I would really like to get some feedback on this topic.  This post comes from my observations of the Arizona Association of Realtors adopting Stewart Title's SureClose application and making it the transaction management tool of choice for their entire membership. It is an opt-in program so brokers don't "have" to use it.  If they choose to sign on, the application is covered in their current dues structure...fine and dandy but what about those who already have a transaction management platform and don't want to switch? Will the association give them back that portion of their dues so they can pay their vendor of choice?

New real estate wiki for real estate industry is launched. 

History of wikis in real estate
BiggerPockets (launched in 2006) claims to be the first real estate wiki but it unfortunately closed down in May 2007 due to lack of sufficient content.  Introduced shortly therafter, and still going strong, is InmanWiki (part of InmanNews, InmanTV and InmanBlog).  

Syndication is all the buzz but what really happens when you place your listing data on sites other than your local mls and your own corporate or broker websites? What are you giving them permission to do with your seller's listing data? Are they reconfiguring it? Manipulating it for sales of leads back to the agent population? Find out.

I remembered an article here last month along the lines of a "what if" scenario involving possible PR opportunities for NAR if a fund were established, in part, to offset homeowner commission costs on short-sale transactions if a Realtor had been used on both the buy-side, as well as on the sell-side. Admittedly, I wasn't quite onboard with the proposal, but I remember thinking the author was on to something with the idea of a Realtor-originated fund for the purpose of giving back to the community somehow.

Every year the RealSure team surveys the residential industry, seeks out any changes, analyzes new business models, interview hundreds of industry leaders, researches and reads thousands of articles and send out tens of surveys. Well the survey is currently underway and your opinions and comments will help provide a more accurate assessment of certain paradigm shifts that are currently occurring in the real estate industry.

Click Here to participate.

RealSure, Inc., publishers of the Swanepoel TRENDS Report is offering a bonus 10% savings as a thank you for participating in the quick 6- 10 question survey, depending on whether you are a broker or an agent. This is over and above the currently available 20% pre-publication discount for early purchasers.

Last week I was working for a client in Charlotte, N.C. We previously prepared a service plan for the client that called for an increased, thorough understanding of their clients' needs with regard to being profitable and productive in real estate. In furtherance of this effort, we scheduled seven focus groups over a period of two days to visit directly with samples of their consumers, and to directly receive input and honest, candid feedback on how the client could best serve them.

Is it just me or have NAR's recent ads been emphasizing the "TOR" in "Realtor"?  It could just be my imagination but in recent ads I think I've detected a slight pause between the first and second syllables followed by a distinct accentuation of that second syllable. 

Well, if they have been, I guess it wouldn't bother me one bit.  It could only help with the pronunciation.  I admit to a small pet peeve...

Every year around this time REALTOR associations across the country begin thinking about a leadership retreat at year's end for their elected volunteers and incoming leadership team. I hear from my client associations and others from all over with many of the same questions, including (1) Should we have a retreat? (2) How long should it be? (3) Who should be invited?

I wanted to take this opportunity, my first posting to REALBlogging, to put in my two cents on this issue because, at the end of the day, whatever else you think these retreats are - fun, a good time, a waste of members' money - what association CEOs need to understand is that in truth, they are a critical tool for the success and strategic planning of associations and their REALTOR communities.

The REALTOR trade association has been part of the industry's landscape for over 80 years. During this period it has gone through several phases. Now as the real estate industry prepares to meet its greatest challenge this venerable asset has an opportunity to save the day.