It’s got a “Daily Planet” kind of vibe if you ask me. ????
More details at Inman News.
It’s got a “Daily Planet” kind of vibe if you ask me. ????
More details at Inman News.
From H.A.R. Chair Kenya Burrell-VanWormer…
REALTORS® Are Stronger Together
I didn’t expect to write anything else on the topic of the proposed NAR dues increase, but with the situation as it now stands, I feel I must speak to make sure people don’t jump to the wrong conclusions.
First, let me start by reiterating once again that we have the utmost respect for Elizabeth Mendenhall, John Smaby, and Bob Goldberg, as well as the rest of the NAR Leadership Team and staff. We consider them all to be friends. This isn’t a “fight” as some people have characterized it. We believe they are trying to make the best out of a bad situation that they inherited. We’ve been in near constant contact with them during the past few weeks. In fact, when we took a particular action, we informed NAR leadership before we did it. We have had an open dialogue with them, which we appreciate.
HAR’s opposition to the proposed dues increases, including opposing the 2.5% annual automatic escalator, simply comes down to a question of how to fund the budget in the most financially prudent way. Some have said that $30 isn’t that much money, and many of our members agree. This isn’t about $30 though. It is about $39 million. They feel it would be throwing good money after bad.
We have asked questions about the budget, but they have always been professional and respectful. These questions have resulted in a thoughtful dialogue with respected leaders of our industry, such as Sam DeBord and Bill Lublin. That’s a good thing and was part of our real goal; get people talking and looking at all sides. We don’t believe it is ever appropriate or warranted to make reckless claims against anyone in volunteer or staff leadership.
The op-ed I submitted to Inman News, as well as letters sent to HAR members and association leaders across the country presenting our positions, were written as a collaborative effort among the HAR executive officers and executive staff. A small group of us drafted each of these documents and then sent them out to our executive committee, boards of directors and local NAR directors. This list totaled about 37 people reviewing each of these communications before they were sent to anyone outside of HAR. Some people had very valuable suggestions, which were incorporated into the letters. If our original letter expressing our positions was somehow twisted into the accusations that were made about honorable NAR leaders, then I personally apologize. That would never be our intent.
No consultant was involved at any time in our process, including preparation of the member survey, Inman op-ed or any other communications related to the proposed NAR dues increase.
The fact that we surveyed our members has also come into question. NAR invited member feedback, which is what led us to survey our own members, which are also NAR members. We are all on the same team and want to do what is best for REALTORS®. We have a robust research program, which includes regular surveys of consumers and members. We are a membership-based organization, so we want to know what our members think. Does it mean you have to follow exactly what they say? No. But it does provide helpful insight and give you a sense of the sentiment among the members at large. When 97% of the respondents say they oppose something, then that is hard to ignore. There are literally thousands of comments that they submitted, all of which may be viewed at www.har.com/NARDues.
Even though we have been sidetracked by the other (now retracted) op-ed, we stand behind our original proposals for funding the budget. We fully support the REALTOR® Party political advocacy efforts at which NAR usually excels. Note that HAR is well on its way to raising more than $1 million for RPAC for the third year in a row.
We don’t necessarily expect the vote to go our way on May 19, but we do hope that it has opened a constructive dialogue about priorities and how to fund them. All of our communications with Elizabeth, John, and Bob lead us to believe that this coming year will be one to review these activities, and we believe they are the right people at the right time to make NAR stronger.
As I also keep saying, we want NAR to succeed because its success is our success. If there’s one thing we learned from the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, it’s that REALTORS® are stronger together. I, along with everyone else from Houston, look forward to a productive NAR Midyear and Board of Directors meeting.
Respectfully,
Kenya Burrell-VanWormer
Kenya Burrell-VanWormer is the chair of the board of directors of the Houston Association of Realtors, which is the second largest local Realtor association in the country, with more than 37,000 residential and commercial members.
Together. Yup.
Government staffers question Upstream CEO on antitrust ahead of launch
Lange confirmed to Inman that he spoke with staffers from the DOJ and FTC yesterday and has separately spoken with staff attorneys for the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights on two other occasions in September 2016 and January 2017, including a trip to Washington, D.C., to answer questions surrounding whether Upstream would violate federal anti-competitive laws.
So the government has questioned UpstreamRE on 3 separate occasions, in 2016, 2017, and now 2018? Does that sound normal? Does that inspire confidence?
“David Kully, a former staff attorney in the DOJ’s antitrust division, spoke at an MLS forum hosted by Zillow in Dana Point, California, in late April. He said if he were still at DOJ, he might ask whether Upstream “is something that is going to help facilitate brokers overcoming the competitive forces that have caused them to share data and to change from that.”
“I do not mean to say that the intent of Upstream was to allow brokers to stop competing on where they send listings and to reach a potentially illegal agreement to boycott listings portals, but I wonder whether it might unintentionally have that effect by making it easier for brokers to do so,” Kully said when reached by Inman.
“I haven’t spoken to anyone at the DOJ or FTC about this and don’t know whether this is on their radar screen.”
Real estate giant Zillow Group confirmed that it speaks with government officials regularly and has specifically pointed to Upstream as a company it has concerns about within the real estate ecosystem.
Mr. Kully has raised this same issue last month.
So the DOJ/FTC has questioned UpstreamRE 3 times over the past 3 years. The former lead attorney for the DOJ (who fought successfully for the DOJ and forced NAR to change it’s listing policy) says a side effect of Upstream could make it anti-competitive and Zillow (the 6,000 pound gorilla in the room who’s CEO regularly visits Washington D.C.) also “has concerns”.
Is anyone paying attention? Upstream is already two years behind schedule, and if it ever launches (and that’s a big IF) it appears there’s a good chance the government may shut it down. This after, less than a year ago, NAR approved an additional funding of 9 million dollars (I’ve lost count on how much already had been spent).
I think Will Rogers said it best.
“When you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.
Or maybe Kenny Rogers,
“You gotta know when to hold them, know when to fold ’em”
Or maybe Bruce Springsteen,
“It’s a death trap, it’s a suicide rap
We gotta get out while we’re young”
But hey, whatever man, roll the video…
Op-ed piece from Jim Harrison on Inman News…
It’s time to stop ignoring the crisis at NAR
“Over the past 90 days these issues have intensified over events related to NAR finances. Questions have been raised internally and externally about a pattern of unsuccessful NAR efforts and exploits. These include HouseLogic, the Realtor Credit Union, Realtor Radio, The Realtor University, RPR, Upstream, AMP, the almost childlike, “Logo-gate,” NAR’s lackluster performance at the recent T3 conference and, most recently, NAR’s wholly-owned Second Century Ventures entity.
Get your popcorn ready, next week is going to be fun!
UPDATE: NAR Responds!
NAR ‘furious’ over criticism of leadership, denies profiteering
“We are not afraid of criticism and welcome an open respectful dialog and honest discussion. However, this type of bullying is unacceptable and no volunteer or staff should be subject to this. It discourages participation and involvement. The future of our organization is strong and we want our members to be fully engaged with their National Association of Realtors.”
Below is a few of “questions” sent out by zipLogix as part of a “survey” to NAR’s Board of Directors. Apparently it’s part of an effort to help secure zipLogix’s renewal at the upcoming budget meeting at NAR Midyear.
If you can’t read the questions, here’s what they ask….
1. Please choose the answers that most closely describe the value of zipForm(r) to your business.
– I couldn’t do business without it
– It’s the most valuable membership benefit
– I use it regularly and find it valuable
– I would regret not having access to zipForm(r)
Fucking shameless.
The third question is basically a phishing scam to gather intel.
3. If the vote to keep zipForm in the NAR budget was held today, how would you vote?
-Yes
-No
This is just embarrassing. Puts them and the whole renewal process in a bad light.
REALTOR® Brand Evolution: Updated April 11, 2018
“Since we announced the brand evolution and logo redesign, we have received a diversity of opinions that ranged from strong support to outright disapproval. Please know how much we appreciate member input and how seriously we take your feedback.
While the issues that drove this process to evaluate and ultimately evolve the REALTOR® logo still exist, we are pausing its implementation. This extra time will allow us to further examine the enhancement of the REALTOR® brand proposition, including the logo, which means so much to you and your business.
We are a member-centric organization and this decision to postpone the brand transformation demonstrates that your national association is listening.”
Personally I think NAR made the wrong call here. And I’m not talking about the logo itself. A lot of design is subjective. Some designs grow on you over time. There are always going to be haters, ignore them. Do what you do.
Remember in The Godfather when Michael Corleone told Carlo those fateful words.
“Today I settle all family business”
Well today feels like one of those days.
It started with the NAR announcement about shutting down AMP and now I’m hearing that close to 100 MLS Providers received letters from NAR threatening to pull there E&O Insurance if they don’t start to comply with RESO standards, within 60 days. I’m told these emails were sent to MLS staff, association staff, EO/AEs and volunteer leadership.
Here’s some excerpts from the email sent by Rodney Gansho, Managing Director for NAR, Association and MLS Governance.
“It has come to our attention your MLS may not have completed implementation of the RESO Data Dictionary and/or Web API. Immediate action is required to ensure that the Association and MLS does not jeopardize its NAR insurance coverage
In accordance with MLS Policy Statement 7.90, Real Estate Transaction Standards, adopted by the National Association of Realtors® Board of Directors in November 2011, REALTOR®-Association-operated MLSs are required to implement RESO Standards. The deadline to implement the RESO Data Dictionary was January 1, 2016. The deadline to implement the RESO Web API was June 30, 2016. Subsequent releases to RESO Standards must occur within one year from ratification. “
and the kicker…
We request the association/MLS respond immediately to confirm the MLS is scheduled to use the RESO compliance certification program or, alternatively, provide confirmation the MLS otherwise complies with the RESO standards. Failure to respond within 60 days from the date of this notice will result in the loss of NAR insurance coverage.
“The 200 vs the 500” war has begun. This is a huge win for brokers, standards and the MLS community in general.
More details on NAR’s decision to shut down AMP.
Realtors Property Resource® Suspends AMP Program, Announces Multiyear Funding Cuts
“The decision to cut funding for AMP, an open architecture platform that provides customized back-end technology services for small- to mid-size multiple listing services, was made by NAR CEO Bob Goldberg, and endorsed by NAR’s Leadership Team and RPR’s senior management, as part of an organizational review of NAR and its subsidiaries, including RPR. NAR recently announced an organizational realignment to become a radically member-centric organization.
In less than 7 months NAR’ new CEO, Bob Goldberg has reorganized the entire Associaiton and now making cuts to one of it’s most controversial initiatives. Less than 7 months people, this is not your old NAR.
“As part of its cost reduction efforts, RPR is also taking action to reduce its overall operating costs by at least 20 percent in 2019; those savings will be reallocated to help fund other higher priority NAR initiatives. NAR and RPR senior management will be working together closely over the coming months to conduct an in-depth review of RPR’s activities to identify and achieve those cost saving measures, as well as further optimizations and expense reductions over the coming years.”
20 percent is huge. You can’t get to that without some sort of staff reduction. How high? It’s anybody’s guess.
““I vowed a full review of the organization and its programs when I assumed the role of CEO to ensure we provide the best value to our members. Suspending funding for AMP will allow RPR to refocus its resources on delivering the best user experience to Realtors®,” said NAR CEO Bob Goldberg. “NAR will continue offering its full support to the MLS and MLS-vendor community as it moves toward an environment that fosters greater innovation and allows for faster and easier technology integration.”
There were many naysayers when Bob was announced as the new CEO. Not me. Bob, NAR President Elizabeth Mendenhall, and I suspect many other volunteers are not letting things stay the same.
It’s not about laying blame (in fact I love the way Bob mentioned the MLS community at the end of this quote), you got to move on, make the tough decisions, and follow through on what you promised.
That’s called leadership.
Looks like letters are being sent out this morning:
“At a meeting of the RPR Advisory Council this week, the future of AMP was discussed, and its relationship to its overall resource and funding levels supported by NAR. The result of this assessment is that NAR Leadership, with the full endorsement of RPR’s Senior Management, have concluded that continued funding of the AMP project is not within the 2018 strategic plan for RPR.
This will result in the reallocation of funds for the AMP program in 2018 to other, higher priority NAR initiatives. At the same time, this will allow RPR greater focus on both its core features and products, and to add resources to the Upstream project. The AMP program will be suspended and begin winding down its operations as of February 1, 2018.”
developing…