And realtors, don't hate HP. We're just trying to help. The first step toward recovery is admiting you have a problem. And your problem is your job. Get a new one. Then everything will get better.
HousingPANIC's 10 Questions for realtors:
1) Why the heck do you troll HP? Shouldn't you be out trying to sell a house?
2) Really, how bad is it out there? Seriously, how bad is it out there?
3) Can you tell the truth, or is your whole existence based on lies, spin and distortion?
4) Aren't you ashamed of what you do?
5) Are you looking for new work? Why not?
6) Do you wish the bubble blogs would just go away so you could get back to screwing clueless sheeple for a commission?
7) Do you understand what's happening, and what's coming?
8) Why do you give any money to Lawrence Yun and the NAR?
9) When you were a little kid, did you ever think you'd grow up to be part of such a worthless, corrupt and slimy business?
10) Don't you feel like you owe HP'ers, and America, an apology?
August 05, 2007
Ten questions for our realtor friends
"Life's too short to be a realtor"©
Here's ten questions for our realtor readers for starers. HP'ers feel free to add you own. Let's see if we can get one of the ramen eaters to answer truthfully, although I know that's a near impossibility, hey, it's worth a shot.
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15 comments:
Why be a REALTOR?
Because Greg Swann told me it was a good idea, of course!!!
"Life's too short to be a realtor"©
LOVE IT!
Because prostitution, drug dealing and extortion are illegal, I had no other choice but to become a realtor or finish high school.
11) Does your mom know what you do for a living?
12.Didnt your mommy tell you that if you tell one lie, then you have to tell a second lie to cover the first, then a third to cover the second. Didn't listen to mommy, did you?
13) When was the last time you were able to sleep at night?
14) When was the last time you were able to look at yourself in the mirror and be happy about what you see?
15) Would you want your children to be Realtors(tm) when they grow up?
16) Were you glad to see David Lereah leave only to be shocked at how pathetic his replacement is?
I'm not defending realtors but I've always been on the operations side of things and from what I can tell - all sales people lie to some extent. Which is why I'll never make much money because I'm a lousy liar. Some are much worse than others and I think some of them get so good at it they don't even realize they're doing it. It might be as innocent as wrapping in a few extra features with a customer that doesn't realize they don't have to pay for things they're never in a million years going to use. I think in some ways, financial advisors and car dealers might actually be worse liars than realtors. Though at least a car is not usually your whole life savings.
17) Why do some people still attempt to dignify Realtors(tm) by adding the (tm) after that foul word? Are they afraid those Slimeballs(tm) will sue?
In all fairness, Realtors are like any other profession - some are good, some aren't. Some care about the client, some don't. Some know their job, some don't. Some are competent, some aren't. Some have decent moral standards, some don't. Eneryone was so happy when the market was rising. Everyone. Why is is so necessary to point blame now that the market is tanking? "All" of us are part of the "problem." - Well, if you never bought an investment property, never cashed out on your home, didn't move up to a larger home, never went to Home Depot or Lowe's, and/or didn't take out a 'toxic' mortgage between 2000 and 2005, then congratulations - you AREN'T part of the problem (chances are you're over 60)!! The rest of us will rise or fall depending on our ability and willingness to manage our money well.
Wave a five dollar bill in front of them and ask, 'What would you do for this'? Then slowly step back and watch them bleed from their eyes!
RESPONSE From A Realtor
1) Why the heck do you troll HP? Shouldn't you be out trying to sell a house?
Two reasons: 1. I troll HP for information. Keith does a great job of bringing news to the table, and as a professional I need to have all the information that I can find at my fingertips to better serve my clients. 2. For fun. I also enjoy yanking the chain of some defensive HP Realtor hating folks out there. Believe me; from some of the posts some folks hate more than my job, they hate me too.
Today is one of my days off. I should probable be out mowing my lawn rather that responding to this blog!
2) Really, how bad is it out there? Seriously, how bad is it out there?
For some real estate agents and in some markets it is as bad as you often say. Parts of our Sacramento market are in terrible shape, and some HomeDebters are in dire straits; my primary market is fairly stable. Personally for me the slow market has helped my business. The people who just got a real estate license to make a fast buck are exiting the business leaving more room for professionals like me. My personal sales are up significantly over last year, and over 90% of my business is from referrals or past clients.
I’m glad prices are stabilizing, the run up was way too excessive and the market could not support those prices for very long. We are on the path to return to reality. We’ve still got a long ways to go – I’m thinking 2009 for a bottoming out.
3) Can you tell the truth, or is your whole existence based on lies, spin and distortion?
Just told you the tuth. To automatically assume that someone lies based on the profession they are in is not rational. Honestly, I do not lie in my work, or to my clients. (OK, based on your question you can’t believe anything I say anyway). My clients know the whole picture when looking at making a move or purchase. That’s one of the reason I troll this blog. Many of my clients have not gone forward with a sale or purchase based on my advice. I did not make a sale, but I can sleep well at night… and ultimately the client refers me to others who might be making the right move. Right now I’ve got buyers renting rather than buying because it makes more sense financially, and they will buy when the time is right.
4) Aren't you ashamed of what you do?
Absolutely not. I love what I do. I’ve helped many, many people. I’ve made a comfortable living at the same time. I sleep well at night. I don’t drink the Kool-Aid or blindly follow what our trade groups try to promote. I provide quality, educated service for my fees. I would like to see the barriers to entry raised for this profession - we do have too many uneducated, uncaring people in this profession that are just in it to make a quick buck. Make barriers to entry stronger, and increase education requirements (they are a joke now) and we will end up with a higher quality of Realtor that will hopefully change some of the opinions about this industry.
5) Are you looking for new work? Why not?
No need to. My income is growing, even as commissions and housing prices decline – why? More clients that value the service I provide. My volume increases as my income per transaction decreases. I have more efficient systems in place to handle the increase in demand, and maintain the quality of service I provide. There is still demand for the service I provide. If demand changes than I will make adjustments at that point in time.
6) Do you wish the bubble blogs would just go away so you could get back to screwing clueless sheeple for a commission?
No, we need blogs like this one to keep everyone informed. I want my clients to read blogs like this, and everything else they can to make the right decision for them – at the right time. Aside from the kool-aid drinkers or hate mongers I appreciate the information from Keith – and from some of the well informed posters. Knowledge is power – and free speech is one of our strongest rights as Americans.
7) Do you understand what's happening, and what's coming?
I believe I do, feel free to correct me if I am wrong. I know many of you will! I saw the current correction coming a long way off and adjusted both my personal investments and my business model for it. I educated my clients about it – and made sure that they did not buy with a toxic mortgage. Some clients moved on to another realtor because I refused to help them buy a house with a toxic loan and max themselves out. That’s their right. But I can sleep well at night. Can’t say the same for that other agent who took a commission just to get them into a bad deal. I do see more efficient business models coming down the pike for our industry and I embrace them. If you don’t – you die.
8) Why do you give any money to Lawrence Yun and the NAR?
Because I have too. It’s an unfortunate cost of being in this business with my firm.
9) When you were a little kid, did you ever think you'd grow up to be part of such a worthless, corrupt and slimy business?
Sort of rhetorical question isn’t it? I’ve already addressed this a couple of times, but No. I see my role as working to make this a better business for the public by providing a higher quality of service. If the market sees value in what I offer they will bring their business to me. If not, they won’t. Then I would have to look for something else to do.
My approach may seem naive, but so far it has been working well for my clients and for me.
10) Don't you feel like you owe HP'ers, and America, an apology?
Sorry HPers, I don’t owe you an apology for any of my actions. Others in my industry unfortunately do. And the system is flawed. Realtor/Lenders? That is a problem just waiting to happen. Too much conflict of interest. We need to restore regulation to both the lending and the sales side of this industry to be sure that the public’s best interests are preserved. I’m all for those changes. And, people need to take responsibility for their own actions. That’s why I like this blog – you help educate people to help them make more informed decisions.
Now, on to the lawn.
Have a great Day! – 6%Realtor
I will answer Anon's question #17 about adding (tm) after Realtors.
I'm not trying to dignify them - I think you'll agree that's impossible.
I use the (tm) because I'm criticizing not just a bunch of individual agents who act for buyers and sellers of real estate. I am criticizing the whole lot of them and their corrupt and parasitic organization.
There is nothing inherently wrong with being a real estate agent. But there is something terribly wrong with Realtors(tm) and the self-serving role they have played in the creation of this real estate bubble.
Ordinary, hard-working people just wanted a place to live and raise a family and Realtors(tm) stole that from them by helping to inflate prices far beyond what the average family can afford. Realtors(tm) suck.
6% you're a credit to your industry and to the human race
Thanks for reading and thanks for responding
Now as to the other 1,299,999 of you, I've got nothing good to say
If you're gonna make fun, do it right.
It's Realtor(r) not Realtor(tm).
And they're very picky about the (r) in any use of the term "Realtor(r)" in print advertising... even on business cards.
Just thought I'd add some fluff to the trademark crap.
http://realtytimes.com/rtinteractive/20010411_editors.htm
Its the same thing that's happening with Adobe's photoshop trademark.
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