Links and Minifeatures 10 18 Thursday

I think I've finally got essentially everything in place, as far as redirects and such goes. Between the last three times I checked my error logs (for both sites), I've come away with a grand total of one error I do not specifically intend not to fix. I'll keep checking error logs, and if you come across one, please let me know. There's still stuff that needs to be done, but there's no rush on what's left.

As I've said before, I've disabled automated trackbacks but am perfectly willing to put them in manually for things that deserve it.

As a request, would SOMEONE other than me please test the comments function? I've checked with both my long time Type Key identity and my brand new shiny log on for here. Email me if it goes bad, but I think it works (both sites).

Just an FYI The CLTA Wizard

Warning: These numbers are for the title policy only - not for anything else. And the quotes do not appear to be necessarily for equivalent services and policies. Do not assume that final prices will be the ones quoted.

I was reminded of it by this post over at Volokh Conspiracy, about which I've taken the notes for an article. But let me ask: Is there any irony quite so rich as (1) lawyers, (2) working for the government, trying to foster ways to "increase the competition" among real estate agents? The real estate and mortgage field is basically as level as it gets for agents: extremely low bar to entry (easy licensing), millions of practitioners nationwide, alternatives all the way from $60 up for a transaction, and absolutely no legal requirement in law to use an agent at all? (There are economic reasons to use an agent, especially a full service one. But there is absolutely no legal requirement in any state)

This from the most protected, most privileged of all professions? The only one that is essentially allowed to regulate and police itself? (NASD has some input for securities, but nearly to the degree ABA has) The one profession with a basically unlimited ability to harass other citizens (a cop can only make you miserable until the lawyers get involved. There's no such limit on the legal profession). The one where if you try to get by without paying fees to an initiate, has all of the systemic controls and habits in places to make people regret that decision, too late though it may be? Not to mention, the profession that is far and away the most over-represented, by percentage of population, in government, whether you're talking about civil serpents or the elected branches? I really try not to bash lawyers, but this is just too much to ignore.

I forgot to mention: In every state I'm aware of, lawyers can get a brokerage license simply by asking for one, and they are able to legally terrorize any "mere" agent who pwns them for the real functions of an agent. Hey government lawyers! If it's so lucrative, why don't you come compete with us? You'll even get to keep all the money you get (less expenses, of course. But, unlike most agents, you won't have brokerage and/or franchise fees eating up to half of every dollar or more before anything else gets paid)

(The brokerage system could use some fixing. But big chain brokerages control lobbyists, and hire or don't hire lawyers and law firms, so it doesn't take too much imagination to see why that's not happening - too much potential personal cost)

Later: I did get an email response from Professor Zywicki. It seems we may have both assumed things, most particularly me about his attitude, that aren't true, or aren't as true as I assumed. But the above rant stands in relation to most attitudes I've encountered.

The folks over at Bloodhound are writing about the possibility NAR may require all Realtors to use a common website or blogging service, get broker approval, etcetera for their websites or blogs.

This would be as stupid as it gets. I am a Realtor, but I don't have any great emotional baggage in it, and if it's stop the website, live by what NAR says I can write, or stop being a Realtor and go back to being a plain agent, I know which option wins. My resignation letter would be transmitted immediately. NAR does not control my ability to practice real estate or originate mortgage loans. They can't even shut us out of MLS (can you say "restraint of trade" suit? They've got a perfect record on those in California - no victories) They only want us to think they can.

Reading a few other agent websites, that seems to be the prevailing attitude. Perhaps NAR is smarter than this; but then again they're controlled by a few "big name" brokerage chains, who do not want to lose control of the market. Still, if I had to guess, I'd guess they'd immediately lose 30 to 40% of their membership, including essentially 100% of those who are adapting best to the changing market. Holy Shades of "We had to destroy the village in order to save it," Batman! This is enough to break, for all time, the myth that being a Realtor means anything to the consumer in the way of superior qualifications, superior ethics, or anything else except toeing the "union line". I'm willing to toe that line for precisely as long as it gets me more than it costs, and not an instant longer.

(P.S. For any NAR types reading this: The only thing I'd have to change would be future advertising and a couple words on my other website. Neither my cards nor my signs nor anything else of my permanent materials says has the "R word" on it)