Joellen Chappell

I believe most are missing the point of this $40 dues increase. Yes of course NAR represents it's members, and you can argue whether well or poorly, that is not really pertinent to this discussion.(see note at bottom) The question you all must ask yourself is: WHO ELSE IS GOING TO REPRESENT THE AMERICAN HOMEOWNERS AND POTENTIAL HOMEOWNERS? It's not just about us and our livelihood, it's about our way of life and the American Dream for our children and their children. If anyone thinks there is another organization as powerful (we hope) as NAR to protect homeownership please let me know. Right now we are facing issues that could literally kill our industry: The elimination of Freddie & Fannie (with the ever famous QRM as replacement?) and the elimination of the Mortgage Interest deduction. If $40 is your make or break point, you should probably go ahead and bail out. Just remember that two of the most powerful lobbying groups are Lawyers and Teachers. Both also non-voluntary, and with much higher dues. Do you really want them to be the only voice our Senators and Congressmen hear? Note:If you don't like what NAR is doing, then get involved and change it. It is a very democratic group. Joellen D. Chappell, Broker Associate joellen.realestate@gmail.com

WOW, all I can say is that the Associations involved have sure done a terrible job of making sure their members actually KNOW what the value is of belonging. All associations better be paying attn. I am also certain that the American Bar Association, who's members pay thousands every year, are jumping up and down with glee. If this trend continues, they will have NO opposition in getting stupid laws passed pertaining to homeownership. And do you think mortgage interest deduction will survive without NAR? AND you have to give the brokers their credit also for not valuing the fact that because of our Local, State and National Associations, we are no longer down at the used-car salesman level of professionalism.(mostly) Although that may have changed with the mess we're in. That REALTOR.COM made a huge positive impact on all of our businesses. If $400 +- is the difference between being able to stay in business or not, than they probably should choose not. Joellen D. Chappell, Broker Associate jchappell@c21mm.com

Great Article! I hesitate to tell people that I have been in the real estate business for 30+ years because of their pre-conceived ideas of how old that makes me and how "old-fashioned" my business practices. I actually started at 25 and am now 58. I manage an office of 30 & 40 somethings and a few dinosaurs (my age). We ALL use whatever technology makes us most efficient. Although I am the most active in social networking. It isn't about age, it's about being effective and efficient. And trust me, anyone that sold real estate before the fax machine was invented LOVES technology. Joellen D. Chappell, Broker Associate jchappell@c21mm.com