Even more candor from the National Association of Realtors
I thought I'd never see the day when the NAR economist wrote something like this - Based on the latest available information, my outlook is for new single-family home construction to decline for another year-and-a-half through the second quarter of 2009. ... However, lower home…
Stupid is as stupid does
Recounting a tale from the trenches in the Charlottesville Realtor/real estate world ... Another Realtor was showing buyers a development in Charlottesville and an agent was onsite holding an open house. As the buyers looked around, the Buyer's Agent (BA) and the sellers' agent (SA)…
This is exactly what the NAR should be doing
Lawrence Yun is providing a counter-point to the press coverage - based on actual facts and context rather than sunshine and smoke. A recent Wall Street Journal article points out that home price trends are divergent, depending upon the source. Housing economists are very cognizant…
If NAR spends so much money on PR
Why don't more people know how to spell "Realtor"? It's great that people make their way to my blog when searching for Charlottesville Realtors - But - for those who arrive (thank you for reading) searching for "realator" or "realitor" - it's "Realtor." Re·al·tor …
Pulled from the comments – More on Dual Agency
The following comment was made by Joe Vita, a Realtor in Lexington, Virginia. Joe is also a member of the Virginia Association of Realtors' Policy Board.* "Dual agency practiced by one agent is always a conflict of interest for the agent even if legal dislcosure…
“Suing for lack of competence”
"We are trailblazers..." Trailblazers for what? Advice for buyers: Ask questions. Lots of questions. Look at the Comparative Market Analysis (CMA). Look at the competing inventory. Vet your Realtor. Make sure that you have a competent Buyer's Agent. Ask for references, if you'd like. Don't…
Rumors and expectations of the Realtors’ demise were greatly exaggerated
As predicted on 3 January of this year: The numbers of Realtors in the Charlottesville area is certain to decline in 2008. One simply cannot make a living on so few transactions per year. I was right - but barely. Yesterday was the deadline to…
Realtors gaming the MLS
I had an interesting debate with another Realtor this week about "gaming the MLS." This Realtor wanted to be able to withdraw a listing and put it back on so that it both got a new MLS number (to appear "new") and so that the…
Inventory reduction sale in Charlottesville
I don't often pick fights with others, particularly my local Realtor association, and don't intend to. What I am doing is posting a "letter to the blogger" from one of my favorite commenters who raised some valid points. The story referenced is one in the…