NAR getting negative feedback on #RPPSI

RPPSI, or REALTOR Party Political Survival Initiative got off on the wrong foot, so far. What NAR is trying to do as an advocate for REALTORS and property owners is admirable, but the execution of the strategy will need to improve if the initiative is to find success. They are getting almost 100% negative feedbackfrom the members on thier website. It breaks my heart to see NAR fail when good guidance in Washington is desperately needed.

I learned about #RPPI on Twitter. A nice blog post that summarized the initiatives was found on the Arizona REALTORS blog here. From there I registered for the upcoming Town Hall meeting scheduled for April 13, 2011 | 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM (EDT).

After registering, I was shown a 1:27 minute movie of Washington DC images – there was no message – nothing. Below, the meaningless video I found an opportunity to download the presentation slides that will be used in the Town Hall Meeting. In reviewing the slides, I failed to hear the message about why this initiative is timely, and important, and necessary. And I want NAR to succeed! NAR did anice job of putting their Town Hall script up on google docs for everyone to be able to access. You can click here to take a look.

I suppose that the comments will soon be turned off if they do not improve, so I captured the first few pages from http://www.realtoractioncenter.com/ here.

…Comments

I do not believe we need to increase our fees this much

Submitted by Jayne Land
at: April 10, 2011

WITH A DUE RESPECT, I’M SURE THIS IS ALL WELL INTENDED BUT I THINK THE MAJORITY OF REALTORS ARE BURDENED TO THE LIMIT WITH COST’S…….I’VE BEEN IN THE BUSINESS SINCE 1976.SEEN IT ALL.BUT NEVER QUITE LIKE THIS….NO ENOUGH ALREADY….I’M SORRY I DON’T APPROVE….FOOD ON MY TABLE IS MORE IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW!

Submitted by peggy jack
at: April 10, 2011

I truly understand the reason for the dues upcharge, but I feel $20.00 is plenty right now. Too much of an increase at once. Rethink your position and the effect it will have on realtors who already pay many fees just to maintain a license in the state of Pa.

Submitted by Anonymous
at: April 10, 2011

Your rabid defense of what YOU consider to be the premier sacred cows of the real estate industry is, in fact, an embarrassment to every Realtor. Your strategy of ignoring the needs of the country as a whole in order to protect your own little fiefdom is nauseating. This kind of insular thinking is exactly what’s wrong with our political process…big lobbyists bullying the system to get what they think their constituancy wants and to ____ with everyone else. Well, here’s a news flash. I’m NOT one of your constituants. I don’t subscribe to your “grab-all-we-can-get-for-our-industry” outlook. For us to get this country back on the right track we’re ALL going to have to cooperate in the solution and I make it clear to anyone who’ll listen that I don’t want to be associated with your self-centered, dysfunctional outlook. In truth, I have no interest in being associated with NAR period and wouldn’t be if I didn’t have to be in order to retain access to MLS. It’s the only service Realtor membership provides that has any value in our day-to-day business. Your organization does nothing else for me or my comrades in arms. I suspect, in fact, that this campaign to TAKE MORE MONEY OUT OF OUR POCKETS is more about you keeping your cushy jobs and getting paid your big salaries than it is about doing anything that displays any long term wisdom or has any long term value for us working stiffs our here. I say NO, NO, NO to you and your unwholesome plans and ambitions.

Submitted by Kathryn Rand
at: April 10, 2011

I am OPPOSED to increasing dues at all. This is just another financial burden that Realtors do not need in this economy.

Submitted by John
at: April 10, 2011

This is just another excuse to raise our dues. NO THANK YOU. Cut staff, reduce the size of your offices, reduce adversiting etc. After listing to the President’s message, I’m beginning to feel as if NAR is in the Administation’s Pocket and not doing their job. When I hear “Collective” and Government Partnership, it sounds more like socialism than FREE MARKET. Supporting Obamacare, Cap N Trade and Net Neutrality were a big mistake.

Submitted by Oh Please
at: April 10, 2011

I’ve been following these comments as much as possible considering most of them disappear to who knows where and remain unseen. It’s obvious the membership; close to 100% of these commens, are strongly opposed to a mandatory increase in dues to support NAR’s political views. I’m often at odds with NAR’s political choices and have already stated that I’d terminate membership if this NAR continues to force the dues increase upon us. There is enough response for NAR to drop there campaign immediately. That would be the right thing to do! NAR has already lost in pursusing this road.

Submitted by mwilliams
at: April 10, 2011

Not Associated (with) Realtors, I have yet to see a positive post about the good you have done? Your proudest achievement was R ealtor.com? Why because you REAP $$ from the advertising? I don’t see the good you are doing NAR, if 95% of the members of NAR oppose this and seem to be unhappy with the membership and its leadership, what does that say of NAR? “Government is not reason. It is not eloquence. It is a force, like fire: a dangerous servant and a terrible master”