The PRICE OF the PIN: Working as a REALTOR in the Shenandoah Valley

Daily I subscribe to several financial and industry related blogs. My current favorite is a video blog www.thinkbigworksmall.com, where two mortgage brokers ( and video marketing entruprenuers) sarcastically discuss and debate current events and politics affecting our business. Their topic today compared the National Association of Mortgage Brokers to the National Association of REALTORS. The major difference? Our association though costly because of the requirement to join state and local associations to join is effective. To be honest, we are basically forced to join all of the associations anyways to have access to the MLS and access to show properties. If you want to play the game, then you have to pay your dues and follow the code of ethics. Our membership carries power because of the size and leadership we have in place. The "Pin" is expensive, but especially in this market where our voice needs to be heard, I think our fees are going to good use.

The video's jest implied that the major difference was the fact that we had a designation and lapel pin. Now we all know that its just not about the pin that separates out our association . . . but they do bring up a valuable point. Shouldn't our lending industry have just as a powerful voice as we have? Wouldn't that help work out the credit crisis? Working at a local level its my job to make sure that make sure that I represent my association well to help counter the "REALTOR" stigma. Should the NAMB create ways to force serious career lenders into falling into rank?

Congress and the senate are passing legislation to correct curve the default but wouldn't it be more effective if the lenders and loan officers who have to work with the lending products had a say in the legislation? To turn this market around we need to find fresh ideas and energy to revive our industry. The practices of 20 years ago will not work for our consumers of today. We need solutions not the same thinking that put us in this position in the first place.