Comments on: How Counter-Productive is Realtor Association Spin? http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2008/03/how-counter-productive-is-realtor-association-spin/ Macro Perspective on the Capital Markets, Economy, Geopolitics, Technology, and Digital Media Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:04:19 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: The Big Picture http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2008/03/how-counter-productive-is-realtor-association-spin/comment-page-1/#comment-64856 The Big Picture Thu, 10 Apr 2008 11:48:36 +0000 http://thebigpicture.dev.wilder.ca/blog/2008/03/25/how-counter-productive-is-realtor-association-spin/#comment-64856 <strong>WSJ: "Inflation is back"</strong> I'd like to point out a new feature in the usually astute WSJ: Printing erroneous information on the front page. Last month, in a front page, 3rd paragraph snafu, the Journal reported a 2.9% month-to-month change in existing home sales -- a seasonal fa... WSJ: “Inflation is back”

I’d like to point out a new feature in the usually astute WSJ: Printing erroneous information on the front page. Last month, in a front page, 3rd paragraph snafu, the Journal reported a 2.9% month-to-month change in existing home sales — a seasonal fa…

]]> By: West Toronto realtor http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2008/03/how-counter-productive-is-realtor-association-spin/comment-page-1/#comment-64855 West Toronto realtor Mon, 31 Mar 2008 11:50:45 +0000 http://thebigpicture.dev.wilder.ca/blog/2008/03/25/how-counter-productive-is-realtor-association-spin/#comment-64855 Somebody said:"The only statistics I believe are those which were falsificated by me." And I believe numbers are important, but intuition and feelings too. If you are in business for some years, like we in <a href="http://westtorontorealtor.com" rel="nofollow">West Toronto realtor</a>, you know that's something going on even without numbers. And if these agencies and institutions really change results deliberately, the loss of confidence will be their path to grave... Somebody said:”The only statistics I believe are those which were falsificated by me.” And I believe numbers are important, but intuition and feelings too. If you are in business for some years, like we in West Toronto realtor, you know that’s something going on even without numbers. And if these agencies and institutions really change results deliberately, the loss of confidence will be their path to grave…

]]> By: xav http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2008/03/how-counter-productive-is-realtor-association-spin/comment-page-1/#comment-64854 xav Thu, 27 Mar 2008 09:29:47 +0000 http://thebigpicture.dev.wilder.ca/blog/2008/03/25/how-counter-productive-is-realtor-association-spin/#comment-64854 I thought Barry was just sucking up to CNBC. Apparently he appears to be serious, which in some ways is even worse. How can anybody with a brain believe Cramer on this? Does Barry think that the guy asking the question about BSC was a hedge fund manager writing to Cramer for advice? LOL I thought Barry was just sucking up to CNBC. Apparently he appears to be serious, which in some ways is even worse.

How can anybody with a brain believe Cramer on this? Does Barry think that the guy asking the question about BSC was a hedge fund manager writing to Cramer for advice? LOL

]]> By: Drew Yallop http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2008/03/how-counter-productive-is-realtor-association-spin/comment-page-1/#comment-64853 Drew Yallop Wed, 26 Mar 2008 01:20:20 +0000 http://thebigpicture.dev.wilder.ca/blog/2008/03/25/how-counter-productive-is-realtor-association-spin/#comment-64853 Barry, Wonderful post. Statistically it is kid's stuff but the "experts" continue to get it wrong (intentionally?). Has WSJ become just a shill for the Street? Drew Yallop Barry,

Wonderful post. Statistically it is kid’s stuff but the “experts” continue to get it wrong (intentionally?). Has WSJ become just a shill for the Street?

Drew Yallop

]]> By: Pool Shark http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2008/03/how-counter-productive-is-realtor-association-spin/comment-page-1/#comment-64852 Pool Shark Tue, 25 Mar 2008 17:33:34 +0000 http://thebigpicture.dev.wilder.ca/blog/2008/03/25/how-counter-productive-is-realtor-association-spin/#comment-64852 Blin, I'll do you one better; how about home prices for the last century? http://www.investingintelligently.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/08/a_history_of_home_values.png Just shows how far we still have to go, and why the bottom won't come until <i><b>2013</i></b>. Blin,

I’ll do you one better; how about home prices for the last century?

http://www.investingintelligently.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/08/a_history_of_home_values.png

Just shows how far we still have to go, and why the bottom won’t come until 2013.

]]> By: Cindy http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2008/03/how-counter-productive-is-realtor-association-spin/comment-page-1/#comment-64851 Cindy Tue, 25 Mar 2008 17:18:19 +0000 http://thebigpicture.dev.wilder.ca/blog/2008/03/25/how-counter-productive-is-realtor-association-spin/#comment-64851 I believe the builders trade groups have produced plenty of their own spin, too. Builders groups have given money to their members to run "buy now campaigns" similar to what the realtors are doing. Also, the builders alternately claim to "see bottom" or that the world is about to implode if house prices don't start "recovering" (i.e. going back up to unaffordable levels) soon. All of this seems designed to manipulate the public, angle for a govt bailout, etc, as it suits their current needs. The press also picks up on building industry press releases and repackages them as "news," which shows lack of real journalism and/or a fear of losing advertisers' (builders, realtors) dollars if they speak the truth. The kicker is that both the NAR and NAHB have blamed the media at varying times for the whole housing crash. Thankfully, that tactic was met with rounds of laughter. I believe the builders trade groups have produced plenty of their own spin, too. Builders groups have given money to their members to run “buy now campaigns” similar to what the realtors are doing. Also, the builders alternately claim to “see bottom” or that the world is about to implode if house prices don’t start “recovering” (i.e. going back up to unaffordable levels) soon. All of this seems designed to manipulate the public, angle for a govt bailout, etc, as it suits their current needs. The press also picks up on building industry press releases and repackages them as “news,” which shows lack of real journalism and/or a fear of losing advertisers’ (builders, realtors) dollars if they speak the truth. The kicker is that both the NAR and NAHB have blamed the media at varying times for the whole housing crash. Thankfully, that tactic was met with rounds of laughter.

]]> By: portland Refugee http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2008/03/how-counter-productive-is-realtor-association-spin/comment-page-1/#comment-64850 portland Refugee Tue, 25 Mar 2008 17:08:52 +0000 http://thebigpicture.dev.wilder.ca/blog/2008/03/25/how-counter-productive-is-realtor-association-spin/#comment-64850 P.S. Why not just get rid of realtors and instead pay a reasonable flat fee for listing the property, administering documents, etc. This way a seller / buyer can save the (usually unearned) 6.% sales commission. If sellers don't have to pay such fees, maybe it will help offset any losses...... I'm a big proponent of Redfinn Disclosure: None what so ever. P.S. Why not just get rid of realtors and instead pay a reasonable flat fee for listing the property, administering documents, etc. This way a seller / buyer can save the (usually unearned) 6.% sales commission. If sellers don’t have to pay such fees, maybe it will help offset any losses……

I’m a big proponent of Redfinn

Disclosure: None what so ever.

]]> By: portland Refugee http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2008/03/how-counter-productive-is-realtor-association-spin/comment-page-1/#comment-64849 portland Refugee Tue, 25 Mar 2008 16:37:38 +0000 http://thebigpicture.dev.wilder.ca/blog/2008/03/25/how-counter-productive-is-realtor-association-spin/#comment-64849 Barry - Nice post! I guess the fiduciary responsibility doesn't apply to the NAR. Barry – Nice post!

I guess the fiduciary responsibility doesn’t apply to the NAR.

]]> By: Bob Smith http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2008/03/how-counter-productive-is-realtor-association-spin/comment-page-1/#comment-64848 Bob Smith Tue, 25 Mar 2008 15:59:35 +0000 http://thebigpicture.dev.wilder.ca/blog/2008/03/25/how-counter-productive-is-realtor-association-spin/#comment-64848 In my area of Michigan, where we have been hit very hard with this downturn, sales numbers *are* up. That's the number of sales, whereas the sales prices (avg and median) are still down. We think our number of sales is up because we were one of the first to get hit and sellers now understand that the prices have to be proper to sell. How much up are we? 18% for the period of Jan 1 - Mar 24, when compared to 2007. Time on market is down slightly for that same period, 141 days on market vs 147 in 2007. Not great considering how dismal 2007 was, but we're happy to see an improvement. Of course, that's just our one area and is not representative of Metro Detroit or Lansing or Flint, the nearest largest Cities. In my area of Michigan, where we have been hit very hard with this downturn, sales numbers *are* up. That’s the number of sales, whereas the sales prices (avg and median) are still down. We think our number of sales is up because we were one of the first to get hit and sellers now understand that the prices have to be proper to sell. How much up are we? 18% for the period of Jan 1 – Mar 24, when compared to 2007. Time on market is down slightly for that same period, 141 days on market vs 147 in 2007. Not great considering how dismal 2007 was, but we’re happy to see an improvement. Of course, that’s just our one area and is not representative of Metro Detroit or Lansing or Flint, the nearest largest Cities.

]]> By: SINGER http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2008/03/how-counter-productive-is-realtor-association-spin/comment-page-1/#comment-64847 SINGER Tue, 25 Mar 2008 15:54:32 +0000 http://thebigpicture.dev.wilder.ca/blog/2008/03/25/how-counter-productive-is-realtor-association-spin/#comment-64847 it cant be FRAUD unless the mislead parties reliance on the intentionally misleading statement is REASONABLE: it cant be FRAUD unless the mislead parties reliance on the intentionally misleading statement is REASONABLE:

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