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By Amy Konstas
Government Affairs Directors from across the country gathered today to learn about initiatives and programs from NAR’s government affairs department, including the new Electoral Services Program (ESP) that will enable state and local associations to reach target audiences more effectively during campaigns.
ESP provides recent voter data, data usage tools and even political consultants to help design effective campaigns. It also offers a national REALTOR® Voter File to enable effective communication with REALTORS® and a non-REALTOR® Voter File of more than 170 million registered voters that can be targeted to state or local needs.
GADs also received an update on NAR’s community programs – Housing Opportunity, Smart Growth and Diversity – including an addition to NAR’s conference lineup. “Bringing Workers Home,” scheduled for October 6, in Chicago, will highlight employer-assisted housing and the advantages to organizations that provide this valuable benefit to their employees. CVS Pharmacy and Harley-Davidson, two companies currently doing just that, are slated to be on the agenda.
Results from the NAR Green Building Survey of members were also shared during the session, and demonstrated that REALTORS® care deeply about environmental issues. Seventy percent believe NAR should become more involved on environmental issues, 40 percent said green building is important to business and energy efficiency was cited as the #1 environmental issue in real estate. A whopping 90 percent of respondents believe that environmental issues will continue to increase in the future.
Jerry Giovaniello, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs, provided a legislative update. Networking sessions for both state and local GADs followed.
By Jennifer Cavendish
This morning's marketing forum, Success in Any Market, was a fascinating combination of statistical market data and wildly unorthodox approaches to the business of real estate. NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun presented on marketing trends, based in large part on the results of NAR's 2007 Home Buyers and Sellers Survey - practical, useful information for REALTORS® fighting to convey the message that not only is every market different, but every neighborhood is different, and that there truly is no national real estate market.
Yun challenged attendees to identify unique opportunities in challenging times. For example, oil prices force everyone to reevaluate. Meet consumers where they are and build on this by concentrating your efforts on home sales closer to job centers and near public transportation/rail stations and on smaller, more energy-efficient homes.
Continue reading "Make Real Estate Fun Again" »
By Maura York
Attendees of Friday morning's forum, co-presented by NAR International and NAR Resorts, hit the trifecta, thanks to three speakers who gave valuable presentations about foreign nationals interested in the U.S. market and opportunities for Americans abroad.
Continue reading "Joint International-Resort Forum Offers a World of Information" »
By Wendy Cole
Blogs, podcasts, and social networking Web sites are becoming crucial marketing tools for anyone in real estate. But unrestrained passion for these powerful communication vehicles could put you at odds with the REALTOR® Code of Ethics.
That was the key message at a session held here at NAR's Midyear Meetings. Keith Garner, managing director of NAR’s Center for REALTOR® Technology, called on REALTORS® to pay particular attention to Article 12 of the Code, which says practitioners shall be “honest and truthful in their real estate communications and shall present a true picture in their advertising, marketing and other representations.”
That includes what you say about yourself on blogs, Facebook, and other sites. “Successful blogs never run into these problems. You’ll be called out by others if you’re not careful,” Garner said.
Continue reading "Staying True on the Internet" »
By Amy Konstas
Today I attended the Business Technology & Information Systems Forum where the buzz was about “real-time everything.” Speakers included NAR’s Chief Technology Officer Mark Lesswing and Errol Samuelson, President of REALTOR.com. Samuelson sounded the demise of the PC as the dominant means of accessing data and the emergence of mobile devices as primary information tools instead. He also believes mobile devices and video technology are having the greatest impact on real estate technology and present opportunities for advertising innovation.
Lesswing introduced the concept of Real-Time Real Estate (that’s RTRE, for those in the know), the end-to-end delivery model for residential real estate services and provided a supporting white paper to session attendees.
Other speakers included J. Lennox Scott, Chairman and CEO of John L. Scott Real Estate in Seattle, WA, and Keith Garner of NAR’s Center for Real Estate Technology, who presented a detailed review of mobile technology (WiMax, Mesh networks), including accessibility and speed.
By Wendy Cole
Wednesday’s Capitol Hill meeting between the Indiana Association of REALTORS® and freshman Indiana Congressman Joe Donnelly was nothing short of a lovefest.
When the Indiana association’s VP and federal political coordinator, Paul Wyman, told Donnelly that they’d given him a “100% voting record” on real estate-related issues, the Blue Dog Democrat nearly blushed. “I didn’t even know that,” he insisted.” It’s not like we say we better be right all the time with the REALTORS®. Your issues coincide with what is right.”
Indeed, the fiscal conservative’s consistent support of foreclosure prevention efforts, federal tax credits for first-time home buyers, and other housing stabilization efforts as a member of the Financial Services Committee chaired by Rep. Barney Frank has proved a perfect fit with the interests of struggling Indiana practitioners. (New home sales fell 36% in the Hoosier state last year, while existing-home sales dropped 13%.)
Continue reading "How Much Do You Love Your Congressman?" »
by Amy Konstas
I learned in the Federal Housing Policy Committee meeting that FHA loans now make up 15-20 percent of the mortgage market. It’s estimated in August these loans may comprise about 40 percent of the entire market. Overall, the FHA culture has changed for the better, and FHA loans are now very valuable business and a good opportunity for REALTORS®.
More borrowers are being reached in terms of eligibility to get a loan, which is good, and the introduction of foreclosure prevention plans by Democrat Senators Barney Frank and Christopher Dodd would also help alleviate trouble within the housing market. But principal reduction must be addressed for loans already underwater.
A Q&A session followed.
By Maura York
Robert Authier, RCE, CAE, chief executive officer of the Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® and real estate professional of more than 25 years, was announced as the recipient of the 2008 William R. Magel Award of Excellence at Wednesday morning's Association Executives Forum. Peers cited Authier's tremendous contributions as a mentor to other AEs and as a coach to REALTOR® members among the reasons he deserved the highest honor an association executive can earn.
Continue reading "2008 Magel Winner Named at AE Forum" »
By Mariwyn Evans
If you’re like me, you're tired of worrying constantly that you or your family may not be able to get health insurance, afford coverage, or keep coverage if they have a serious illness.
I’m one of the lucky ones, since NAR offers health insurance for its employees. But I have friends and brothers and sisters who work for themselves — just as most REALTORS® do — and aren’t so lucky. Either they must pay hundreds of dollars a month for coverage, or rely on a spouse for coverage. But what if you simply can’t afford the coverage, or what if your spouse gets laid off?
These concerns are why I’ve always intently followed NAR’s efforts to get a small-business health plan bill through Congress. I hadn’t heard much about the initiative lately — at least not until I sat in on the Business Issues Committee meeting today at the NAR Midyear Meetings.
Continue reading "Taking Another Stab at Health Care" »
By Maura York
More than 100 REALTORS® filled the Marriott Wardman's Thurgood Marshall Ballroom East Tuesday morning for the first of two NAR Election Forum sessions (the second is 2 p.m. Thursday in the same location).
NAR First Vice President Vicki Cox Golder and NAR Past President Cathy Whatley facilitated the discussion on election reform recommendations, which NAR's Board of Directors referred back to the Nominating Committee at last November's REALTORS® Conference & Expo. Since then, the Leadership Team has bundled like recommendations and divided them into two groups: non-controversial and those warranting additional discussion.
Not surprisingly, only two brief questions arose among the six non-controversial motions, while the four other recommendations elicited a bit more conversation.
Continue reading "Changing the Way NAR Elects a President" »
By Amy Konstas
Ebby Halliday is my new hero! I just came from 59 1/2 Minutes: A Member & Director Update, where the packed audience was treated to a captivating and insightful conversation between NAR President Dick Gaylord and Dallas REALTOR® Ebby Halliday — who, by the way, also happens to be 97 years old. Full of humor, and looking charming in a bright blue suit, Ebby discussed her career in real estate — one that’s spanned over 60 years. She even entertained the crowd with a little ukulele. What's her secret to longevity? "I don't smoke, I don't drink, and I don't retire." Ebby is a true legend of the business, and just an inspiration in life.
NAR 2008 President-Elect Charles McMillan explored how NAR’s accomplishments over the past 100 years have shaped the contours of the real estate industry and 20th century America in the process. Just a few of the achivements include the orderly exchange of property, expansion of communities across the country, and the creation of fair housing opportunities.
And finally, 2008 First Vice-President Vicki Cox Golder laid out NAR’s legislative agenda to stimulate the housing market and stem the tide of foreclosures.
By Jennifer Cavendish
The Commercial Real Estate Research Subcommittee convenes twice a year at the NAR Midyear and Annual meetings. At today's Midyear meeting, a spirited discussion ensued about NAR maintaining its position as the industry-leading source of relevant, thorough, practical commercial real estate research for its membership. Subcommittee members are an active, engaged group, and the meeting was informal but incredibly informative.
Continue reading "Research Underway on Effect of Oil Hikes" »
By Pamela Geurds Kabati
Do you know how many words are in the preamble of NAR’s Code of Ethics? If you said 460, you'd be right. It starts with "Under all is the land ..." and ends with a reference to the Golden Rule. When is the last time you read the preamble?
Richard Mendenhall, 2001 president of NAR, told the 26-member inaugural class of NAR's Leadership Academy that he reads it every year on the anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. He reads it on that day, he said, to remind himself of how important honesty, integrity, and trustworthiness are to his business and to effective leadership. Richard, a REALTOR® in Columbia, Mo., was at the helm of NAR during the attacks and oversaw the creation of the REALTORS® Relief Foundation, which has collected millions of dollars over the years to help disaster victims.
On Monday he delivered the graduation address to this class of future NAR leaders, who are gathered in Washington, D.C., for NAR's Midyear Legislative Meetings. The topic of his address was ethical leadership.
Continue reading "What Leaders Are Made Of" »
By Laura Melcher
CNN's Paul Begala and MSNBC's Tucker Carlson impressed the crowd with their wit and finely tuned political insight at Tuesday's Legislative and Political Forum.
Attendees spent much of the session laughing uproariously as Carlson and Begala threw out one-liners, dishing about candidates in the 2008 presidential election and directing jabs at the opposing party and each other.
Selected (tongue-in-cheek) quotes from the session:
1. "It's a bad time to be a Republican ... I'm this close to moving to Idaho and stockpiling weapons and food." (Carlson)
2. "Bush's said of McCain's presidency, 'They ought not misunderestimate him.'" (Begala)
3. On Mike Huckabee: "He doesn't believe in evolution ... or gravity, or photosynthesis." (Begala)
4. On Hillary Clinton: "You want to get in a 'man-off with her? I don't think so." (Carlson)
5. "McCain's campaign slogan is 'Get off my lawn!'" (Begala)
6. "An Obama speech ... is like a dog whistle - most people can't hear it, but for those who can [it's very loud]." (Carlson)
Continue reading "Humor Wins Big at Legislative and Political Forum" »
By Laura Melcher
Many staff members arrived in D.C. today for NAR's Midyear Legislative Meetings and Trade Expo, taking place through Saturday.
While the weather at the moment leaves a little something to be desired, the meeting schedule does not - we're all looking forward to the many fantastic sessions this week. Highlights on Tuesday include the Legislative and Political Forum with Tony Snow, Communications Directors Networking Session, and 59 1/2 Minutes: A Member and Director Update.
The REALTOR.org and REALTOR® magazine teams will be reporting live from the meeting all week, and we're looking forward to your comments and observations about the event. Stay tuned, and we hope to see you here!
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