Creating Connections from Cultural Change
Jack Torza is a candidate for 2010 NAR Treasurer.
In a recent post to his “campaign blog”, Jack has a lot to say.
A lot of good stuff.
I believe that organized real estate, from local associations right on up to national, is now confronting a period of remarkable culture change, one that requires that we reevaluate our traditional methods of engaging, serving and interacting with our members. A new generation of REALTOR® is emerging; it’s a generation defined not by age but by its embrace of technology and social media as essential real estate business tools. (my emphasis)
And increasingly, I fear that many of that generation see organized real estate as tradition-bound and immovable, bound to our old ways of networking, more comfortable shouting our perspective from the rooftops rather than engaging in the kind of conversations and relationships that have emerged in multiple online (and even cell-phone-based!) venues. While that perception may seem to be quite a stretch for those of us who participate in our REALTOR® associations, it’s a reality for many recent recruits to our REALTOR® ranks.
This is the kind of leadership we need in the NAR.
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NAR Promoting “Walkable Cities”?!
First I read an honest report from [gasp!] the NAR’s Chief Economist. “Refreshing”, I say to myself, “The NAR may be getting a clue!”
Then I see in my reader something titled, “Top Ten: Information on Realtor® Sites”
I’m a fan of lists. They are short, often thought provoking and more often provide ideas and info that may be good to share with clients, and prospective clients. I’m thinking that maybe the NAR is here to provide me with a cool list I can put on my site.
The first list is, “Top Ten Home Town Destinations”. Helpful if you live in Asheville, N.C. , Traverse City, Mich. or any of the other eight cities mentioned.
The next list is, “Top Ten: Walkable Cities”.
ALERT ALERT! DANGER! was the immediate response I had to that list.
Why?
The “D word”. Yep, discrimination. Fair Housing. What ever term you care to use.
You see, the simple fact is there are a lot of folks out there that can’t walk. While we as a society may have taken political correctness to an extreme, the bottom line is agents must constantly keep these kinds of things in the forefront of their brains.
We are generally forbidden to use terms in listings and advertising like “Within walking distance to schools”. Heck, some even frown on using “walk-in closet”.
Why then would the NAR publish a list of “walkable cities” and even reprint an AP article on “walkability” in Realtor Magazine online?
I betcha dollars to donuts that some agent out there sees this list and writes up a nifty little post on a web site or blog — “Denver Ranked Fourth Most Walkable City!”.
Personally, I wouldn’t go down that rocky road. Your mileage may vary.
That the NAR is providing ammunition for a Realtor to potentially shoot their self in the foot is a little disconcerting. At a minimum, how about a little disclaimer/reminder that writing about something like walkability may be offensive to a significant portion of the population?
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Lawrence Yun: “Necessary Corrections”
NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun had this to say in a recent article:
Based on the latest available information, my outlook is for new single-family home construction to decline for another year-and-a-half through the second quarter of 2009.
Dr. Yun’s predecessor was routinely blasted across the internet for his overly optimistic (and often inaccurate) forecasts.
That Dr. Yun is offering a not-so-bright (yet realistic, IMHO) opinion is refreshing.
Athol Kay points out a similar instance in a different Yun article.
If you don’t already, I recommend subscribing to Yun’s commentary feed. You just may find it honest and real, and not a bunch of roses and sunshine fluff.
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