"But Our Cause Is Just."

It's been interesting to read the back and forth discussion about the NAR's $40 dues increase to support "critically needed lobbying for the housing industry." After watching the Jack Abramoff interview on 60 Minutes this past Sun, I was appalled at the extent of his corruption of Congress and sick to think that I am going to be supporting a similar effort. But, the NAR says, "But our cause is just." "We need to fight the attacks on our industry." "Everyone else is doing it."

Kind of sounds like the arms race during the cold war, but instead of pouring money into military items, we're going to pour it into the bottomless pockets of the members of Congress who indicate they are willing to be influenced. So I wonder how long it will be before the $40 is not enough and they'll be back for more. In spite of the approval of our directors, I think we need to ask ourselves if we really want to wade further into this "quicksand."

One of the recent comments from a NAR supporter showed outrage that the lobbying effort was still being questioned after the directors voted to implement it. Regardless of the vote, the discussion needs to continue. When I search the Active Rain community for blogs on the subject, it's obvious that we were overwhelmingly against it and we should refuse to be silenced. Directors can be replaced and decisions can be reversed.

Speaking of which, I think it's also time to examine what NAR is doing for us. They give out meaningless and often harmful statistics on the status of the "housing market" when we know that all real estate markets are local. In the most recent REALTOR Magazine they are bemoaning FHA's decision to drop loan limit caps from 125% to 115% of median area prices. Wasn't overly generous loans one of the housing crisis causes? In the same article they claim that home equity drops are restricting business growth because business owners can't tap into it for expansion. Once again, wasn't the use of home equity as an ATM one of the problems? Seems like NAR is on a never ending quest for more transactions, more practitioners and therefore more dues. They have watered-down the requirements for our most prestigious certifications to get more members and more dues. Never mind that the certifications are now virtually meaningless.

They seem especially alarmed by the questioning of the mortgagee interest deduction. In my 23 years as a licensed real estate professional, I have never had a client buy because of the mortgage interest deduction. Sure, they took the perk at tax time, but that's not why they bought a house and they won't refuse to buy if the deduction goes away. We might be better foregoing the interest deduction to reduce the debt we're running up for our children.

Home ownership is not for everyone and it requires personal responsibility. A stable market with properly qualified buyers may not be spectacular but it's to the best interest of everyone involved.