News Summary for July 26
USA Today ran an editorial claiming the real estate business is "inefficient, anti-competitive, and anti-consumer." A response by Tom Stevens was also published that illustrated the competitiveness of the industry. He stated, “America’s real estate industry is one of the most competitive business environments in the world, characterized by low barriers to entry, intense personal client service and performance-based compensation.”
Numerous media outlets, including MSNBC.com and CNNMoney.com covered June’s existing-home sales. According to the data, existing-home sales were down modestly in June while home prices were up slightly from a year ago.
David Lereah appeared on NBC Nightly News commenting on home prices in a story on the current buyers market, “The boom took prices too high. Now we see a correction and prices are beginning to retreat.”
Comments
This is a comment referencing how we as Realtors are looked upon!The National Association has been working really hard to present us as caring, honest, efficient servants to the publics real estate needs. The advertising paid for by us via the National Association of Realtors portrays us in a really possitive manner. Now comes my complaint that our organization needs to address with another advertisor and beneficiery of lots of Realtors dollars! TMobile has launched an ad showing a"busy" Realtor on her TMobile phone & in a matter of seconds she says "It's a seller's market","It's a buyer's market" and in the third breath says that having a house that somebody has died in gives the house something to the effect of "Character". What comes across in this ad is that a Realtor will tell the customer whatever they need to hear in order for the Realtor to make a sale. Would you mind having your Public Relations people review this ad and if it strikes you all the same way it did me, please contact TMobile and see what can be done to undo this negative image they are potraying towards our real estate profession. I personally have subscribed to TMobile for years and I really do not want to change carriers, but I will if they have such little regard for the ethic that realtor do actually practice. I would like an answer. After all you are our voice. Sincerely Pat Jeffries. Horton Auction & Realty, Huntsville, Al
Nothern Alabama Association of Realtors 256-797-0196
Posted by: Patricia Jeffries | July 27, 2006 02:15 PM
Just to comment on the article in USA today, it did seem to miss the point that competition for business among residential real estate agents is more fierce than almost any other US industry. The fact that any parity remains for comissions and service are a testiment to the NAR's ability to maintain minumum performance standards.
-Barrett Niehus
www.4MySales.com
Posted by: Barrett Niehus | July 31, 2006 07:33 PM