Mobile Home Investor · Spanaway, WA · Member since 2008 · 1k+ posts · 578 votes
The National Association of Realtors (NAR) is trying to explain why their 4 year average for resale homes is off by close to a million homes. This is another indication that there needs to be outside checks and balances placed on those agencies that control a lot of politicians pockets. The first average was for 5,137,000 and now it has been revised to 4,420,000. Instead of trying to paint a rosy picture the agency should have been reporting statistics accurately - then there would not be any problem. Dues will probably have to be increased so they can do some additional advertising to cover their glaring mistake. It is a shame that so many have to suffer due to the actions of a few.
I don't for one minute consider the NAR an unbiased, factal source. They're a trade group. They promote their industry. Their industry is real estate transactions. Their business is to convince people to buy and sell houses. Simple as that.
They are a private organization, you can't have checks and balances. They have no obligation to tell the truth or to benefit anyone other than themselves.
People should realize that they are biased and ignore their figures.
This is why, no matter how flawed they may be, gov't numbers are the only ones you can pay any attention to. (and that should be little attention)
All other private orgs are biased for themselves.
Eric, I have to disagree with you for one simple reason... because of all the laws that require certain things to be done by a realtor. Read enough threads on here and you'll trip over plenty if instances were people are acting as a realtor or broker without a license and are warned of legal consequences. I believe someone in Florida was served with a formal warning.
IMO, when the Government forces an agency upon us, that agency now has the responsibility to tell the truth. They are no longer private businesses doing advertisements with obvious slants and biases... they are considered an unbiased expert providing factual information.
After all, if the Realtor Association is biased... then one has to assume the people in that association are... so how are they providing unbiased advice to their clients and acting in the clients best interest?
I don't for one minute consider the NAR an unbiased, factal source. They're a trade group. They promote their industry. Their industry is real estate transactions. Their business is to convince people to buy and sell houses. Simple as that.
NAR isn't forced upon anyone. I am a licensed real estate agent and I have no association with NAR. If/when I represent someone in a real estate transaction, NAR has no oversight or involvement.
Indeed, Realtor != Broker. In my area, NAR Resales don't seem to match the county records anyway. Not all at least. I'm not a broker or Realtor and rely on deed transfer records. My view is that the county records are accurate.
BTW, the number of Wake county foreclosure filings doesn't match other organization's (e.g. ReltyTrac) either. I think they have a different agenda too.
If you find yourself in litigation, you would not "associate" yourself with NAR to accept their $50,000 provided to each agent to successfully defend themselves against any and all consumers?
Last ads I saw were saying, "We are saving the American Dream". I have not heard or met anyone whose home was "saved" for them by any agent. Foreclosures continue to climb so agents will have an inventory to try and sell.
If you find yourself in litigation, you would not "associate" yourself with NAR to accept their $50,000 provided to each agent to successfully defend themselves against any and all consumers?
I am not a member of NAR...therefore I don't believe they would be interested in helping me or giving me money for anything. And I'd never become a member of NAR just for litigation protection.
Last ads I saw were saying, "We are saving the American Dream". I have not heard or met anyone whose home was "saved" for them by any agent. Foreclosures continue to climb so agents will have an inventory to try and sell.
So, what you're saying is that they're not as good as their slogan might indicate. I guess that puts them in the same category as 95% of all businesses... :)