Above, Jason Haber
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New Start-Up Trade Assn. Co-Founder: “We’re Not Competing With NAR…Yet.”
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Having been a licensed Salesperson, Broker/salesperson and/or Broker of Record for the past 48 years, I’ve always viewed the NAR as more of a closed shop union than anything else. With all the nonsense at the top of the organization, it seems even more difficult to see the value of belonging to NAR. I always expect to pay for what I get, but lately the only value I see is the ability to gain and maintain access to the MLS. No NAR membership equals no MLS membership. Have you ever felt as if someone was holding a gun to your head? I would be very interested in exploring a legitimate alternative as it develops.
The so called American Real Estate Association portrays itself as a lifeboat for the large sinking ocean liner, NAR. Problem is that the ocean liner is NOT sinking. All organizations are faced with issues and major hurdles during their lifetime, and NAR will make its’ way through this perfect storm. Umansky and Haber saw an opening, a crack, and will profess they are not trying to sink the ship, but they appear to be doing just that. NAR is a family. A proud family that has suffered some embarrassment at the leadership level. The lawsuits are a matter that still need to wind their way to a conclusion. I doubt they will bankrupt or bring NAR to its’ knees at the end of the day. So, the foundation of membership, the vast majority of “family members” would be well advised to stay strong, believe in the ability of the family to overcome, and NOT follow the lead of a couple of self-proclaimed saviors in trying to urge fledgling family members to jump ship. Everyone gets their fifteen minutes of fame, I guess. Let’s see how successful the A.R.E.A. becomes. Time will be the judge.
Do you work for NAR?
I would love to see an alternative to NAR. One that provides value for the amount of dues that is paid. Most agents I know pay this dues/remain a member simply because this “monopoly” requires NAR membership to have MLS access–which we know is also a requirement to join any firm that is a MLS member, and which in and of itself is a critical tool to run most any real estate business.. This mandate is not “providing value” per se, when you are at their mercy, no matter how much they set their fees (on top of state and local associations to boot) . Many agents do not feel like NAR is doing what they could be doing to provide value to agents, e.g., explore group health insurance at reduced rates based on pooling its vast amount of agents across the country, and other such meaningful advocacy actions that provide value for agents. I do understand they advocate for the public in support/opposition of legislative issues (which some of us may or may not agree with, so be it, to be expected), but they need to operate more as a powerhouse advocacy group for us who fund their operations/salaries. More new educational opportunities, as one value proposition proposed by the A.R.E.A. exploratory person in this article, to me does not provide new value as there is a plentiful amount of learning opportunities available out there at any agent’s fingertips already. Not a bad idea, just not the value I would like to see. I’m not sure I have a reason for being an NAR member other than I HAVE to be. I hope A.R.E.A. can be the change, or be the reason for NAR to change. I will be following with high hopes.
Well, at the top I see a fellow in the biz longer than me! Im just a baby at 44 years as a broker. For over 35 years Ive questioned the value of NAR and probably wouldnt have been a national or state member of anything were it not required to be a MLS member, which is a practice that stinks on ice. Its a form of blackmail. Especially the state, which at times seems like its mostly about self back patting and gold games.
Now—to be fair—NAR and the state organizations I belong/belonged to (OAR and CAR) have done a LOT OF GOOD. The industry is better off than it would be without them. This last gigantic FIASCO over the agency issue and the lawsuits is bogus trash designed solely to make millions in fees. Note the main atty is asking for a giant piece of the pie. Who won in this? It wasnt an issue. Injured party or parties? How? But it looks like now this fiasco is being used as fodder for newbies to jump in and discredit NAR. Like another said–fingers in a crack. NARs crack, lol.
Meant GOLF games above, not Gold games, lol