A cold, politically incorrect and cynical question for church-going HP'ers (that has to be asked, since nobody else has):
Do you ever get hit up by real estate clerks or mortgage brokers at your church / synagogue / mosque? See a problem with that?
Ever wonder if those types joined your church for salvation, or was it those yummy cold hard commissions? Do (should) business and religion go together?
Hmmm... reminds me of a little story I once heard... And then there's this network of saved realtors (is that an oxymoron?)
Wouldn't finding a new ethical job be a first step after being saved?). Ya gotta wonder if everyone who joins this is on the up and up. Call me silly, but I've got a hunch... maybe because I've NEVER heard of a real estate clerk not interested in their whopping commission first.
Looking for a Real Estate Agent that answers to a Higher Authority??
You've come to the right place! We can connect you with a Christian Real Estate Agent or Loan Officer anywhere in North America.
Wouldn't you rather have a Christian agent that is more interested in YOU than in a commission???
35 comments:
I take it the Christian realtors who aren't interested in their commisssion aren't charging one then?
Since it's easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich man to go to heaven, those Christian realtors are just doing the Lord's work... helping people get to heaven by separating them from their riches.
They make their profits by selling those little statuettes that people bury in their yard to help sell their house.
Only a %6000 percent markup!
WE've screwed up mixing politics and religion why not screw up mixing business too
Only God knows the hearts of men, and I believe he tells us to let him worry about vengence should their hearts be not true.
I take then that the Christian Realtor's work for a negotiated reasonable flat fee instead of their usual 6-7% commission. Oh Yes, that will be the day!
Keith,
I don't know about other HP readers, but I find that after 50 posts to your topics, I just don't care anymore. How about limiting responses to 50? Also, why is the 1st post to any of your topics always messed up ie. text overwriting itself?
Finally, why does it hurt when I pee?
Hmmm.....
Maybe "Toni (brainless) mortgage broker hottie" is more ethical than using religion to push your wares.
we'll it works like this: tithe to a christian based bank, and the value of your house will increase 10 fold, God guarentees it.
My televangelist says it's OK.
When someone waves the "Christian Flag" in business, to me it is always a BIG RED FLAG.
Just my humble opinion.
Praise the Lord and pass the rattlesnake.
This depends on the attitude of the Christian doing the realtor work. Jesus said you can't serve God and mammon (money). If money is the only motivation, and they're continually hurting others to gain money, then that's wrong.
But if they're honestly helping people get into a home and get a good deal, then the "workman is worthy of his wages", the realtor should expect to get paid.
Having said that, I think the whole idea of a "realtor", in the day and age of the internet, is sort of like going to a travel agent anymore. Aren't more people doing these things for themselves? Can't people do their homework (literally speaking) instead of forking over so many thousands to a glorified clerk?
Get a "$200,000 mortgage for $667 a month!" "Bad credit OK!"
Web lenders woo subprime borrowers despite crisis
By Julie Haviv and Emily Kaiser
39 minutes ago
NEW YORK/CHICAGO (Reuters) - Get a "$200,000 mortgage for $667 a month!" a banner advertisement on a lending Web site proclaims. "Bad credit OK!"
Even after months of nonstop news coverage about the subprime mortgage mess and the steep rise in defaults and foreclosures, pop-up Internet advertisements and banners permeate cyberspace pitching low-monthly-payment loans.
READ: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070423/wr_nm/usa_subprime_advertising_dc;_ylt=AtLwC.NVvoO3_HGlP4kOIi8jtBAF
HAHAHH This is SO FUNNY, and SO TRUE!!!!!!
I actually have heard my coworkers talking about their relator they met in church! And to top it off, they (my coworker) is trying to get out of an adjustable rate mortgage (refinance).
snicker snicker.
Hi Keith,
I've been loving your blog since last summer. I don't know how you keep things fresh but you're content is quite compelling.
No one has ever approached me with a solicitation at Mass. Since I spend the rest of the week in the wider world like anyone else I'm perfectly aware of how tacky and crass it would be.
And given the utterly contemptuous view the secular world has for Christianity I can't imagine anything bringing it into question being regarded as "politically incorrect."
Don't worry about repercussions, just fire away.
Regards,
Jim
They're not all bad.
I know of several Christian Realtors who donate half their commission to the charity of the buyers/sellers choice.
Good one tm!
Also, why is the 1st post to any of your topics always messed up ie. text overwriting itself?
))))))))))))((((((((((((
Just click on the Red Lettered Header and the thread will re format so you can read it.
I think churches should be treated as political parties.
Keith likes to jump on the Christian-bashing bandwagon, since it's MTV-Gene Simmons-trendy cool.
That aside, if I had to work with a realtor I'd rather do it with one who has a religious background, whether it be Christian, Buddhist, or whatever. Or at least someone with some sense of a moral code. But not these televangelists poser types, and definitely not one who's in bubble denial. To quote Bono from U2 - "The GOD I believe in isn't short of cash, mister."
You had to bring religion into this.
I don't know of any realtors in my church, but churches traditionally serve as community centers as well. So business happens just by meeting other people and making contacts.
However, you never know how many fake Christians are on that network. People will do anything when they're desperate.
Joe Logic - I think you should either change your user name (Joe Illogical) or re-read the post
I'm saying throw the money changers out of the temple. Business has no place in church. And some realtors are blatently using the church to drum up business, which should make you question their motives.
Funny how defending the church against business interests became anti-christian in your book
Both religion and real estate are scams why are you surprised they hang out together?“Birds of a Feather Flock Together” “Give on to Cesar that which is Cesar’s give onto God that which is God’s”
Keith - I read the post just fine. Re-read my post, I am in agreement with you - stay away from posers. Most churchgoes will agree though that church is also a social network, and it's easy to sniff out poser types who are there just to drum up business.
I've been visiting your blog since you launched it over a year-and-a half ago, and I know your views on Christianity (although you softened up quite a bit). I don't otherwise care - I come here for the hard-nosed coverage of the crash and REIC stupidity. If I wanted polite I'll go to Ben's cut-and-paste blog. Just accept my rant and move on.
- Joe Illogical
Joe Logic - never tell someone you know their views on religion. You'll be wrong most times
Here in SoCal, they publish real estate magazine for the Spanish speaking comuunity. They write articles about the american dream of owninga home. In the same magazine you will find articles and ads about being a good Catholic. In the very last page there is a picture of the mortgage broker who publishes the magazine posing with the Priest who endorsed his services. The messsage they are sending is 'We are good Catholics so we would never rip you off'. This is the part where Jose and Mauela walk away with the American dream: An Interest Only Option ARM that will adjust in 1 year.
http://tinyurl.com/yp3mts
I hate MSNBC, but this is a very HP article.
Let's assume for a minute a given "Christian Realtor" is sincere. Then they are attending one of those "pray to get rich" churches, which are essentially NOT Christian. They are deluded that God wants them to wallow in lucre and deluded in the way to go about it (become a RE Clerk as this enormous bubble sags).
Yep, church sure does function as a community center, social club, and business networking opportuninty - much to the detriment of it's true purpose.
religion is a business.
I think it's pretty sick to pimp out your religion to make a buck. I would not do business with anyone who approached me or solicited for business in any way in my church. Do that at your mason's lodge, your softball game, your childhood leukemia fundraiser. But religion is something different. Using your religion to gain financial advantage is a perversion that even I, a red-blooded sexually deviant, find unforgivable.
I think churches should be treated as political parties.
I think they should be treated as businesses, which they are.
I think it's pretty sick to pimp out your religion to make a buck. I would not do business with anyone who approached me or solicited for business in any way in my church. Do that at your mason's lodge, your softball game, your childhood leukemia fundraiser. But religion is something different. Using your religion to gain financial advantage is a perversion........
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Exactly Paul. Additionally, let us NOT forget the politicians in the churches also. It is just wrong.
If I had to work with a realtor I'd rather do it with one who DOES NOT have a religious background. A religious person can scam dozens of people and then go ask for forgiveness from their deity... and then go out and scam again. Example: many "good Catholics" use birth control even though their religion forbids it. They simply confess to it every week and then stop at the pharmacy on the way home. I'd rather work with an atheist because an atheist has to live with his/her own conscience and cannot just hand some cash to a guy in a dress to pray away the guilt.
Btw, posters have often wondered how David Lereah can live with himself. Betcha he gives generously to his church/temple.
Let's ask: "What would Jesus do?" Christian Realt@rs should ask themselves the same thing.
Would Jesus sell someone an over - priced home?
Would Jesus sell someone a faulty condo?
Would Jesus tell someone they'll be priced out forever?
Would Jesus tell someone housing values can only go up?
Would Jesus come on housing bust blogs when prices fell and become a troll?
It's probably hard to be a Realt@r AND a Christian though I'm sure, as some have mentioned, it can be done in a positive way. I don't envy them that have to find that way though.
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