The Real Estate Weenie

I have been told for years that I need to be more involved in the Realtor associations. Specifically, I need to be one of the thousands who sit on one of the one hundred or so committees of the National Association of Realtors.

People who get involved unconditionally support the National Association and defend it from any criticism. NAR knows how to, recruit,  groom, and convert.

. . but none of that matters.

Now I understand. If I had joined a committee NAR would not have been sued for billions. As a member, I am being sued too.

If I had volunteered there would be no lawsuits. There would be no court-ordered judgments.

If I had volunteered NAR would have a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion. If only I had volunteered. I could have changed everything. Everything would be different today.

Current volunteers need me to come in and take over now before things get worse yet I won’t volunteer because I can not.

All I can do is say that I am sorry. If only I had stepped in. Things would be so different today.

While I agree that NAR needs to change or be rebuilt or replaced, I have no interest in a new organization created and led by men. Men of power and privilege.

It is women who sell real estate. It is women who make up the majority of NAR members. It is up to women to change the industry.

Change isn’t happening because some mightly male leader stepped forward it is because women came forward and spoke up.

Women have started to change the industry by complaining about sexual harassment and discrimination.

Women reporters are changing the industry through their investigative reporting on NAR and the real estate industry.

The real estate industry does not need another organization run by men. Women need to lead the industry.

Thanks to all of the women who spoke up. You are my heroes.

Some thoughts on homeownership. Because of the National Association of Realtors, many people prefer to live in homes and like to own them. The NAR has done an excellent job promoting home ownership.

Before the NAR most people did not care where they lived. In fact, at one point in North America, people lived in caves, huts, or tents.

NAR continues to promote homeownership even though there is a shortage of houses and they are far too expensive. The demand is too high and the supply is too low.

The NAR could help ease demand by promoting the idea that people do not need houses. They can and do live in tents and could live in caves or huts or in cars, vans or campers.

Homeownership was a wonderful idea back in its day but times have changed. Without NAR promoting home ownership, demand would go down and so would prices. Housing could be affordable again.

Merry Christmas. I am looking forward to sharing more stories like this in 2024. I hope you will stop by and read the weenie.

We all know what is valued in the real estate industry. It is all about money and the powerful patriarchy that leads the industry.

The values are reinforced each year when the yearly awards and lists are published.

Awards should go to the women who dared to speak out about sexual harassment and NAR and at EXP and everywhere else women stood up to the patriarchy. It takes courage to stand up and speak out. It takes an enormous amount of courage to speak to a reporter and to have your story published for all to see.

Those women are my heroes. Their names should be at the top of the list because they did something this year that matters.  They are the best of the best.