Posts

Is NAR Finally Facing Its Make-or-Break Moment?

MLS access without mandatory membership could reshape real estate forever The National Association of REALTORS® just dropped a bombshell. With their announcement that MLS access will no longer require NAR membership, the industry is about to see something we haven’t had in a long time: choice. There are a lot of agents, myself included, who have asked for years what we’re actually paying for. What does my membership do that justifies the cost? When I look at NAR’s offerings, I see: A Code of Ethics they’ve been quietly watering down for years. Training and designations that feel canned, outdated, and biased toward the status quo. Advocacy that rarely feels like it represents the working agents in the trenches. For decades, the real value of being a REALTOR® wasn’t prestige, professionalism, or ethical standards. It was access. It was protection money. It was a pay-to-play system where your ability to earn a living was tied to paying an organization that didn’t have to earn...
Post a Comment
Read more

How Long Will It Take the Housing Market to Recover After the Government Shutdown?

Image
With the federal shutdown finally over, buyers and sellers are asking how long the housing market will take to rebound, especially for FHA, VA and USDA loans. The short answer is that recovery will happen, but each loan type returns to normal at a different pace. What Happened During the Shutdown Housing related services slowed down. FHA and VA continued operating but with reduced capacity. USDA loans faced heavy disruption because many of their services pause completely. Flood insurance processing slowed, and IRS income verification delays caused underwriting bottlenecks. These issues stacked up and created a temporary drag on closing timelines. Expected Recovery by Loan Type VA Loans: 1 to 3 months The VA handles shutdowns better than most agencies. Operations continue but slower. Once staff return and backlogs clear, VA loans normalize relatively quickly. FHA Loans: 2 to 4 months FHA deals with case numbers, condo approvals and regional staffing gaps. Delays will ease as HUD offices...
Post a Comment
Read more

⚠️ The Hidden Risks of Hiring a “Limited Service Agent”

  When it comes to buying or selling a home, not all real estate services are created equal. Some brokerages use “limited service agents” who sound cost-effective upfront, but here’s what you should know before signing on the dotted line. What a Limited Service Agent Does (and Doesn’t Do): They may place your property on the MLS, but provide little or no guidance beyond that. Negotiations, disclosures, inspections, and paperwork often fall back on you to manage. Communication and advocacy can be minimal, since their fee is tied to doing less, not more. Why This Can Put You at Risk: Legal Pitfalls: Real estate contracts are binding. A missed deadline or overlooked disclosure can cost thousands. Negotiation Weakness: Without an experienced advocate, you may be at a disadvantage against buyers or their agents. Stress Overload: You’re not just selling a home—you’re also handling marketing, showings, contracts, and inspections with little backup. False Savings: The “cheaper” model often...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Future of Real Estate Is Inclusive: Why Diversity Isn’t Optional Anymore

  Approximately 66% of Americans own property today. According to the National Association of REALTORS®, that ownership breaks down like this: 80% White 7% Black 6% Hispanic/Latino 4% Asian 3% LGBTQ+ Now compare that to the actual U.S. population: 59% White 15% Black 19% Hispanic/Latino 6% Asian 9.3% LGBTQ+ These numbers don’t add to 100% because LGBTQ+ people can be part of any race or ethnicity — and that intersectionality matters. The Ownership Gap When you look at the overlap, here’s what it really means: Roughly half of Black Americans own property About one-third of Hispanic/Latino Americans own property Nearly three-quarters of Asian Americans own property Only one-third of LGBTQ+ Americans own property That’s not just a social gap. It’s an economic opportunity waiting to be served more equitably. Income & Buying Power Median household incomes show another side of the story: White heterosexual households: $96,000 Black hous...
Post a Comment
Read more

When the REALTOR® Brand Betrays Its Own Values

Sometimes silence feels like complicity, and today, I can’t stay silent. This week, I learned that the National Association of REALTORS®, through its REALTOR® Political Action Committee (RPAC), donated money to a candidate whose record and public statements are openly hostile toward the LGBTQ+ community. That candidate is Winsome Earle-Sears, whose recent debate performance—captured in The Advocate—included the claim that firing someone for being gay isn’t discrimination. Let that sink in. In 2025, a person running for office stood on a stage and said that who you love should be grounds for losing your job. And somehow, my national trade organization decided this person was worthy of our financial support. The Ethical Line We Crossed Article 10 of the REALTOR® Code of Ethics could not be clearer: origin, sexual orientation, or gender  For decades, REALTORS® have prided ourselves on upholding fairness, equality, and the promise that everyone deserves housing free from discr...
Post a Comment
Read more