Million Dollar Listing
By now, many visitors to this blog have likely seen or at least heard of the latest real estate “reality” show to hit the airwaves – “Million Dollar Listing.” But the sensational story lines and scenarios in this show are anything but an accurate depiction of reality.
With most of these shows, reality is loosely defined, and “cast” members are often selected for their outrageous behavior and outsized personalities to attract viewers. “Million Dollar Listing” is no exception.
The production company’s own Web site makes it clear. “Million Dollar Listing is a show about the high-stakes, cut-throat world of real estate and closing the deal...but it’s the personal dramas, the insanity of its quirky cast and the insider tips aspiring homeowners and home buyers will learn that will keep viewers glued to the television each and every week.”
The show’s objective is not really to inform, but to entertain. Which would be fine, except that some viewers, particularly those who have little or no experience with real estate professionals in real life, might come away with some very distorted images of the industry.
As most Realtors® would tell you, earning a living by helping people buy and sell real estate is hard work, and long-term success requires professionalism, people skills, extensive knowledge of local markets, and a great deal of patience.
Real estate is not a get-rich-quick profession. The median gross personal income for all Realtors® in 2004 was $49,300. For Realtors® with two or fewer years of experience, the median was only $12,850. And Realtors® work hard to earn a living – the typical Realtor® works 46 hours per week, and nearly one in five report working more than 60 hours per week.
The good news is that 85 percent of home buyers and sellers in a nationwide survey would most likely use their real estate agent again. On this personal level, a sizeable majority of the home buying and selling public know that Realtors® are hard-working, trustworthy, and committed to providing their clients with the best service possible.
If you’d like to e-mail your views to the producers of this show, contact them at wow@worldofwonder.net.
