I penned this letter to the Mobile Press-Register after many days of listening to local citizens "sound-off" about their concerns that real estate agents were un-deserving in this process.
This paper is to be commended for establishing an open forum such as this to enable the broad spectrum of humanity that it reaches to voice their beliefs and opinions in such an open and frank atmosphere. I read daily the comments of my fellow Alabamians and their opinions about the relative merits of the BP claims process and who, in their opinion, is entitled and who should not be entitled to make claims against such a compensation fund.
God, I do love free speech. To wit, my own:
I take umbrage that real estate professionals are singled out as taking advantage of this government mandated system. The governor and other lawmakers have pursued our legitimate claims as essential to a fair compensation system designed to enable ongoing business to remain so. Mr Feinberg, appointed as the czar over this process makes no statement that our claims are not factual, only difficult to account for and as such are on hold till a method can be established. Who, then can question the authenticity of claims made by legitimate real estate professionals who can clearly prove loss directly related to the gulf oil spill and the resulting malaise of the local economy? The short sighted and undeserving few.
The real estate business is one of professionals, duly licensed and trained, who at their own expense maintain offices, provide for their own continuing education, enable title and closing companies to remain in business, enable mortgage banking institutions and banks themselves to remain in business, enable inspectors, termite bond providers, contractors, builders and all associated trades people of all related fields to remain in business. All of the above remain employeed because a handful of hardworking dedicated agents want to remain in business.
Let us not forget the origins of the economic problems of the last few years were brought about by government programs and banking guidelines that allowed us to arrive unfortunately at the market corrections of the last few years. Real estate agents were not responsible for causing the current economic climate.Real estate agents do not establish prices. The market does. But, the real estate market cannot move without agents to enable its lawful exchange of property. Let the agents die and the whole system falls at risk. A risk that affects us all. I suggest that we leave the determination of who is due compensation and who is not, to the professionals who are assigned the task. They are under such scrutiny that they risk broad condemnation if their decisions are not fair and timely.
I am willing to let them judge my claim. By the way, I do have pride in what I do. I also have a family who needs me to remain in business. I put in 60 to 80 hours a week and if I lose sales due to the specific causeof the gulf oil spill, I will make a legitimate claim and abide by their decision as to whether I am deserving or not. We are a government that provides for systems to decide such things and while they may not be perfect, we could do worse. So, fellow Alabamians, sound off but be careful who you call greedy. Pointing fingers is a tricky business.
Terry L Cunningham
Real Estate Professional
Citizen of the Republic
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