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110 Comments on Its Time to Pay Our Board Dues Again
I understand what you are saying. Our Board collects so much money in dues and then the directors want to determine where to spend it. Some want to give donations to charities. My theory is I should be able to choose my own charity and they should quit overcharging if they are collecting so much money that they can donate.
Hi Belinda, we like how you speak with "walking"! If enough others did, it would make your old board sharpen their pencil.
What I would like to know is what is the real benefit of belonging to the BOR?
Web based MLS's are a dime a dozen, ethics are a joke if you a natural cheat, education is available everywhere and any real estate attorney will whip up forms that work.
I guess I am disgusted at the 300K in cash that my board has sat on for years, and it grows every year.
The only thing NAR is interested in is self preservation - despite the baloney.
Trade Organization my rear - Largest union in the world and I'm not a union guy!
FORTUNATELY, our small board is VERY active in education. Not only have we offered over 50 hours of discounted C.E. this last year, but we also have classes for various designations and the monthly "S.T.A.R. " Classes. I've been an officer on the board for the MLS for the last two years and our A.E. is FANTASTIC at lining these items up!! The neighboring Board, which I am also a member of, is doing much of the same!
I realize that the Realtor assns do have a valid purpose but I beleive that the dues and other fees could be FAR lower if they didnt always look for the most expensive options for everything like fancy hotels, spending more money on parties than speakers, etc.
Linda, you bring up a great point....in addition to checking out available education classes also check out services that are included with your membership at your local association, if there are none it's time to be innovative and creative and to provide members with benefits. Become involved with your association as a volunteer, join a committee, get involved at the leadership level. Get involved to know the inside scoop and to have your voice heard.
It's so interesting to hear of you switching your board affiliation. I think in my state, there's only four or so, and most are prohibitively far away.
I've been fairly happy with my board, but I hate how they disguise RPAC donation and make it look like a required fee. I wish they'd be a bit more aboveboard with that.
Best of luck with your new board, hope that it works out well.
I think people should know all the options and details and realize to satisfy everyone by a board is very difficult!
We only have one Board. Fortunately, it's a good one. They offer lots of continuing education classes. They also bring in guest speakers to speak on topics relevant to our area & business.
Good idea to look around. But, some Brokerages do not give a choice. The place I was at previously required everyone to belong to the NAR, and the local Board. No options at all. I havee since moved on to another Brokerage that doesn't require thaqt and has a different Board.
You are lucky you live in an area where you have a choice. I'm in Mesquite, NV and we belong to two boards and two MLS systems. Our MLS dues are $664 per year and our board dues are $900 per year and due on December 31st! We get absolutely no perks at all for paying them, I'd love them to give me tickets to the realtor rally or anything at all to make me feel better about paying them. If I had more than one board to choose from I would definitily shop around every year when they became due.
We really have very little choice--one Board serves each area. So, I belong to SAMCAR (San Mateo County) and SFAR (San Francisco.) Money just flies out very quickly.!
I have been a member of three MLSs in three different areas for some time. Historically, the larger the Board, the more bang for the buck. The larger Boards in my area are also so much more accommodating.
In at least part of these Boards there is a somewhat hefty initiation fee involved with the switch. Is that not an issue in your area?
Warren
Belinda,
I think for $50 dollars savings is not worthy to spend the the hours of research and switch to another board. Our hourly rate is more than $50. So expend the 3 or 4 hour prospecting and you will get something better than saving 50 bucks!!! Also remember different boards have different mls software and you have to spend some time to learn how they work. Not worthy!!!
As an independent company, and one that does 85% of its business in property management, I could see no reason to belong to a regular real estate board. We do belong to NARPM, National Association of Residential Property Managers, and pay very reasonable dues for national, regional, and local representation and education. From my perspective, real estate boards did absolutely nothing for me in the seven years I paid them when I belonged to one of the big brokerages. In the Denver area, there is no requirement to belong to a board, unless the particular brokerage you work for requires it. Basically, as an independent, I paid a one-time $175 MLS fee, and I pay $43 a month, as opposed to $38 for board members, for access to MLS. I'm still ethical in everything I do. My investor clients are happy, and don't know what a board is anyway. Why do we as agents continue to let ourselves be held hostage by boards that demand outrageous yearly dues. I for one, jumped off that train.
Hi Everyone. I should point out that our Board dues do not include our MLS fees. Those are billed and paid monthly to each Realtor. Our MLS is not affiliated with any Board and I dont think they even know which board we belong to. Again, its not the cost that drove me to do research but the entire benefit package to me individually. We each have our own specific needs and mine were not being met, so I switched. I'm so sorry that many of you do not have the luxury of choosing a different board. I am lucky enough to live in a big enough city that affords me 4 boards to choose from effectively. Thanks so much for all of the input and the incredible responses.
Belinda - You're lucky - you have a choice. My local board is the only game in town and guess what, they don't care what I think about their level of service, or what I think they should do to improve the system. Enjoy your new board and the services they offer!
WOW I had no idea our area Board problems were so universal!!! I have no choice in which Board I can belong to and yes our MLS is owned by and governed by our Board. My big issue with our Board is that we never see a Financial Statement! NEVER! and if the BOD does they are not allowed to discuss it with members. I have been very involved in the past and served on many committees. I served on our Political Action Committee this year because I thought Realtors should be involved in our local communities and make ourselves heard. We had a great committee and we worked hard - BUT - someone did not like it that we were being so visible and were asking questions so we were effectively shut out! Most of us are already active in the local politics and in the City Council and Boards of Supervisors of our respective communities but now NONE of us will ever participate in anything at our local Board ever again! This is the 2nd time I have said this and it will be the last. And don't even get me started on RPAC! If I need and want a CE from our Board I will attend meetings otherwise - I will be an active Realtor serving my clients but not bowing to the powers that be in my local Board.
Thanks I feel better!!!
Kathy Myers Carson, Realtor
John Stewart Walker, Inc
Lynchburg, VA
Maybe the'll start reaching when folks start shopping.