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May

28
2010

NAR Code of Ethics to include sexual orientation

By Inman News, Friday, May 28, 2010.

Re: Building a brand in gay real estate (May 17)

Dear Editor:

After reading your article about the gay real estate niche, I would like to inform you about the National Association of Gay & Lesbian Real Estate Professionals, NAGLREP, and our extensive work with NAR's Equal Opportunity-Cultural Diversity Committee to help amend the NAR Code of Ethics to include sexual orientation (as a protected class).  more...

May

26
2010

How about a .6%HOMESMLS domain?

By Inman News, Wednesday, May 26, 2010.

Re: "New member joins bid for '.MLS' domain" (May 24)

Dear Editor:

The term "multiple listing service" is a generic phrase that by its nature could just as easily apply to a multiple listing service for cars as one for homes. Creating a .MLS domain would therefore be confusing and unfair because it would preclude the creation of a .MLS domain by auto dealers or other business sectors.  more...

'Hope Cuomo is happy ...'

By Inman News, Wednesday, May 26, 2010.

Re: 'Fannie, Freddie to field HVCC complaints' (May 20)

Dear Editor:

I am a certified appraiser and I can tell you a few things. The pressure only shifted from the lender to the AMC (appraisal management company). If the AMC didn't get satisfied, no more work was forthcoming (just like the lenders were doing and have always done). All the while they charged a fee to the lender that the appraiser was not made aware of and, as it ends up, orders are put out to the lowest bidder with some as low as $125 for a full 1004 including the 1004mc.  more...

May

25
2010

Appraisal pendulum has swung too far

By Inman News, Tuesday, May 25, 2010.

Re: 'Fannie, Freddie to field HVCC complaints' (May 20)

Dear Editor:

The pendulum has once again swung too far. Inexperienced appraisers, given assignments by AMCs whether or not they know what they are doing, have cost us three deals this month alone.

My wife and I pride ourselves on our valuations. We take three or more hours to do our BPOs, and we have done hundreds. I also was an underwriter in a previous life and have reviewed thousands of appraisals. The appraisals we have been getting lately are c**p.  more...

May

19
2010

A call that real estate professionals must answer

By Inman News, Wednesday, May 19, 2010.

Re: 'Questioning real estate quantity' (May 19)

Dear Editor:

As I was reading the article about increasing the number of real estate agents in your multiple listing service, a very strong thought came to mind.

For three decades I have actively worked as a Realtor in Phoenix, with more than 700 successful closed residential real estate transactions. What we need, instead of more agents, are more tenacious, careful, professional, committed agents.  more...

May

6
2010

Agents take to the stage as 'stagents'

By Inman News, Thursday, May 6, 2010.

Re: '5 must-knows about hiring a home stager' (May 5)

Dear Editor:

Regarding your article on home staging -- great points, but as a teacher, interior designer and in the last six years a teacher of home staging to agents, I'd like to make a few additional points.

Given the massive inventory of unsold homes out there in the market today, staging a home has become a necessary skill of the real estate agent. The average sellers today do not have the additional budget to spend on staging a home. Today we see a growing number of "stagents" who are able to guide their sellers through the home-staging process.  more...