“Realtor” vs. “Real Estate Agent” vs. “Executive Realtor” (Huh?!?) I know the term “Realtor®” — it’s actually a trademarked name that refers to someone who belongs to the National Association of Realtors (“NAR”). Then there are plain-old real estate agents — licensed professionals who don’t belong to NAR. Similarly, the terms “agent,” “sales associate,” “broker”...Read More
Housing Market Micro-Statistics [Editor’s Note: The views expressed here are solely those of Ross Kaplan, and do not represent Edina Realty, Berkshire Hathaway, or any other entity referenced.] Yeah, yeah, I know all about the S&P/Case-Shiller index, the National Association of Realtors’ Pending Home Sales Index, the Minneapolis Area Association of Realtors’ monthly sales statistics...Read More
It’s been said “there are no atheists in foxholes.” Apparently, the economic equivalent is “there are no true Free Marketers during depressions,” either . . . –Barry Ritholtz, The Big Picture Regular readers know I’m a big fan of blogger (and fellow former attorney) Barry Ritholtz (“The Big Picture”). Quotes like the one above are...Read More
Want two, inescapable signs that electronic signatures have arrived? Sign #1: The new, 2011 – 2012 standard Minnesota Purchase Agreement* now includes language stating that electronic signatures shall be acceptable for all residential real estate contracts and addenda (it’s buried in the fine print, just after the Integration Clause). Sign #2: The National Association of Realtors (“NAR”) is an...Read More
Fewer Realtors = Less Lobbying Clout Want to know another reason why the mortgage interest deduction for homeowners is in jeopardy as never before? It’s not just because the budget deficit is ballooning, prompting policymakers to look for novel ways to raise revenue (although that’s certainly true). And it’s not because the philosophical case for the deduction —...Read More
