they never should have got in the first place.
3. Consider making the cost at least $10,000 to GET a license. This will remove a lot of potential bad apples.
4. Stand up to the criticism more. National TV ads, commercials, spokesman, talk shows.. When we get body slammed by some yahoo I find myself LOOKING to see who's in our corner. All to often it's empty.
5. Make Insurance a realistic common goal for all practionars, the current idea in place is not practical or effective.
Good Luck. Wear a power tie. ;)
Jonathan: Have them lobby for a real housing stimulus plan. Specifically, have them blow off the dust that has been collecting on the Tax Reform Act of 1986 as it pertains to passive loss and income limitations associated with investment real estate that have not been adjusted for the 23 years that they have been on the books. If the NAR is serious about addressing the supply and demand imbalance in the housing market, reforming or abolishing the TRA of 1986 at it pertains to investment real estate would be like discovering the Holy Grail.
Greg,
I just posted this additional question in the boby of my post:
"What is the current process for a Realtor to get health insurance? Any stories about being uninsured or what you've had to do to get insurance. (Feel free to post your situation or experience as anonymous.)"
Ditto to all of the comments so far! Realtor.com stinks, in my opinion. FAR too expensive for the services we are given. Many of us have kicked them to the curb. Home buyer credit for ALL buyers...we really need that right now, I believe. Lastly, for goodness sakes, any idiot can become a Realtor...let's tighten up the requirements!
I am not a member of the NAR anymore. My MLS is not a NAR MLS and so I elected to give up my membership in Nov 2006. I think the Realtor associations have many good things to offer. I'm not in a position to be on the local board, but I left because
1) I think the designation is meaningless. Since membership is forced in order to do MLS business in most places, the designation has no meaning. BB's comment is the result of that. It's an offense to the many great Realtors out there that truly abide by the COE to be lumped in with all of the yahoo's in real estate. Make the designation have some meaning. Otherwise it's just a joke.
2) I don't think they promote themselves well. From the President-elects performance on the Today Show with Cramer, to the totally inappropriate "good time to buy ads," to Lawrence's Yun's spin...I'd like to see more honesty and integrity from the organization. Prep the leaders better when they are on TV. Yikes...
Otherwise what Lenn said.
A note for all the commentors-
REALTORS does not own realtor.com. It was sold years ago.
I am having difficulty both on this site writing a comment and on the NAR site (computer crashing) but am making another attempt to comment. If no more crashes, you will be able to read it.
I think the NAR strategic plan goals are commendable. I didn't get to see the details and don't know what strategies they will use to implement them. My main beef with NAR (and I have called them up and called them up for clarification but am still in the dark) relates to realtor.com. As a member of NAR, I cannot understand why I need to pay an additional sizable fee to be a part of realtor.com. for benefits that, as far as I understand them, should be naturally part of my member benefits. From what I have seen in other comments, I am not alone in being perplexed by this "additional" costly service that NAR itself seems to have difficulty explaining. I think the strategic plan would be well served if the services of realtor.com became more accessible to the general NAR membership. Thanks for agreeing to represent.
Sarah,
Actually NAR does own Realtor.com. It has a licensing agreement with Move, Inc.
Jonathan,
I commend your activity in this area...I love our real estate industry...for providing the American Dream to anyone who is ready, and I know you will represent us (AR) well...!!!
In an age where everyone is promoting transparency, even our new president, it would behoove the NAR to get on the bandwagon...
The backroom type behavior of illegal kickbacks, conflicts of interest, steering, and lack of truthful disclosure has eroded the credibility of real estate agents...
If the NAR is to contribute anything to raise this credibility, they must focus on these areas...! JMHO
Thanks, Fran
I understand that NAR has nothing to do with State licensing standards.
(but they can lobby for them)
But NAR does have everything to do with who becomes a REALTOR
and they need to make it harder.
More education!
I can't tell you how many poorly written contracts I have seen.
I have to ask myself did the agent read this before he sent it to me.
I feel sorry for their clients.
As for health care, join your local chamber of commerce
As for the MLS as the other poster had mentioned.
do away with all of these COMPETING local boards, they are pretty close to useless
(they are truly a case of the right hand does not know what the left hand is doing)
They do not do anything that NAR can not provide.
They need to go to 1 MLS and 1 REALTOR board.
The MLS needs to be standardized, it is poor at best, my clients have better information then I do =)
I could understand a State board to monitor State level issues.
(I changed boards once from the South County Board to the North County Board and had to get all new MLS account and it was the SAME MLS)
I would like to see a more detailed and concise Code of Ethics that answers more realtor-life situations, especially regarding violations.
Jonathan,
It is good news to hear that NAR is speaking with someone young and dynamic. There has been way to much big broker influence at NAR.
NAR in its current form is a dinosuar, the younger generation of broker/owners are shooting for low agent count high productivity vs. the current hire em all mentallity. We new brokers really see no value, they rarely speak for us. If Kurt Cobain was the voice of our generation (according to MTV not me) NAR is Mickey Rooney.
The problem with NAR is that they basically function as a lousy union. You have to join to work (or at least get MLS is most areas). Your only qualification to join is valid credit card or minimum balance in your checking account.
Many are missing the boat on higher standards for licensing, that is impossible because that is done on the state level. It is not impossible to raise the standards for membership to NAR, say at least 10 transactions a year, new licenses get 1 year if they hit 10 they stay, if not they have no R. It should be an honor and instead it is really the scarlet R.
The fact that Realtor.com is a for profit (in theory) entity shows the lack of integrity of NAR. It is a lousy site, not consumer oriented and not agent oriented, just a void. If this was a true trade group and not a union, Realtor.com would be a tool of all agents at a flat rate; there should not be a success tax, which it has by raising rates for number of listings (amount of provided content). Very newspaper, very backwards. And like the newspapers they have tremendous capacity that goes unsold because they are holding to set prices, there is no doubt this inventory could be sold on an auction and increase revenue.
Forget fairness. Special deals for NRT because of size, how is that fair it is the opposite of the agent cost structure. They use to charge agents $1000 a month for the banner ads, and home depot $1 a 1000. Very un-agent-centric. All this is in the K1's and annual statements from 2004 & 2005.
None of this will happen of course because NAR needs members to survive, its goals and agents are not aligned; agents want less agents, NAR wants a Realtor in every garage.
Now just think if Realtor.com was run correctly and Profit was used to operate NAR reducing costs for a reduced number of PROFESSIONAL agents.
NAR is out of touch.
Health care, they will have a tough enough time keeping our Independent Contractor exemption with the IRS. They can't even mention Health Care on the Hill after the DOJ case, they lost way to much pull, it was dumb luck the banks are in such bad shape they did not have to negotiate the banks in real estate deal.
Have a great trip, again very cool you have say, speak loudly for us.
I think Realtor.com should remove the "whats your home worth?" from the homepage and let the showcase members have that as a benefit. The Values are way off in my area (Dallas)
1. as many suggested their spin on the housing market destroys every Realtors crediblity. Especially since their ex economist now admits he was full of it.
2. Take back Realtor.com and keep the profits from Realtor.com with the local Realtor boards. If they say they can't. Find out if there was some shady dealing going on when NAR negotiated away the very profitiable Realtor.com. I am heard and read the deal was very shady and that NARs officers jumped over to the company who got the rights to our listings right after they gave those rights away.
Jonathan...great post.
I know that while NAR does not set state standards for licensure, the mere possession of a license should not qualify agents to become REALTORS. I think the bar needs to be raised on that membership, though certainly not the fees--the ability to pay does not a good agent make. If being a REALTOR really meant something besides joining a board, then educating consumers of the value of choosing a REALTOR would make sense. As it is now, it means nothing.
I read somewhere the other day that about 80% of REALTORS don't know how to do the job, and sadly, in my market, I find that to be true. Why, when I spend thousands of dollars and hours on education, formal and informal, must I continue to be lumped in with those who don't know how to properly write a contract?
Of course this is not going to happen since stricter membership standards would likely mean far less revenue for this political, bureaucratic body. Unless they could make up for the membership fees in designation fees or such. The truth is, unless markets turn around quickly and the hard working and knowledgeable REALTORS start making a good living again, and the NAR starts giving us something tangible for the fees we pay, more boards are going to go the way of Melina's board... dropping out and going it alone.
One final thing: educating the consumer more? About what? About how they really need a REALTOR instead of a plain ol' agent? See the beginning of this post.
Jonathan - #1... I'm actually encouraged by the fact that they recognize that you are an innovator in the industry and they want to know what you think - There really is hope.
REALTOR.com shouldn't cost a REALTOR an arm and a leg to market their properties on this site... You can't tell me that they are making some serious money on this site with all the third party adds - they have monetized the site to the hilt. NAR needs to let us give the consumers what they want and don't charge us so much to give it to them.
I'll be following this post and really looking foward to your thoughts... I'm inspired each and every day with what AR has become - thank you for leading the way!
I agree with the person who commented on teaching the public what we do, and how we get paid. Also to set higher standards for Realtors through education. Educate the public on why it is good to work with Realtors, especially in difficult times. To separate our profession from anyone can sell their home to you must a Professional Realtor. We need to weed out the un-professional Realtors in our profession.
Realtor.com should be included with Realtor dues. If they insist on charging us, then they at least can quit harrassing us with phone calls.
I'd like to know what the heck the "Center for Realtor Technology" is. I've seen them sponsoring some things, but they never have a rep. who is present at conferences. You would think a Center for Realtor Technology would participate in social media, have a presence on AR or SOMETHING! Seems to me, it is just a card for another waste of our dues dollars.
BTW - you ROCK for asking us this stuff! If only the people we pay to represent us cared as much.......
Raising the bar to be a REALTOR.
I understand the theroy behind riasing the cost or setting a transaction "quota"
But in the end I am not sure if that will truly accomplish what needs to be done.
We need smarter agents, not ones with big bank accounts.
This is accomplished by education. I would have no problem with paying X amount and having to
complete say 12 classes a year to keep my REALTOR designation.
I think something of that nature would accomplish what is trying to be done by raising the cost of being a REALTOR.
But would show, not only does the REALTOR have a lot of credit or a good bank roll, they have also completed some education.
To most of the consumer community, NAR and Realtor.com are the same, but in my 6 years of being a realtor, I have never spent one additional penny to promote my homes on Realtor.com. I am offended when the sales staff calls to suggest it. As members of the NAR, we should either quit supporting realtor.com, or take it over and turn it into a useful national MLS.
Jonathan - you asked 3 questions... here is my take -
1. Do you feel that the way Realtor.com is currently serves you? (Here's a site talking about alternatives to a Move, Inc. operated Realtor.com) Realtor.com is geared to make money off those that list properties. It gives inaccurate information to the consumer - If they want to be giving out "house values" they should be referring those folks to their REALTORS® - I would think that paying for NAR should give us a little more use of Realtor.com - although they may not control it any longer - it is our name on it.
2. How should the NAR reach consumers regarding the REALTOR value proposition? TV advertising, Internet, Social Media, Print Media, Other they need to update their messages and put the value out there - not just beat around the push. As a REALTOR® I have to re-create the image of being someone that stands above the rest everyday to my clients - the buyer of today seems to have more knowledge of the market and the process than the commercials give us credit for - the marketing they use is too old school.
3. What is the current process for a Realtor to get health insurance? Any stories about being uninsured or what you've had to do to get insurance. (Feel free to post your situation or experience as anonymous.) Our State Association came up with an insurance plan - however it went by the wayside in 09 - Health insurance is important but at what coverage and cost?
I would like to see NAR focus more on providing great service to the Agents that make up the organization and providing more tools for us - with the dues we pay - to be an agent in Central Oregon you do not have a choice you have to be a REALTOR® - so we have local, state and national dues - if I had the choice - I do not think I would support this organization any longer - or not until they stepped up to the current times and offered me something for my money. I get better advertising from RE/MAX and even competitors than I do from NAR - I find that a sad statement... but true.
REALTOR.COM is a relic when it comes to what is available to consumers online. As a paying member and from a small brokerage who won't pay the steep fees for the special features I would encourage the powers to check out the sites that are available for agents to list for Free from Postlets.com to Front Door, City Cribs, Oodle and on.
Evening Jonathon, I want this to be expressed in a positive way - even though it may be a difficult issue. I actually sent an email to the Pres of NAR and asked that in light of the difficult time the members are having for NAR to reduce it's member dues by 1/2. I understand that this reduction would cause many hardships, staff and program reductions, etc - Just like the members have had to do. Of course, no response !
I think NAR does not really offer a whole lot of value to me (no where near the outrageous dues amount) and has become a dinosaur. It seems like the areas where they originally added value were in education, the code of ethics, and political advocacy. However the education available now makes them no longer the only, or best game in town. The code of ethics is only a value if it is vigorously upheld with agents who are repeated violators actually removed from the organization, And the political advocacy is my biggest bone of contention - too often the "Realtor position" on political issues or candidates is pretty much the polar opposite of my personal beliefs and values (and those of my clients). It is really infuriating to have them purport to speak for a very diverse membership on issues where there is no consensus of opinion. My preference is that the political advocacy be limited to issues where the membership does actually agree on the issue so you are not put in the position of paying to belong to an organization (and yes it does feel like a closed shop work place) that is working against you. I find this especially true in land use/environmental policy areas although also in stances that make it seem like we care way more for our own interests and income than the public, the community or our clients. Whew - thanks for asking and letting me vent!
I would like to see NAR get rid of allowing MLSs optional choices on various issues. I live and work on the border between two MLSs and have to belong to both. Yet because of NAR's options it is like I work in two different worlds. A prime example is IDX. One of the MLSs from day 1 allowed agents to have an IDX feed and we could choose from any vendor that had a data feed contract with the MLS. The second MLS only would alow office websites to have an IDX feed. They have modified this in the past year but if we want IDX we can only use the vendor of their choice which just so happens to be associated with the developer of their MLS platform. As a result I have to have two IDX feeds on our website. They have completely different formats and provided significantly different info to the visitor to our site. One provides school info, but not the other Please get rid of options. If NAR is going to make a policy make it one that all member MLSs have to follow. Don't give them two or more options as is the case with IDX.
Jonathan....I read the post....and did not feel compelled to respond until the health care issue. It truly is horrific that as independent contractors, most Realtors cannot afford heath care. NAR can impact government to help with plans that are affordable and do not have pre-existing conditions exclusions. As Realtors, we do suffer from this lack of policy that would accomodate us all under one company level of coverage. If pooled, we could be covered under a reasonable company policy that is affordable. Thanks for your involvement and effort. Your solicitation is welcomed!
Realtor.com you represent every realtor, not just the ones who can afford or justify paying them. If you wish to upgrade or enhance your profile that is ok. But the average realtor is getting short changed by the way Realtor.com is currently run.
Health insurance is very BIG! One of my colleague who owed her brokerage was just dropped (with her family of 5) after years of paying premiums. This is a big issue. I know many trade associations have health insurance (I had insurance through the CA Bar Association before moving to NH) - Our median age is up there - and most of us are independent contractors.
Regarding Buyer agents -- NAR and Realtor.com have not put in place many things to make their buyer broker and/or buyer friendly.
Consumers should be made aware of procuring cause -- disclosure is needed
I think the fees and the representation should be separated as well --
So, just a couple of thoughts.
good luck and thanks for paving the way to some important things in the strategic plan.
A ton of great comments I read them all. It sounds like NAR is about as organized and effective as the UAW. Sounds like Realtor.com is a real bad deal.
Personally, I don't think raising the standards would help anything. The consumer equates the term "Real-A-tor" with anyone who sells real estate. I know there has been a valid attempt to distinguish the difference, but there's no uncorking that bottle so to speak. Agents right now are really struggling with what their dues are doing for them. As a Broker/Owner, I am perhaps more in tune with the lobbying and legislative assistance provided, however Average Joe just knows he has to write a $500 check every January. I had one agent leave my office for a non-Realtor office and this was a major factor in the decision process.
The other day I clicked on a link from Realtor.org (I think) to download a listing presentation promising useful stats etc. I wanted to share it at the next office meeting. However I was asked to supply my email address and phone number along with the "best time to talk to me" in order to download it. I'm not stupid, I know that means I'm going to get a Realtor.com sales pitch. NAR MUST be able to provide tangible value to agents beyond Realtor.com.
Have a great trip Jonathan! All those fortunate folks that get to enjoy you in person and hear your brilliant info first-hand. Have fun!
Jonathan,
My biggest complaint and concern is, that as a group of independant contractors, under the powerful umbrella of the NAR, we still have no viable source of affordable healthcare! I would think that with the NAR's scope, that it would be within it's reach to figure out a practical source of quality and affordable healthcare for for it's membership.
Thank you
I'm parking because I want to read all the comments.
I think healthcare is huge. This doesn't impact me, I use my spouses but you would think if the majority of us have to join the NAR to practice then they should be able to provide a decent group plan.
Our image is also a big issue and I think to change that the advertising has to be real. And by that I mean it has to be local and it can't always show a rosy picture.
Requiring more education is important but it sounds like that is not the NARs issue.
Wish I could be at Patricia's to be in the think tank! Good luck!
I believe my local and state boards are worthwhile and a benefit, but I can't really point to any benefit to NAR. Like others have said, their ads and some of the national stats work against us. I see them as no different than some of the other major corporations making today's news for corruption and stupid spending. Just as the unions are a large part of the uncompetitiveness of the Big 3, NAR is reminiscent of the past-their-time unions.
Regarding R.com, it is such an unfriendly platform for conducting searches. No wonder buyers stick with a local broker's site once they find the local site. The charges we pay to have a Showcase listing are ridiculous given all the free sites that are available to us. I can probably count on one hand the actual sales I've ever received because of a buyer finding one of my listings. I do it only to appease sellers.
Regarding health insurance, this would seem to be a very important area they should target. It would seem that an organization with so many members should certainly qualify for a group plan. After 10 years without any medical insurance, I now have some ... thanks to Soc Sec. It was just too expensive and cost twice what my mortgage was. I lived in fear that if I were to fall or get sick, that I would/could be bankrupt overnight with the outrageous medical costs.
AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE! PLEASE....and thank you!
I watched the comment thread and hey...found one I totally agree with! Elaine hit it on the head with MY LOCAL AND STATE BOARDS are worthwhile. I do comment our Honolulu Board of Realtors and Hawaii Associaton of Realtors...they are on it and keep us all informed. I also agree that they (NAR) have hurt us more than helped with their stats. Only the other night I saw a commercial that FINALLY said that markets are local. Too late. Damage done.
Charges too high...I have not ever bought into it. We have a Century 21 thing going so we can enhance them for a year...whoopee...I won't buy into it after. I do fine with my own local sites and ActiveRain and my website. I have not ever received a lead saying they saw my listings on NAR or heard about me through them.
Instead of all that wasted money on commercials that didn't do a darn thing let's get some real benefits going.
I think healthcare is a big issue but until we get national health reform I don't think there is much NAR can do because they are a national organization and insurance is regulated by states. I've been able to get health insurance through my local board (but not my REALTOR board) the dominant real estate board in NYC. REBNY.
NAR has not been very sucessful in NYC. Most major brokerages are not members. IMHO the best thing NAR had going was REALTOR.com and they sold out their members when they got in bed with Move inc, formerly Homestore. A company with a history of corporate fraud and terrible products.
NAR should terminate their contract with Move inc. ASAP. If they must have an outside web company to run REALTOR.com Activerain would be a much better choice.
Go get em Jonathan
Congrats, Jonothan! First and foremost, health insurance is on my mind. NAR should ensure that we are able to get affordable coverage ESPECIALLY if we have a long-term (or life long) illness. Group insurance would be the ideal (to keep the costs down), but my main concern is that REALTORS shouldn't be able to get turned down by insurance providers.
Then there is REALTOR.com. I know it is costly to manage a site this large, but when REALTORs already pay NAR dues, we shouldn't have to pay $800+ annually to be featured on the website. I would recommend that they offer multiple options to agents, sell ad space on the right navigation bar, etc.
BEST OF LUCK TO YOU!
With the real estate community strugglingnow is the time to help both the broker and the agents. We need consolidation of MLS's so agent pay only one MLS fee, Brokers especially larger brokers can retrieve data in one format through out all MLS providers. RETS is good start but it need to go farther. I know NAR Needs to cross the "T's" and get the words just right but the new secret data base needs to be in place soon or we will be buying data from another vendor like Zillow or Trulia. Get the job done.
To all of you who pay some sort of premium to Realtor.com -- I've never paid them anything, though I'm now assuming when I do a search, (it's rare that I even go on this site, honestly) the ones that come up at the top of the page are paid listings. FYI, I deal with those just like I do with my google searches -- and I'm betting that consumers do too -- I assume they are paid ads and ignore them -- I prefer to just get the information, thank you very much.
As to health care, Mitchell Hall said it right: until National Health Care comes along, it's just not going to be affordable to most of us -- at least not if we're over 30.
that said, this is a most excellent thread, (kudos to Jonathan for asking the questions) and what I'm taking from this is that things ARE changing, and are going to change more. I'd wager that the best we can do is remain forward thinking and continue to be proactive, make our wishes and needs known, try to effect positive change, and to embrace the change when it comes. google and read MLS 5.0. by Saul Klein.
Lobby for higher standards for licensing--especially in California--of course that wouldn't stop all those that practice without a license.
Be more selective when hiring a NAR Economist--the last one was a joke--he was out of touch with what was really happening! and I'm sure that new one isn't any better.
Stop wasting our membership dues on printing that NAR magazine which I am sure no one reads--I go on line for everything. The times I have read it---they are filled with articles written by people who are out of touch as well.
Stop wasting money on those silly ads that tell people that now is the best time to buy.
I've been a Realtor for over 20 years and this is the first time I decided not to renew my membership! NAR has a lot of damage-control to do and if they want me back, I need a lot of convincing. The value I get from the membership just can't justified cost!
Good luck with your presentation. And thank you for providing this site for us Real Estate Professionals--I almost said Realtor :-)!
Helthcare and much lower dues, more uniform IDX exchange between states, higher standards and education requirements to become a Realtor....
1. Lobby State Legislators for Higher Standards - raise the bar for becoming a Realtor and gaining full status so I don't have to go into a doctor's office and be greeted by the receptionist who tells me "I'm a realtor, too. I'm on __________'s team." And I'm wondering to myself, "If she's a Realtor, then what is she doing sitting behind that desk in a docor's office?"
2. Lobby for Congress to do what the American public and Realtors thought it was going to do, as Lenn said. Help the homeowners who are upside down.
3. Health Insurance! Why can't one of the biggest groups in the nation not get a great discount on insurance??? While we are fortunate to have insurance now, there were years when we didn't and years when we had "God forbid" insurance and it was very expensive. This is imperative with health costs skyrocketing.
As a NAR member I would like to see more of the training made available online. Plus I would like to see it more affordable.
This is the age of online degree's. Why not make the complete training for a designation available that way?
I know the experience can not come online, but I do not see how traveling 2, 4 or 6 hours to set in a classroom or hotel conference room to listen to something that I could have watched, read or listened to online makes it any better. Thanks.
It's nice to have NAR give an ear to the issues of it's constituants.
After 40 years in this business, I now feel that NAR is irrelevant - I just pay my dues, don't complain out loud, and go about my business.
1. I can't comment on REALTOR health insurance, because it doesn't now and never has affected me.
2. REALTOR.com should operate more like REMAX.com (No, I'm not a RE/MAX Agent), charging agents nothing and making every member's listing available to consumers with a user-friendly IDX site. If they want a profit center, they should make the same search available to agents willing to pay for an upgrade, with a customized banner and customized email subscriptions.
3. They should promote a higher barrier for licensing in every state, so that minimal educataion, intelligence, and other qualifications are NOT enough to acquire a license. I understand this violates their desire to attract more members to pay more dues, but it would be much better for our industry.
They should continue to fight efforts to make our services and tools a public charity. It is a profit center, and our National Association needs to fight to preserve our business.
They should produce good statistical reports for national and state real estate sales and trends - available online to members without charge.
They should open their eyes to new paradigms, and adjust accordingly.
Professional designations should come with a lifetime certificate (like a diploma is) and NOT be an annual profit center for NAR, denying earned designations to anyone who retires or goes part time or whatever.
You asked for ways that NAR can serve consumers, but that is our job - NAR should remember that WE (the members) are their customers, and they have a fiduciary responsibility to us to represent our industry with integrity and to provide us the tools to reach and serve consumers.
Kinda random suggestion, but I hope they help.
I think that NAR should help their members to better advantage with tools like realtor.com. We provide them with all of the information they provide to consumers in the form of our listings, and then they charge huge numbers to advertise there while other popular sites are far more reasonable. This from the group that represents us.
Jonathan, I had logged out when I stumbled on this post, but I'm glad to see that NAR is reaching out to hear what you have to say. It's a recognition of the fact that we not only have to change our actions to be relevant to the next generation of agents...we also have to change the way we listen. And you're leading the way through this forum.
We're actively doing the same thing with our Board of Directors in Grand Rapids, MI and have embarked on an intense one year strategic initiative to re-train, re-tool and re-imagine the future of our profession and value proposition to our clients and membership. It's one of the most challenging assignments the Board has ever undertaken and in my opinion...one of the most exciting.
The process has included several hours of workshops, reading books and talking to the membership in interviews and through blogs. Sometimes, the discussion has become intense...but, perhaps for the first time, we're having a largely unfiltered discussion. That has it's own peculiar benefit.
I would like to see NAR pay more than lip service to delivering a first class membership experience for its membership. On the top of my list would be relevant educational offerings which take into account the skills necessary to survive in today's market...other items would be affordable health care and using the Internet more effectively to enhance participation in NAR events...ie webinars, twitter updates, webcasts etc.
From a legislative angle, I think it's important that we actively engage in helping consumers and many of our own members who stand in danger of loosing their homes through creating programs which make viable financial sense and stop the bloodletting which is drowning the country...Wishful thinking...perhaps. But you asked. :)
My chief request is to please urge NAR to stop supporting unsound economic and monetary policy in the form of bailouts, stimulus packages, etc. The Association's failure to acknowledge problems in the market, lowering values, an undetermined period of retraction, and the corresponding legitimate reasons why buyers may choose not to buy in uncertain times, has done far more harm to the Realtor brand than any single Realtor could ever do alone. In fact, it harms real estate practitioners that aren't even members of a Realtor association!
On another note, I appreciate the concerns expressed by commenters about the disparity of knowledge between agents. I do not feel that more mandatory education is the answer to this problem. As an example, it takes a tremendous amount of education to become an attorney yet there are still unethical, uninformed attorneys that do damage to the reputation of the profession. In any field, there will be the educated, prepared, competent practitioners and the uneducated, ill-prepared, incompetent hacks...no amount of mandatory classes, requirements, or cost-prohibitive fees could prevent it.
Realtor.com is, in my opinion, a farce. The very idea of using Realtor generated information to produce a substandard website, then having the audacity to sell advertising or leads generated off of it back to Realtors is unconscionable. The fact that the price for those ads or leads is exorbitant adds only insult to injury. I understand that there are costs associated with maintaining a site the scope of Realtor.com, but the Association would be hard pressed to convince me that their conduct is in the best interests of their membership.
The National Association of Realtors isn't going to be able to do much for us in terms of health insurance. Previous commenters are correct, health insurance rates are exorbitant. At a state level our policy advocacy groups could make noise about making major medical policies - high deductible policies to cover in the event of a catastrophic event or illness with high long term costs while the insured accepts the burden of paying for more routine care out of pocket. Mandates in most states make practitioners pay for higher levels of care than they want or, in many cases, need.
The best way for the Realtors to have value as a trade association is for MLS systems to uncouple their services from national, regional and local Realtor associations. When membership is optional, the various associations of Realtors will have to prove their worth by providing information or resources that individual practitioners feel to be a good return on their investment.
Curiously, I sound anti-Realtor. This is certainly not the case. I feel that the Realtor associations could provide tremendous value both to their membership and their communities. Sadly, I am frustrated by, what appears from my vantage point, Realtor associations squandering those opportunities.
Jonathan, please accept my gratitude for allowing the community a say!
Just a couple of suggestions:
I would get away from the specific number of transactions governing whether or not one gets to have the REALTOR designtaion. It should be based on EDUCATION not the number of deals.
There are several reasons why this is unealistic:
Different areas of the country have a different volume of business. Our area is notoriously low volume. 10 deals in the first year would eliminate 99.9%. I personally can only think of one agent who managed 10 deals their first year. I did six - and that was considered a lot. So a blanket number won't work.
More importantly, NAR should be emphasizing EDUCATION. REALTORS often liken themselves lawyers, accountants, and doctors. If you want to do that - you have to think about how professional degrees are granted. You don't lose a law degree if you don't win a certain number of cases. If you don't save "X" number of lives, you don't "lose" your M.D. Agents keep MISSING THE MARK. It's worrying to me how so many can't wrap their minds around what education is all about. Education is about competence, not volume. The competition for competence is between you and what is between your ears - and should not be contingent on a money grab. I don't agree with the $10k licensing fees for the same reason. This should be about competence not money - although getting an education is never inexpensive.
Such a mechanism would only stimuate the "vulture" effect. We are trying to get RID of the pushy agent syndrome. Making NAR memebership (and MLS access) contingent upon a set number of deals would take the fierce competition in my market to heights that I don't want to think about - and buyers and sellers would be right in the middle of a free-for-all that certainly wouldn't serve the client's best interests.
Like Broker Bryant...I've been in classes that are nothing short of pitiful. Although I have never been told I could do "anything" his experience rings true.
The health insurance issue has been badly mishandled in the past. NAR might want to model themselves around the Freelancers union which arranges a group rate for its members. NAR's last attempt was attached to a bill that would have obliterated state health insurance mandates. Those state mandate were the only thing standing between the those with serious and chronic illnesses and financial Armageddon. Federal protections are virtually nil and this would have allowed insurers to jack up rates willy nilly on those with high-cost medical conditions. They would have been able to "dump" patients who were high risk and cherry pick the healthy. This isn't how health insurance is supposed to work. The bill itself was opposed by The American Cancer Society, The American Heart Association and the American Medical Association. NAR needs to do more RESEARCH before blindly subscribing to an "easy solution."
http://www.freelancersunion.org/ Just FYI.
To the NAR: Learn how to listen to your membership not "top brass and other influential leaders."
I think NAR needs to have higher requirements to become a REALTOR then just what it takes to get a state license.
Caleb - perfect suggestion!
There are many comments above based on a misunderstanding of what NAR does and doesn't do. That aside, I think Margaret Woda's comment has some excellent points in it, and Alex and Kathryn Rion made some interesting points as well.
This post has brought out some great comments and some interesting reading. I hope those at NAR you'll be working with will see this post and read through all the comments to sift through and pick out those that NAR can affect and use to bring about some positive industry changes for us, NAR's members.
Ann
The clients are looking to the internet long before they ever talk with an agent. If you are going to lobby for some things, here is my wish list:
Thanks for allowing me the opportunity to contribute. This is one of my favorite features of Active Rain - you operate on a give and take premise and I admire that.
Have a wonderful trip to Washington, D.C. Looking forward to your future posts.
Catherine
Jon, I have been called twice this week to come back to Realtor. com. Yep, twice.
I told them no, it just doesn't benefit my business. I was one of the first Realtors in 1996 to have a realtor.com site. I explained to them that I should not have to pay to get MY listings enhanced and the pay is ridiculous. As someone who is always putting money into my business, I have no problem with the $ if it WORKS.
When I stopped doing enhanced listings I was paying 1800.00 a year, why ? To please my sellers, now I just add a VT and I'm done for 25.00 per listing.
I despise the NAR. You can't legislate ethics. People are either honest or they are not. The Real-A-tor designation is a farce. The NAR is the laughing stock of the financial world, thanks to the endless spin from former Chief Economist, David Leahrah, and his recent admission that he was "pressured" to produce a positive outlook. And just as incompentent is the current Chief Economist, Lawrence Yun, who has been equal to the task of endless BS spin. His report on the housing market in the May 2008 issue of Realtor magazine is a prime example, and shows that they are either totally incompetent or paid liars.
The NAR has no credibility in the marketplace, and has done more damage than good to it's members. The fees are exorbitant and I am totally offended at the way they attempt to make money off of members for advertising on realtor.com, as well as their new commercial site. NAR is nothing more than a union that is trying to make money off it's members while snowing the public in a shoddy attempt to make us think that they are doing something to help us. I am planning to leave the NAR for good when my current year expires in July. I will plan to move to a brokerage that is not a member of NAR.
The internet has changed the real estate business permanently. While brokers used to control the flow of property information, that is no longer the case. It is now an open market with hundreds of public listing systems online that allow private sellers to compete more effectively than ever. And buyers have access to information without the need for a real-a-tor.
The NAR has lost control of the real estate market. All they have accomplished lately is to make it more expensive for agents to make a decent living in this business. They snow us with their crappy seminars about marketing on realtor.com when all they are doing is charging us exorbitant fees for services that are provide elsewhere at a fraction of the cost. The reason they force us to join is that given a choice, the vast majority of agents would opt out, and NAR would not have enough income to support their operations. So we are held captive and forced into a substandard system. It reminds me of the negative impact that the UAW has had on GM and the auto companies. Except we agents are the ones suffering from the negative effects, as NAR comes up with more ways to make money off of us.
NAR's days are numbered due to the growth of the internet and open access to information that was once controlled by brokers, and new, virtual brokerages and companies that do not require membership in the NAR. This is a trend that is bound to continue unless NAR can start providing real value to their members. This is probably not possible, since the NAR has to make their living off of the members they are supposedly serving. Their system is fundamentally flawed, since they depend on the members for their income. All they have done for me is hold me captive, cost me money, find ways to charge me more money, and damaged our collective reputation in the market place. Many consumers blame "those greedy real-a-tors" for the housing market melt-down, and see us as part of the problem, not the solution.
As you noted in an earlier post, they do not control licensing requirements, or a number of other important issues that posters have mentioned here, so they are essentially a useless organization. Even their statistical reports on housing are regarded as propaganda, so they have little credibility. How then can they improve my credibility? If they did offer healthcare, it would just cost more than I am paying now, because they'd have to find a way to make money off of it.
For an interesting look at what the marketplace thinks of real-a-tors, check out a blog called "The Lawrence Yun Watch". Here: http://lawrenceyunwatch.blogspot.com/
Protect agent commissions in short sale transactions and stop letting the lenders dictate how much agents get paid. If the lender has no legal part in the buying and selling of the home, then they have no say period.
Instead, NAR offers an after-the-fact shakedown-the-buyer concession that makes absolutely no sense.
I think NAR needs to spend a whole lot less time lobbying on my behalf (because not all Realtors agree with their solutions to the housing problems or any of their policies) and more time policing their own members. You can have the best rules and regulations in place but if you turn a blind eye or don't take prompt action that whenever a Realtor violates them than you're not doing a thing.
Stop fighting so hard against people like Forsalebuyowner.com and focus on providing a better product, if an owner wants to list their home without the full benefits of a qualified Realtor, then let them, who cares?
I'm much more worried about the fact that Realtor.com is a horrible website and focuses more on trying to rip off agents (without which you'd have NO CONTENT) and treating buyers like leads than customers. You've got a great opportunity here but you're coming very close to losing a lot of your best members by treating them like dollar signs instead of members. The NAR is changing into some kind of corrupt political group with underhanded tactics and dangerous alliances. I'm really waiting for this whole thing to blow up in contraversy causing agents to distance themselves from the term Realtor as quick as they can instead of standing behind it as a badge to be proud of.
To be honest, I don't believe you will be bold enough!
Realtor.com rips off it's agents with the $19.95 posting for a tour - you know Jonathan what that exactly entails and it is highway robbery at it's best! It's almost a standard procedure for listings now and it has got to be the #1 profit generator for them. Realtor.com as a website just all around SUCKS. Poor product - high price and I for one refuse to participate in it membership wise.
All the buyers I've talked too could care less about the home buyer tax credit. Give it up and try for something that buyers/consumers understand 1st hand. Lower the interest rates! I don't know why the rates are lower than they are right now! Joe Six Pack can understand 5.5 vs 4.5%. I think that will spark homebuyership. They've had to do this in the past (can't remember what years) and it worked then!
NAR is totally out of touch with its agents needs. Yeah, health insurance would be nice, but they've been working on it now for so long - who cares. It's beating a dead horse! The new president McMillan seems like a nice guy, possibly he will lead us into something more positive. If he's going after the same issues as in the past, forget about 'us' leading the industry forward. I sometimes even wonder if people on the website, magazine, etc. for our trade organization are actually practicing 'realtors'. I can't see why we pay dues when there is no representation. Basically our 'union' sucks.
"licensing agreement with Move, Inc." = Sold it's soul to the devil.
I believe that the NAR should ccontinuing to promote a higher level of professionalism. Its seem that many new campaigns have already been implemented to improve the image of Realtors but I think much more needs to be done.
Jonathan, hit them hard on Realtor.com. It is currently involved in way too many side businesses in order to earn money. Many of these detract from the agents paying big bucks to use their enhancements, often for little results. Their tech support and billing practices are also suspect.
Jonathan, hit them hard on Realtor.com. It is currently involved in way too many side businesses in order to earn money. Many of these detract from the agents paying big bucks to use their enhancements, often for little results. Their tech support and billing practices are also suspect.
1. Do you feel that the way Realtor.com is currently serves you?
Well, It makes it sufficiently difficult for consumers to find what they want that I do get phone calls.
2. How should the NAR reach consumers regarding the REALTOR value proposition? TV advertising, Internet, Social Media, Print Media, Other
First, our chief "economist" needs to stop talking. He and the rest of the organization have said "It's a great time to buy" all through the bubble and all the way down. This nonsense is why people preceive Realtors as being nothing more than a bunch of rah-rah greedy [redacted] that got us into this [redacted] mess.
Second, we need to have something that differentiates us from mere licensees beyond "I can get into the MLS and they can't". Perhaps an educational campaign talking about the days when there were no state licenses and the Realtor Code of Ethics was the closest thing we had to law? Perhaps a few high-profile expulsions of members that play fast and loose?
3. What is the current process for a Realtor to get health insurance? Any stories about being uninsured or what you've had to do to get insurance.
The current process is "have an employed spouse."
Even with the list of official health insurance providers we have a "deal" with (obtained through my local chapter), there was not a lot of success. I heard a lot about plans that wouldn't fit my needs and cost too much. During the one coverage gap we had, I just went with "get temporary coverage and hope we don't get sick". I think this is the most practical plan for most people.
If NAR wants to do something for their members, perhaps they could lobby for a true Medicare-For-All universal coverage program, as opposed to the many "mandatory coverage" plans being proposed by politicians and implemented in Massachusetts. If the auto makers are done being idiots, maybe they can come aboard as co-supporters, dropping their costs by $1500 per vehicle.
Wow, Jonathan, you have a lot to cover! Good luck with your presentation.
I am disheartened that NAR is using our money to develop technologies like Sentrilock that are causing problems for an association, like mine, that has a Supra contract. The other local association has switched sending all of us from both associations back in time where it can no longer be assumed that agents will have the necessary technology to show all available listings. This may sound minor to people not affected, but let me tell you, I have just spent about 2 weeks trying to negotiate my company through the labyrinth of rules set out by both associations for us to acquire the correct boxes and keys.
Secondly, I would like to see NAR spend more time explaining to consumers how we are paid (mentioned earlier in the comments). The fact that we are not salaried is often used against us (ie. just in it for the money), but it can be a real benefit to customers in our motivation to get things done.
Thirdly, what about definding us, our skills and what we do to the public? We have running game in my family to see how many times in one week real estate agents will be made fun of on television. Last night my son and I watched, 'Wife Swap.' One of the fathers did not have regular employment, so the new 'mom' sent him out to be a real estate agent!!!!! Great advertising for us--NOT!!!!
Jonathan,
Consumer education is at the top of my list. In particular, the Realtor Pay Plan is near and dear.
--John
I became a real estate agent having been inspired by the vision and mission contained in the Code of Ethics. However, it didn't take long for me to become discouraged and wanting to leave because of the behavior of other real estate agents. I feared I might have to become like them if I were to survive in the business. My manager wisely told me, " Remember, you are in charge of your business, your business is not in charge of you."
I, also, worked very hard to earn my CRS, ABA designations. After a couple of years, I dropped the designations because I got tired of paying the extra dues and dealing with the "politics".
With my personal history in mind, I recommend that NAR,
1) First serve the needs of the public,
a. be a reliable source for the good news and bad news about real estate
b. put the best minds available to work on creating solutions to the housing market.
2) Serve the needs of the members
a. Promote the vision and mission of the Code of Ethics. If the public would know that this is
who we are and what we are about, they would come to respect our profession.
b. Eliminate the extra costs for Realtor.com. I don't even consider it as a viable option.
c. Don't take away designations once earned. Let ongoing memberships in these organizations
be optional.
d. Offer resources to State Real Estate Commissions to develop better continuing education
courses for real estate agents.
e. Either drop or improve the required "Ethics" courses.
NAR should not be afraid to say it is no longer "relevant". Then it should decide to either close the doors or provide services that are truly valuable to the members and public. I think many agents are realtors because they are "forced" into membership.
to Donna Robinson from Atlanta - you have it right.
Oh Boy you asked for it! I feel that I have been ripped off by realtor.com. In fact I seldom use it and don't refer to it. When it became a commodity to sell and enrich those who created it using OUR dues, when it was a site where our information could be sold to others to sell back to us, I knew I was being used and I don't do well with that. I agree that NAR seems to be more interested in keeping it's membership numbers and dues high than in truly helping it's membership. It has good information available but good information is available to us from many sources. I resent being asked to continually volunteer my time and give my money to an organization that operates sort of like an old style fraternal group. Like anyone else I want to know how I am DIRECTLY benefited. They should be worried - if you didn't have to be a realtor to be on the mls - if the mls was irrelevant - if you weren't in essence forced to join - how many would? You have received an opportunity to tell NAR what their membership TRULY thinks.
Jonathan,
Since housing is a key player in the entire economy we need to get the foreclosure problem resolved as soon as possible. If foreclosures keep increasing the expected recovery just gets delayed with it.
Jonathan,
Why are we paying annual dues to a trade organization who makes money off of their outside advertising and what they charge for enhancements on Realtor.com?
Why doesn't the Realtor Code of Ethics require that we treat each other with respect? It is suggested that it is what we aspire to, but there are no repercussions on a local level at least, except maybe a slap on the wrist and please don't do that again to the agents who continually violate the code of ethics and lie to the public about other agents just to get the listing.
Most agents don't even realize that "buying the listing" is a breach of ethics! So obviously our 4 year training isn't accomplishing much.
I think that NAR should suggest a bailout for the consumer's who are stuck: If you have an exotic mortgage, you automatically get a lowered rate without having to file bankruptcy. Then people who are upside down would have more of an impetus to stay in their homes, it would lessen inventory volume and help to stabilize the markets. And to those people who start with the that is unfair mantra, the banks and automakers just got a whole load of freebies. This is a renegotiation of future income streams to the banks....they are still making money on the interest they are baing paid.
Insurance, Insurance, Insurance
Thanks,
Alberta
Why do people feel that there is some magic way to legislate our way out of the down market? A natural correction with home values dropping will be a lot less painful than a drawn out forced correction that never truly corrects. If you're upside down in your house payment than that's your problem and you need to make the decision to pay it off or take the loss not get a bail out and learn nothing. Calling a "foreclosure problem" makes it sound like no one did anything wrong. There are very few homeowners that are faultless for their current position, so except in the case of fraud just let the bottom drop out and start over. Prices have been overinflated for years, I think we all knew that, just let the market correct and you'll take one hit in your wallet the next year instead of being on rocky ground for decades if we bail out homeowners who were never meant to be owners anyway and builders who should have never built so many homes. If the banks loaned out money on risky loans, well it sucks to be them, but let them crumble and capitalism will pick up the peices and put them back together.
Jon, I'm not one that is very opinionated... ;^ )
But this is what I see.
Just my nickel...
Oh yea... take back realtor.com and turn it into a promotional tool for the membership, instead of a profit center for a company that is just looking to get as much money out of the membership as possible.
Jonathan you have a great opportunity. The feedback on this post is shows a consensus of opinions. What is your take away and what are you going to present at NAR. Please update us.
Jonathan,
I think realtor.com is so overpriced, it's ridiculous. Add the $100-$300 a month many pay for the right to "enhance" listings, on top of dues and how in the world does N.A.R. reconcile that cost? I get maybe one hit a week from realtor.com on my webiste (I have plenty of listings) and over 100 from Active Rain. Trulia, Zillow and Craig's list all bring more than realtor.com. I'm seriously thinking of dropping my realtor.com membership next time it's due. It hasn't done a thing for me, but more importantly, it hasn't done a thing for my clients.
Jonathan... I'm afraid this won't be much help to you, but what the heck. Old joke: "Do you know how to do a disappearing act? Stick your head up your ass and jump!" So before you delete this comment, all I would like to suggest is that NAR takes their head out of their ass and starts listening to the voice of us Realtors that are out here in the trenches. If and when they can do that, then let's start with Lenn's 2 suggestions. I'll trust you to present that in a more diplomatic way. ;-)
BTW, thinking of you in a room full of NAR execs brings an old story to mind: Daniel in the lion's den. Good luck, buddy! :)
Thinking of you in a room full of NAR execs brings an old story to mind: Daniel in the lion's den.
Randy,
I am working through my fear of public speaking and in all honesty am quite nervous about Tuesday. I am not sure if your statement makes me more nervous or less. In a certain sense thinking that they probably are not going to like me much either way is kind of freeing. (Even so, I do hope that they like me.)
Hey man... not to worry or be fearful! You're there to speak the collective 'mind' of ~130K ActiveRainers, so you have nothing to fear, my friend. Truth is, we're ALL your friends, and we're cheering for you! The only way you can screw up is to not show up. :)
As for them liking you, how can they possibly get to know you in 30 minutes or so? Just deliver your message as passionately and expertly as if you were simply addressing a small group of us AR members. They don't need to like you, Jonathan. They just need to hear you.
We're behind you all the way!
AR vs MOVE - you will never be forgotten.
Jon, I know I'm repeating some comments. Require or lobby for tougher education requirements. Speak the truth and facts only please, leave the Corporate rhetoric at the office. Get out of the way of the true Real Estate Industry leaders. (I saw this as a tweet, but I can't remember who wrote it)
Thanks for doing this.
Let's start with some line by line transparency with some detailed reports on where the NAR is spending the $60 Million+ a year.
Stop making predictions with "Positive Spin".. (David Leareh confessions come to mind here.)
Become a "Trade Association" and not a "Sales Profession".
Sounds like a Good Start to start rebuilding a tarnished image from saying "it's always a good time to buy" to me. When you think about all of the jokes made about REALTORS -- it always seems to involve that statement....
Jonathan,
First of all Congratulations and may the "force" be with you!
Jonathan, what a can of worms you've opened!
It seems that the concensus here is that NAR might first need to prove its value to its members, thereby repairing the relationship with the backbone of this organization, the very ones whose dollars allow it to exist. NAR has failed in this.
For instance, in a year where REALTORS have taken a 30, 50 or 75% cut in salary, the NAR levied an assessment to replenish its coffers, thereby making us pay more when we are earning far less. While we out here are tightening our belts and learning to live on less, has NAR tightened its collective belt? Has NAR cut positions, or have any of the well-paid staff taken a pay cut? Why doesn't NAR seek to actually help its members, the ones in trouble (most of us), instead of spending more on programs that clearly aren't working? If I am unable to weather this financial storm, I won't be a member next year.
And in a time where consumer confidence is at an all-time low, the NAR has disseminated skewed --some say duplicitous -- information, is getting called on it publicly, thereby failing spectacularly in its number one goal, and therefore further damaging our credibility, and the fundamental reason for its existence.
While I don't yet count myself in these numbers, I see and hear a groundswell of disenfranchised, pissed-off members who are "mad as hell, and aren't going to take it anymore." Like the AR member above who said her entire board dropped out of NAR. Why wouldn't they, when being a REALTOR means nothing...to members, or consumers. We're a collective body who daily preaches and teaches value to our clients, and are now made to practice it in our own lives, daily. NAR, where's your value? In good times, lofty goals are supported. In bad times, we have to circle the wagons and try to ensure our survival.
Are you seeing the big picture? NAR is in trouble. It is now perceived as a conglomerate whose Number One Goal is its own sustenance and profitability, regardless of the flowery public pronouncements of its mission. In this day and age of online activism, grassroots efforts finding large support quickly, and a largely intelligent, pragmatic membership, what would you say is forthcoming?
Scary ideas. You, Jonathan, when you're up there speaking, be brave! Imagine them all naked, nervously covering their privates, while you're telling them like it is. Like it really is. ;-)
Jonathan, realtor.com charges EXTRA for enhanced listings and NAR has no health insurance on the horizon. What DO they do for us? Seems like a political organization more than anything else at NAR.
Speak for a nationwide MLS service. Speak for consolidated membership dues. Praise struggling homeowners and destroy predatory lending practices. All the best.
Jonathan - I agree with many of the comments above.
1. Healthcare for members - seems to me that an organization with over 1 million members should have the necessary clout to attain group coverage.
2. Lobby to loosen credit markets - banks have overcompensated for bad loans by removing many of the feasible and worthy risks (self-employed are heavily punished, and that includes us!). We all understood what risky loans were, but taking away many of the other options has trimmed the viable buyer pool considerably. We need the money to flow from the banks! I am not advocating a further bailout, but what is the plan for the giant one that was already approved?
3. Raise the bar in order to join this profession. The current qualifications are a joke, even though they are more stringent than when I started 12 years ago.
Since I have never used Realtor.com at all, I can't speak to that, but it sounds like they need to dramatically reduce the cost to advertise there. Sounds like double-dipping from the membership to me. I doubt that ANY of us would belong to NAR if it were not required - same goes for local boards. The sole reason that most people I know are members is to have access to the MLS.
Consumers really don't understand the difference between real estate agent and "Realtor", nor has this ever been adequately presented to them. I hear ads about this periodically, but I think most average consumers think of the two as synonymous.
I like Kate's suggestion about sincerely educating the public about how we get paid in the first place. This might provide some additional loyalty from those we are working with. As a fringe discussion, I often wonder why we are one of the only professions to allow ourselves to work on a contingency basis ALL THE TIME.
I've read some of the posts, and will comment on them as follows:
1) "I believe that NAR owes it to its membership to educate the public on the how we get paid." --
WRONG! The NAR is NOT MY BUSINESS! They have no business educating the public, or my clients, on how I get paid. That's up to me. It's up to me to explain my fees, and I -- as a LICENSED practioner -- can charge anyway I want. I can charge a fee for service, a commission, an hourly rate. It's MY business, and as long as I am working under RESPA, and disclosure, and my customers/clients know -- the NAR better NOT even attempt to educate the public on how "we" get paid. Can we say racketeering boys and girls. This agent, "Kate" does NOT speak for me, or my office, and in my (not so) humble opinion she really needs to get a clue on an "association" vs. a "cartel."
My 'business model' on my real estate office is not the same as another office. Just like . . . hmmmmmm . . . Burger King sells hamburgers, and so does McDonalds . . . but they're NOT the same restaurant.
My real estate office is NOT the same as any other "independently owned and operated" brokerage. STOP TRYING TO LUMP ALL AGENTS/REALTOR(s)/BROKERAGES together.
2) Who is this YUTZ?? Ducan Logan??
1. How do we make buying a home as quick, safe and easy as buying a used car from a reputable dealer.
2. How do we reduce the transaction cost to less than 2% of the deal value and still offer a profitable career for our members.
3. How do we create instruments to allow investors and consumers to hedge against movements in the real estate market.
4. How do we create instruments to help renters become first time buyers in expensive districts.
5. How do we adopt technology to enhance liquidity in the market.
NAR is an ASSOCIATION -- it does NOT control the market, set fees, cartel commission structure. What is Duncan smoking? How dare he conspire to reduce a transaction fee to 2%? He should be investigated for practicing real estate without a license.
He writes "Our memebers" . . . he's not even a Realtor(r) . . . or is he talking about the Active Rain members, and then I would look at this as another racketeering attempt to conspire with price fixing on commissions. He states in his AR blurb he is NOT a licensed real estate agent. SHUT UP DUNCAN LOGAN!
Webeyez -- Oh, like he's going to set the market straight -- with his "web eyez"?? If he tries anything else, I will "see" this an an attempt to interfer with my business practice and it won't be well taken!
How do we create instruments to help renters become first time buyers in expensive districts? he ponders.l
Again . . . what is he smoking? I can't afford "expensive districts" either . . . I'm not a renter, but I can't afford a lot of the "expensive districts" that I sell in. SO WHAT! Is the NAR supposed to lobby congress for a give away to renters?
Here's a thought -- SAVE MONEY! If you rent, talk to an EXPERIENCED Realtor(r), and mortgage broker on how you can become a home owner. And if your BUDGET allows you to buy in an "expensive district" good for you! If not, then look at the wonderful neighborhoods that you can afford!
How about lobbying that $10K in an individuals' IRA is upped to $25,000K withdrawn for home buying without penalties?
How about health care? I pay $400 a month for coverage! I know I could pay HALF that if my "trade" association would make this available to their members.
I also do NOT have: Worker's Compensation, Unemployment Benefitis . . . in my state. Although I am considered an "employee" of my company, I am NOT considered an "employee" when it comes to these benefits.
When the market slows . . . I have NOTHING to fall back on. Only my savings. I have nothing else.
70% of WOMEN who are forced into bankruptcy do so because of MEDICAL BILLS and unplanned health crisis. Health care, and insurance is IMPERITIVE to women. My association -- gee thanks -- offers NOTHING to help me or my business when things turn slow. There are NO health benefits, no unemployment benefits, no worker's compensation . . . and some non-Realtor(r) (Duncan) wants to establish a 2% commission?? I LIVE OFF MY EARNINGS when the times are slow. I LIVE OFF my savings! I pay, and pay and pay -- dues, subscrptions, E&O insurance, my car insurance because I use it for business, RMLS fees, brokers fees, desk fees . . .
These fees and costs of running a business are NOT something I feel my association the NAR needs to tell the general public. I can tell a customer and/or client if I choose to. My clients want me as their agent because they know I am hard-working and their fiduciary. Just as a CPA or other licensed entity.
I don't need my association to RUN my business, but I do need them to make the running of it more affordable!
My suggestions:
1) Health care PLEASE!
2) Disability insurance coverage PLEASE!
3) Educate the general public on DUAL AGENCY
4) Maranda Rights for unsuspecting buyers who call on FOR SALE signs and talk to the Seller's agent. "I am the SELLERS agent," might not be a bad way to start.
5) Education on "Customer" level service, and "Client" level service!
6) What happened to PMI -- mortgage insurance? What happened to HUD homes? What happened when banks get PMI on FHA AND government bail outs??
7) STOP bail outs!
Jon - I think you need to plans.
Plan A. I understand that they are powerless to address the health care issues. Insurors have always refused to recognize associations. It might help if the leadership at NAR advocated the formation of an adjunct group that could be insurable.
It would help if NAR stopped advocating investment advice. We are sought after to assit in the timely sale of property or the purchase of property. Investment advice is outside our area of expertise.
It would be very helpful if a standard for licensees could be set. There is nothing inherently ethical about telling the world you have a code of ethics. There is no substance.
It seems to me that there may be some usefulness in developing a strategy that is in line with the reality we live and work in.
I guess it is a stretch, but the NAR should be advocating some method to buy off the negative equity that exists in some homes. TARP may make investors and lenders whole but the homeowner is still saddled with a negative equity situation.
No one wants to see bad decisions rewarded but Congress has seen fit to spend trillions of dollars to bail out bad decisions. As much as I do not feel comfortable advocating buying out negative equity and rewarding stupidity and self centered behavior, it seems that doing so is in vogue. It should be apparent to most that truly comprehend the value of money that lower interest rates to 0% will not make over priced properties attractive. Rather that deal with the situation piece meal, the NAR needs to advocate a simple algorhythm that can be used to pay off current loans, waiving negative equity amounts and refinancing the balance at a market rate.
If they don't listen, ask Lawrence Yun to describe the current market, get up and leave the room as he babbles on and go over to Capital Hill and find someone their that might listen.
Plan B. Accept that the NAR is merely a vestige of the power elite that is out of touch with the people they pillage. They are becoming rich off the meager earnings of agents. They offer nothing of substance other than a lapel pin.
Walk into the building and offer the receptionist a note advising everyone to leave the building by noon. At 12:01, arrange to have the building implode. Leave a cardboard sign.....Larry,we hardly knew you.
Jon,
Stop being nervous. I have met you and heard you speak. You are smart, tenacious and well-spoken. You will do just fine. I understand your nervousness, but I also have confidence that you will overcome it with brilliance.
Thank you, Jon, for inviting the members to comment on many articulate members' comments. I agree with many of the same issues. BUt my hottest button is mentioned by Carla Muss-Jacobs, Portland regarding DUAL AGENCY.
What does dual agency have to do with NAR? Realtors & NAR, state , local organiations have danced around dual agency for as long as I have been a dues-paying member (30 years). Explaining to consumers who you represent should be fairly easy. NOT.
Having been licensed in three states, and dealt with buyer disclosure forms, not many realtors even explain the form. They say, "Sign here and let's go look at houses." How do I know? I served on professional standards committees and heard complaints about realtors. The base cause usually is, "Who do you represent? Me? Or the other guy?"
So, when every opportunity presents itself, I mention dual agency as the root cause of the public's image of so-called professionalism in the realtor community.If realtors would require single agency as a Standard of Practice,our image might improve. There are always those who pay "lip service" to ehtics. The more obvious way to enforce professionalism is to eliminate dual agency.
Dual agency has its advocates. THe listing agent knows the property best, the seller best. In my experience, when a listing agent is negotiating with his seller for a buyer, the agent is neogotiating for himself.
Carla suggested a Customer Miranda Rights rule. It would be a step forward. You can never eliminate the bad apples in any profession but you can state up front what happens if you do "X".
I also agree with NO BAILOUTS, health care, and a trade union that uses its weight to push Congress in the right direction.
Thesa: I agree with you; Here also to have access to MLS you have to belong to & Pay local, state & national dues. I had a customer who found a home on Zillow.com, FSBO, but didn't get a fair market price as the seller was using not only Zillow's average but also Realtor.com average and other websites that offer market values. I showed the seller a CMA from the MLS and they wouldn't accept it because it was Realtor based and saw Yun on TV who supposedly said prices were up. Go figure.
Dean: I also agree that a lot of the Realtor membership joined to have access to the MLS. Some of them I have met over the years both before I joined and after was adhering to the COE as long as there was no conflict & brought in a commission; otherwise- no response to email or voice mail and issues continued all the way to closing, not deed recording, and the day after. It seems to me that COE is only good up to the lawyers table and non existent afterwords ("I don't know" or "Not my problem" is the common saying). I have handle my sellers & buyers questions/concerns/worries weeks or months after the commission check is in the bank. This to me is ethics & not the way NAR preaches it and pratices it.
Jon: GOOD LUCK! just hang in there and speak for us against the NAR bureaucrats.
1.Eradicate MLS Boards and Board of Realtors who think WE work for THEM.... More affordable fees. There is no reason I have to pay almost $2000/year for these "benefits" to keep an organization alive who will throw me under the bus to save their face.
2. Homeowner relief from mortgage debt.
3. Reasonably priced Health Insurance for Realtors.
4. Stricter regulations and education to obtain Real Estate licenses.
Everyone in Canada and other countries where health care reform IS working, are using a "Single Payer" program. The big insurance companies, the "Middle Man" has been cut out completely! This is what President Obama originally wanted when he began his quest for the White House, before the Insurance lobbyists got to him .... http://www.pnhp.org/facts/what_is_single_payer.php
So Jon, how'd it go? What was the response? I just heard Vicki Cox Golder, NAR President Elect, speak in Flagstaff AZ this week and she is passionate and hopeful about the market.