NAR Related Post of the Week
Athol Kay writes: NAR is Spinister
It is a must read…
Spin + Sinister = Spinister
Spinister: A presented research thesis so chock full of knowingly misleading information presented as fact to support a outcome desired by the person or group funding the research. Also it’s probably evil.
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Dalton Gets… Something… from the NAR
Jonathan Dalton has posted a series of three blog posts that outline some communication he’s received directly from both the NAR President and the Senior VP of “Convention and Communication” with regard to the mysterious $30 “assessment” that is popping up on realtor’s dues bills for the “public awareness campaign”.
These are required reading folks:
NAR’s Public Awareness Campaign
NAR and Me: One of Us Has to Be Out of Touch
Response from NAR About the Public Awareness Campaign
Edited to add: The NAR is telling Jonathan this assessment fee has been required in the past. It’s the first time I recall seeing it, but I don’t pay a lot of attention. I just write the check — I have no other choice.
Anyone out there have an old statement they can verify whether or not this fee has been added on before?
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24 Hours of NAR on the RE.net
Here are a few posts from the last 24 hours that touch on the NAR….
Real Estate Myths or What I Did on My Summer Vacation — from Sellsius
The sellsius guys compare the oft quoted NAR stat that 77% of home buyers start their search on the Internet to what they found “on the street” during BlogTour USA. A great read!
In the Gospel according to NAR, 77% of buyers use the internet to search for homes. This stat has become sacred dogma, incessantly chanted by MSM and the bloggerati. It provides the philosophical foundation for putting your listings on all manner of websites. It requires you do penance to upgrade to the revered “featured listing”. To question this stat would be a blasphemy akin to questioning the earth’s roundness (actually, the earth is an oblate spheroid, but I digress.)
Don’t live in fear of the NAR or your broker — disintermediate them — from Greg Swann at BloodhoundBlog
Greg is never shy about his thoughts, ideas and opinions. An interesting, thought provoking read.
The stakes are high, as Brian has pointed out. You yourself have been smart enough to build a Web 2.0 marketing strategy, but now you’re faced with the possibility that your broker, with or without the help of the brokers’ cartel, the National Association of Realtors, may try to take it all away. Here are some things you can do to pursue independence now:
Does the NAR & the Big Brokers really want to fight The Blogosphere? — from Rain City Guide
The most interesting part of this post is the comment where ARDELL says, “If NAR would nix it (blogging), I’d just quit NAR.” The only reason I’m in the NAR is to get MLS access. Maybe ARDELL’s MLS doesn’t require it. Makes me wonder why she’s a member if she can “just quit” it.
NAR stepping into wildly unknown territory — from Real Central Virginia
Jim Duncan applies the NAR’s own Code of Ethics to answer this frightening concept:
The RE.net is evolving, and mostly self-policing, much too quickly for the National Association of Realtors to regulate it. Good luck to them if they have any thought that this might fly -
6. Posting unfavorable/unflattering (but truthful) comments to Blogs
There are more posts out there. Your editor is a little busy preparing to leave for Puerto Penasco, Mexico today for a little R&R. Posting my be light through the weekend….
This Week On the NAR
Here is just a sampling of posts made this week across the RE.net…
From Calculated Risk - Another Month, Another NAR Revision
The comedians at the National Association of Realtors (NAR) revised down their forecast today for existing home sales in 2007 again. (Editor’s note: These folks pull no punches)
From Paper Economy - The Boston Globe’s New Bubble?
It appears that yesterday, The Boston Globe finally completed the National Association of Realtors (NAR) training course titled “how to become a willing shill for the real estate industry in… 90 days or less!”. (Editor’s note: Nice dissection of the frightening combination of the mainstream media and the NAR)
From Dalton’s AZ Homes - Do the NAR Trademark Police Watch The Bachelor?
Being forced to pay to belong to an organization that doesn’t seem to have much clue what its membership wants looks wrong, feels wrong, is wrong. The argument for change is that changes can occur from working within the system. But I don’t think volunteering for a sub-committee for the Phoenix Association of Realtors is going to give me much sway over Lawrence Yun’s incoherent, naive spin. (Editor’s note: may be the first entrant into the NAR Wisdom Hall of Fame)
From National Realty News - Improvement in Mortgage Market Bodes Well for Housing in 2008 Says NAR
Lawrence Yun, NAR senior economist, notes that widening credit availability will help turn around home sales. (Editor’s note: Ahem… see quote about Yun above)
From The site formally known as RealtorGenius - NAR Just Says “NO” to real**genius.com
Apparently the use of the word Re***or in any fashion can be shunned for almost any reason- especially trademark violations. NAR has contacted us and asked us to formally end the use of this domain & I would assume any variation of the word ***ltor even though I am a member. (Editor’s note: this was probably my tipping point…)
From Bloodhound Blog - Realtor.com Pencil Sharpener
They have a pattern of doing outrageous things to Realtors with their prices - this isn’t new. It is despicable. (Editor’s note: A must visit, if just for the photo.)
From Ramblings of a Real Estate Madman - NAR’s E-Pro Designation is Worthless
The National Association of Realtors have been issuing a designation for Realtors called E-Pro and it’s a total joke. (Editor’s note: You too can be an “e-Pro” for only $359.)
From AgentGenius.com - Is it Time to Throw More Money Away?
I’d love to hear what others think on Realtor.com and the NAR. Does it work for you? Give me the numbers, please. (Editor’s note: Me too…)
If you know of a NAR post that should be mentioned on NAR Wisdom, please contact us!