Really NAR? Thanks for the update on home sales being down 27%......

Lane, good points.  Scott, here in Minneapolis median home price values rose nearly $25,000 during the tax credit period essentially meaning that buyers were paying $25k for $8k in cash.  Now prices are trending back down and will likely go further.  What positive news would you suggest NAR report? 

I like your word of the day.  I am feeling very optimistic my business and the market these days.  I understand there are troubles, and I also understand there is so much opportunity.

One would think they would support us more than they do... We support them each and every year !

Per the Code of Ethics, we are supposed to present "the Truth". 

The Truth Is:

The American Economy is Bad, and will get Worse, much worse. 

Massive Tax increases coming next year, and again in 2012 and 2013 and 2014, will destroy small and medium businesses, and the Middle Class.

Unemployment is at 10% (real unemployment is closer to 20%).

National Debt will equal or exceed GDP by 2014, if not sooner (layman's translation:  America will be bankrupt).

To say otherwise is  misleading, untrue, unethical, and false.

NAR needs to tell it like it is, instead of painting this rosy-cozy picture about the American Economy.

Maybe then, Americans will face reality, and take their Nation back from those who are destroying us.

I have to agree with several comments who find if refreshing that NAR isn't putting a positive spin on our housing situation.  How would it look to have every major news agency reporting the realities of the market and the National Association of REALTORs saying it's all sunshine and roses.  Yeah, that'd make us look like used car salesmen all right.  I used to want to puke when I'd read Lawrence Yuen's (sorry if that's wrong) NARs economist saying how things really weren't bad and actually picking up when the subprime debacle was revving up several years ago.  I'm a reality type gal and I want it straight up, no sugar coating. 

I was thinking the same thing when I saw that!   If the media would back off a bit, maybe we'd all be able to recover from this mess!   

I was thinking the same thing when I saw that!   If the media would back off a bit, maybe we'd all be able to recover from this mess!   

hmmmm  I can't agree with rob's first sentiment... because well we each are saying something different, and

and it is just one of those snarky anonymous things people say in the Internet cuz they can...

When rob wrote:

"Maybe Florida weather reporters shouldn't report hurricanes either! keep it positive and all! Don't report oil on the beaches either, don't want to scare the tourists away!"

Shouldn't the analogy have been:

Maybe national weather reporters shouldn't report hurricanes either! keep it positive and all! Don't report oil on the beaches either, don't want to scare the tourists away!

Or maybe rob means Florida. It's just that Scott's post is about national vs. local. 

Third paragraph more  confusion... by "homeseller" I really think rob anonymous means real estate agent (Realtor, etc) and not home seller... I thought he meant sellers at first.

This is the kind of response a need to sugar coat the truth by spinning it positive brings out in the general public.  Coherent and well thought out sometimes. Garbled and unintellilgable at other times. 

AWESOME POST!!!!!!!! I LOVE the unbridled opinion and the fact that you had the guts to just post it. To all who didnt like it.....they still commented...remember..any publicity is good publicity :)

We are forced as REALTORS to pay an annual fee to support this organization every year and all I ask is that they try and show the positive side of Real Estate every now and then.

Scott I beg to differ. I don't believe we are 'forced' I believe to be a Member of NAR and your state association is a choice. You choose to belong. So you are not forced to be a member...you choose to be a member. And I think just as being a member of any organization or even your family, sometimes you won't like what one person or party does at any particular time. Of course you can rant and vent with your ActiveRain family, we all do at one time or another. I must say that I don't particularly care for the fact that you have this post PUBLIC. Kind of like airing the family business....not always a wise thing to do.

Did you send an email to our NAR President and other officers to voice your concern? You might think about it. Just a thought.

Scott, I read your feature today about this blog post.  I think it's rather well written!!  Good for you for speaking up about being POSITIVE!!  Sure the stats from July are scary, but pull the positive out from them (there IS some good stuff in there)...I applaud you for being positive.  Keep it up.  Don't let negative posts get you down and certainly don't let them change your mind. 

Scott, I just backtracked to read this post and GREAT job. For the 24-48 hours after the NEWS hit all I could think and say was, "Would they SHUT up?" Great job for speaking your mind. You get my referrals for having the courage to say it!

I say give folks the facts and let them decide what to do with them. If national sales are down 27% the it must be reported that way. It's our job to make sure we get regional numbers out there. I for one am happy NAR is at least willing to throw a negative number out there. That's far better than "It's a great time to buy or sell real estate"

Scott,

I saw your dart board post and finally had a chance to read this one.  You know you don't actually have to be a Realtor right?  It has its pros and cons.  I have been in teh business for almost 10 years, a high producer, and now independent broker of my own company and have never been one.  Not even once.

Just food for thought.

Stefan

Stefan are you saying you are not a member of an MLS?

Hi Scott ~ I read this post the other day and thought I had left a comment but maybe I just thought about leaving one.  My initial reaction is that NAR can't sugar coat but you're absolutely right - real estate is local and that message needs to be stressed.

I've been completely exasperated with all the negative nuttiness in the media about real estate. It's deja vu all over again - there seem to be an awful lot of people out there who seem to *want* things to go poorly.  Blat enough about it and it will happen.

If there's anything that doing monthly market reports has taught me it's that you really don't want to give too much weight to short term trends. And it's *so* easy to skew things. There was an economist on NPR this last week that pointed out that what people aren't paying attention to is that jobs are being created much earlier in the recovery than they have been in the last few recessions.  And this was a much worse debacle. We cannot flip out about very short term trends - we need some perspective - and some positive energy.

Thanks for your post!

Liz 

Do you like the news better this month?  Up from last month nationally.   First headline I saw was Housing Wire: Existing home sales rebound 7.6% in August: NAR written by Jon Prior  "But sales are still down 19% from last year." is in the second paragraph.  Did NAR do a better job of presenting it with a positive spin this month?