Hey NAR, what have you done for me lately?

Took me reading down to post 34 (Kimo) to find someone that defended the NAR, or is it the NRA?  Solutions are needed, what would you suggest? 

Lyn,

Ouch! I really hoped our interests are well-represented. But it looks like there are other interests at play here.

Still waiting to hear what action they're taking to have the Mortgage Debt Forgiveness Act extended.

Not surprising. You obviously missed the NAR post on their Facebook page, something about sponsoring an agent named Stephen Flannery for The Bachelor TV series. It has since been removed, probably out of extreme embarassment.

Having said that, I can see the logic in buying a lockbox company if there is a benefit to the membership in doing so, like reducing costs or eliminating them altogether by making it a member benefit covered by dues, but that could also be done at the local level.

I have only been a member for 16 years. Like some I am wondering is the organization worth it? I am concerned about the direction the "company" is going. Some of the things they do, who or what are they benefiting. I have never got around to checking the company books. (If possible) To see if the things they buy, sell, Lease, rent or whatever help the membership. Somehow I think not. How much do we get into the coffers for letting people use “Realtor” in their name or marketing. Can you imagine “Google”  Letting someone use  google .biz or something  similar for less than a couple of billion, I think in America “Realtor” is as well recognized if not more so by all generations.
I for one would like more clarity. No Explanations in my inbox?
 A great post, let us all keep digging.

NAR is big and bloated but they do protect us as Realtors with their legislative efforts.  They have thwarted many a bill in Congress from becoming law.

Lyn- I didn't hear about any of this...until I read your post. Unbelievable. I'm waiting for August to roll around and the dues be raised, or maybe that will be January when Sentrilock is due. I'm sure one or both will be higher. Having majority ownership in Sentrilock is a total conflict of interest. Thanks for your post.

Wow this is the first I have heard.  Now it might make sense to have a credit union to help us with unique finance issues of the Self Employeed.  Sounds like the "Chicago Way" to me.

all good points...seems typical of an organization based in Chicago!!! Cost of doing business is high there!!

So - NAR has gone the way of unions. A good thing at one time, but then...

Now there's no real benefit to you - except that as long as you pay your dues you're allowed to work and access MLS.

Can you join MLS anywhere without being a NAR member?

Will you soon learn that all members MUST use the Sentrilock brand?

Wow Lyn, they sure are on a spending spree with our money.  Maybe their last visit to Washington gave them ideas?

Wow!  Thanks for the information.  Obviously, I'm not keeping up with the NAR news. 
But then again it didn't hit my inbox either.  Hmmmm

Sorry to be so late to the game on this. I think there is a lot of wasted member funds with unnecessary "benefits" and duplicated benefits from NAR to state and local groups.  Our dues would drop quite a bit if we didn't waste on duplication.

Lyn, Thanks for the education. Every MLS I have ever worked under required us to be members of NAR. Some comments speak of benefits from NAR, I would like to know what they are? They claim NAR members get a discount on Dell computers. I have bought 5 or 6 Dell computers over the years and every time I have come out money ahead by not using my NAR membership. I wonder if NAR gets a kickback when we buy an overpriced computer with a discount?

I find NAR to be no different than a bully, labor union.  I don't agree with anything they do, or how they lean politically, and yet I'm FORCED to pay them if I want operate in my profession.  Ok, perhaps I'm not forced, but we all know it's impossible to be a real estate agent without the REALTOR designation and access to the MLS.