Realtor membership reduction

I think the INITIAL cost to become licensed shoudl be MORE as well as the actual LENGTH OF COURSE.

I think that many already in the biz that maybe shouldn't be wouldn't be too likely to leave if fees were increased now.

BUT, if continueing education were more difficult or time consuming, many may rethink their career.

But it's easy, kind like how it's easy to renew a driver's license. Hell, people who can't see can have someone else renew them online & keep on driving - I think many MUST have done that ;)

 

This business is not for everybody so the people will leave on their own.  I agree, you don't need to increase your dues.  I wonder what the dues are here in Connecticut?  I think having access to the MLS computer real estate listings is $1,000 a year, but I could be wrong.

Your Mortgage Man,

Nima

http://www.MyNima.com

 

I have only heard of anecdotal evidence that licensing is on the decrease in California--in that the exam wait time has been cut in half. There are also an inordinate nunber of agents who are switching companies--perhaps hoping that the change might make a difference.

 

I like the 1 year internship idea.  There are too many consumers getting hurt due to poorly trained and inexperienced agents.  I would participate in mentoring

I agree with raising the bar-real estate overall currently has one of the lowest barriers to entry of any profession-which does lead to more unqualified people in the business.  Our state has recently gone broker-only with a minimum of 2 years in the business required before you can be a BIC or hang out a shingle, which I think will increase our quality overall in short order.  Still doesn't run out the scumbags, but without the worst among us, we wouldn't look so great in comparision!  ;)

I agree with those that mentioned the internship idea.  I am a fairly new agent and would love that kind of opportunity.  I don't really see the point others are making about raising dues.  I don't see this as a way to weed out bad agents.  There are bad agents that are big producers and will still pay their dues if increased.  I do believe that perhaps the initial training in the classroom should be longer and more thorough than it is or at least what it is here in Virginia.  As for money though, I just don't see raising dues as a way to keep out the bad. 

This will hopefully create less competition and less nonsense

Ditto

30% reduction is not a shock.  It costs more to live, more to be in business and fees are becoming more competitive.  Only the smart and tough are going to survive. 

Increase the fees?  No.  Membership in the associations will fall and that will affect the industry as a whole.  The courses and conventions will suffer.  The agents on the fence will not quit real estate, they will quit the associations.  They will learn to live the unspeakable - NO MLS !!  Raising fees will, in the short term, create more problems as agents learn adapt.  They will adapt eventually and may even create a better system.  Until they do, it will be worse.

Stephen I have to agree with the post by David Eiglarsh it was about making the annual fees more so we get a better quality agent. In our industry we have a very bad rap due to so many agents that should not be in the business. This was a way to get better agents, I think there was a couple of Active Rainers that read more into what he wrote

09/29/2006

by Bob Pavey,CRS

You might be talking about me. 

I still disagree.  How is raising the fees going to single out the bad agents?  Did you have a pocket full of money when you started as an agent?  I highly doubt it.  So I guess you would qualify as the riff-raff?

Everyone has to start somewhere.  Great agents may be challenged financially until they have some time in the business and saying..."if you can't afford to buy into this business" is foolish and very narrow minded. 

In oregon it is split up into 4 monthly payment of about $200. If you miss a payment you have 30 days to catch up or you can not access the RMLS (MLS) at all. I was talking with one of the owners Steve Lucas of OREGON REALTY and he mentioned that back in 1980 oregon had about 3000 agents in 1981 it drop to 1500 active agents. The market had changed, those that could not ride out the waves found something else to get into.

It's about time...I can't wait to have a deal with someone that knows how to fill out the paperwork and proceed. It will be a breath of fresh air.

Less agents = more $ for me -There really are some crazy agents who have no idea what they are doing though....

No need to increase dues, the inexperienced agents are falling out fast & this will only increase during this fall.

I feel that either a higher financial or educational threshold should be in place as a barrier to keep the hobbiests out of the business.

I teach license law in Illinois. Those seeking licensure is decreasing, but hat is due to present market conditions.

The 9:00 to 5:00 group always thinks the road to riches lies in a real estate license. So, those failing are replaced by those soon to fail.