The children of our parent's generation will likely suffer a much worse fate.  My mom was a depression baby and still lives as though it could happen again.....and perhaps it could, just not in an election year.  My generation (Baby Boomers) are now reaching retirement age and will depend heavily on social security to make up for their lack of financial sacrifice in their earlier years.  And the children of B-Boomers will find an even more unsavory retirement, if that is what they'll call it as they continue to work until they can no longer physically do so.  But the Piper has to be paid.  As I mentioned to some others on AR, I have been doing commission advances for agents who in their 30's to 60's, still don't get it.  Living in large homes, driving new cars and not saving a dime.  Guess they figure the rest of the taxpayers will pick up their slack when they can no longer produce income.  It's unbelievable how out of touch with reality these folks are, but reality will be plenty ugly 10 to 25 years from now for this group too. 

Finally, don't kid yourself, our parents (many of them anyway) didn't want to see this coming.  It's called personal accountability and responsibility, neither of which is in vogue now days.  I am not without a heart, but I simply can't feel pity for those who in the past have, and continue to make poor decisions and then look for a someone to rescue them from their bad decisions.  Debt has propped up this country and the American people have become accustomed to it.  A few choose not to participate and see it for what it is...a noose that is slowly strangling the life from them.  I do what I must to provide for my family and make the sacrifices necessary so I won't be one of them.  Failing to plan is planning to fail.

PS.  My mom still uses powdered milk. 

You raise some valid points.  And I'm sure I am in enabling them to a degree (understand, all my commission advances are to agents from other companies, not mine), but just as you provide a service to a buyer and the buyer makes the decision to purchase a home against your advice, you will not tell that buyer to find another agent.  I too will provide a service after a discussion of it's merits and risks. 

I've found that these agents really don't want to hear what I have to say and are only looking for someone to ease their pain for the day.  They are certain the next big deal is just around corner....of course, it never is.  They will worry about tomorrow...tomorrow.  This is their life philosophy, not mine.  

Most all these folks DO blame others for their predicaments...it's become a national past-time.  No accountability, no responsibility, it must be someone else's fault.  That is a cultural characteristic, not a momentary escape from reality.  

Am I helping these agents?  Clearly, the answer is no.  Do they want help?  Clearly, the answer is no.  They truly believe living in their fantasy world is in fact living in reality, no less than all the buyers who are now being foreclosed on thought they were living in reality.  They certainly are now.  I always meet with each agent to find out why they're in this situation and how they might keep it from occurring in the future, but I can promise you they only want the cash NOW so they can continue their chosen path in life. 

Just as you will lose if you refuse to write an offer for your buyer, I too will lose if I don't provide the commission advance.  I believe in making my money work for me so I don't have to work for it.  This is just one of the many ways I can do that. 

I do understand your points on this matter, but after almost 32 years of working closely with the public in two different careers, I feel fairly certain I have a good grasp on where our society is and where it's going...I just don't choose to join them. 

Thanks again for sharing with all of us.  

These are not my agents, these are agents from other brokerages.  Fortunately, the C/A business is just a side business, not a career.  Just another way to try and make money work for me rather than the other way around. 

I realize after my posts that it may sound like it I feel responsible for other agents...I don't.  But understand the youngest person I've contracted a C/A for was 36 y/o and had been in business for 10 years.  These are not children, these are adults who choose to live like Michael Jackson...in Neverland.  One I worked with recently, had a new 4300 s.f., one new car, one fairly new car, 3 children, no health or life insurance and exactly $1.000 in his account, which he owed to his broker for desk fees.  I talked with him for over 1.5 hours explaining what we were doing was a band-aid, not a fix for his financial woes, and how for his family's sake he should re-evaluate his path.  I really thought I may have actually gotten through to him and helped change his life in some small way.  Nope.  Within 60 days of our meeting, he was opening a restaurant with two other friends.  I'm assuming all the guidance in the world would not have convinced him to not borrow money he couldn't afford to pay back to open a business that has a high failure rate. 

Finally, I appreiate the dialogue.  It's great to be able to visit with someone across the country that I've never met and feel better for it.  You've blessed my day....uh, night.  Thank you for that.   

I'm a Libra. 

I like to consider myself a nice guy (although I may be the only one who thinks so), but too many years in law enforcement helped me become very skeptical of folks.  Anytime anyone approaches me for money, I check them out seven ways from Sunday.  This one did check out.  His broker even told me that over 50% of his agents were being back-billed for their desk fees.  Thankfully his "payback" transaction closed 30 days sooner than expected and I made my 30%...so all is well that ends well.