Back to Basics: A Conversation With Mrs. Notorious

One advantage of long road trips, particularly with say… one’s spouse, is the opportunity to talk without interruption. The car moving down the highway at 75 65 miles per hour (or whatever the legal speed limit is, officer) becomes a sort of isolation chamber without TV, without the kids demanding attention, and without any other … Read more

Passion and Technique: A Response to Matthew Shadbolt

I started writing a response to this amazing comment by Matthew Shadbolt of Corcoran, and thought… it’s too long to go into the comments. It deserves a post of its own. Basically, Matthew’s challenge poses the question of passion on the one hand and technique on the other: So, just as we disagreed yesterday with … Read more

NAR Should Clarify RPPI Distribution Scheme

In the aftermath of the vote on REALTOR Party Political Survival Initiative (RPPI), NAR has released a document showing where the funds will be going (PDF). I’m not entirely sure what some of the terms mean. For example, what does “Campaign Services” cover? What is the difference between “Issue Mobilization Program” and “Issue Coordinated Campaigns”? … Read more

On Franchise IDX, Industry Rules, and Complaints

I think this mostly analytical, mostly opinion post nows goes beyond the ambit of my NAR Midyear coverage. So, many many thanks to Zillow for sponsoring the Midyear series (I may have more of them in the future) but this post is sponsor-free. Predictably, the news from Midyear about Franchise IDX has resulted in mass … Read more

Midyear Report: Reflections on RPPI #2 – Impact & Next Steps

This post, and this series of reports and opinions from NAR Mid-Year 2011, brought to you by: Now that the RPPI (formerly known as RPPSI) has been approved by the NAR Board of Directors… what is the actual impact? Passing the thing was just the first step. The absolutely critical work of implementing whatever programs … Read more

Midyear Report: Reflections on RPPI #2 – Impact & Next Steps

This post, and this series of reports and opinions from NAR Mid-Year 2011, brought to you by: Now that the RPPI (formerly known as RPPSI) has been approved by the NAR Board of Directors… what is the actual impact? Passing the thing was just the first step. The absolutely critical work of implementing whatever programs … Read more