For or Against the NAR Dues Increase? You better speak up NOW!

It is a tough sell in our market with home prices at 56% of what they were 4 years ago and the number of sales that are not quite half. 

Hmmmm.....good post today.  I've still on the fence.  Lots of good comments to read here.

Patricia/Seacoast NH & ME

Lyn, thanks again for starting the discussion. FYI, I may not get my way, but I do actually have one of the votes in that room in May. That is why I'm learning as much as I can about the issue, and listening to my fellow members opinion. The information is starting to trickle out there. You've done a great service to us by giving folks the ability to find out exactly what's coming down the pike. However, it's fairly apparent that the "knee jerk" reaction is a loud NO! I find the responses closer to 50/50 amongst those that have looked at the info you provided, in depth. Thanks again!

Find ways to lower dues, costs. Weed out the restrictive regulations strangling our businesses. Don't add to them. Run NAR with less front office and more folks in the field, in the real estate trenches will get the wagon out of the mud rut and increase respect of the upper echelon.

A straight forward NO!

Been following the fedback since this blog was posted very interesting feedback. I am really wondering what or if NAR is doing for me as Realtor.

Lyn

I feel in my 4 years with NAR, I often wonder, "what I am paying for?" I don't like being forced into a membership to access the MLS, when this MLS system is being sold to 3rd party vendors for $$$.

Lyn

There are 3^rd parties sites that are sold MLS information (from our MLS) to search for properties, a few like Listing Book , let a real estate agent put this widget or information on their website or send the clients a link. The thing with these 3^rd party sites is, the information is not updated as it would be in the MLS.  I didn't want this type of "service" for my clients as I wanted them to have to updated information instantly. The thing is my "MLS" service in Arizona has this search tool, and I was told that it wasn't promoted? I still have to pay a fee on top of my MLS service for this search option for my clients. What really gets me is how the MLS does not promote this search option for Realtors, why would they? They are raking in $$$ to sell 3^rd party sites MLS information, who in turn, try to sell us on the latest and great search options for our clients. $$$ money driven machines working against us

I don't agree with some of the views on this video http://youtu.be/b1C8sv-EAZc 

Lyn

I feel the same as you, I feel this video is a call for special interest lobbying. I don't get a a good feeling when videos like these are made, I do not agree with them nor do they represent my views.

Dedicated dues? I have to say that since NAR has pushed the increase, I no longer feel that my concerns mean a thing to NAR. Instead I am a # and a source for $ to NAR.

Well for those that haven't heard, last week NAR voted on the increase and it passed and will be in effect for 2012.  This increase will go to fund NAR's Political efforts.  I have read numerous articles about the increase and saw different reports on surveys that have been done, and all of them are against this increase.  In a time when agents and real estate companies are going out of business because they just can't survive, seems to be the worst time to raise dues by 46.51 percent.  I encourage agents not to take this increse lying down.  Here is the content of an e-mail that I just sent to NAR.  If you are reluctant to challenge the "Good ole boy system" remember two things.  First, you do pay NAR's salary and the salary of your local Association staff.  Second, they are suppose to represent their members.  You have my permission to cut and paste and send your own e-mail to NAR.

My topic is dues increase and mandatory contribution to NAR's Political Action Committee.  I heard that NAR is going up on our dues for 2012, with an increase of 46.51 percent.  I also understand t'hat a pole taken in RealTown said that "82.3 'percent of the respondents, including me, were against the increase.  When real estate companies and agents are "dropping like flies" and can't afford to stay in business, you guys want to raise the dues.  The question that I have is how can you as an organization, representing not just Brokers, large companies but independent agents, have the nerve to do such a thing.  It appears you have the same mindset as many of our elected officials in Washington, you forget who pays your salaries and who you represent.  Why have we, the dues paying members, not heard this from NAR?  I hope that you get so many e-mails and telephone calls that you can't return them all.  I also hope that someone files a lawsuit against NAR to challenge the decision to require that we contribute to NAR's Polictical Action Committee.  If I want to contribute to a particular candidate, that is my business.  Why would anyone in their right mind, give someone else their hard earned dollars to contribute to the candidate of their choice.  Please reply and verify if this "rumor" is true or not.!  Also, rather than waiting until the last minute, why doesn't NAR alert the members to this increase so we can have an opportunity to react.

If you disagree, do something.  The polictical process works for everyone.