As most of us have come to learn after paying our dues to the copius national, state and local associations, fees increased this year. Robert Friedman of NAR assured us in the October Issue of Realtor Magazine that these fee increases are to fund the new political action committee arm of NAR called My Realtor Party. This measure was needed to insure that we have people lobbying government on our behalf.
I call Shenanigans!
As we shell out money to each association level and pay all the "Start up" and "One Time" fees that each seems to require now-a-days, I think we should ask ourselves why?
In most states, membership is required to join the MLS. If my broker is a member, I have to be a member unless the broker gets charged outrageous fees. For What? The "Realtor Party" has supported government spending measures that I am adamantly opposed to, but I have to fund their political efforts if I want to do business in my state.
I call Shenanigans!
I'd like to pose the question to my good friends here on Active Rain. If your arm wasn't twisted to do so, would you join the National Association of Realtors and all its affiliates?
