Opinion

Home
Write a Letter to the Editor

Mar

2
2010

Honesty, integrity and dual agency

By Inman News, Tuesday, March 2, 2010.

Re: 'Fairness in Dual Agency' (March 1)

Dear Editor:

I have had one transaction as a dual agency, because the seller and buyer agreed.

Not to create any issues, I suggested that both parties meet and discuss and negotiate the price on neutral grounds: my office. Everyone was pleased with the outcome. Honesty and integrity were not compromised.

Tina Bilazarian
Principal
Tina Bilazarian Inc.
Shrewsbury, Mass.

***  more...

The dual-agency 'slam dunk'

By Inman News, Tuesday, March 2, 2010.

Re: 'Fairness in Dual Agency' (March 1)

Dear Editor:
If you honor the profession, and treat all parties fairly, dual Agency is a slam dunk. As a matter of fact, I prefer dual-agency transactions.

Thoroughly verify all information, inspections, deadlines, requirements and be proactive with each party.

Barbara Christ
Broker-owner
RE/MAX Gold Country
Hamilton, Mont.

***  more...

Real estate Darwinism

By Inman News, Tuesday, March 2, 2010.

Today's brokers and agents who survive and lead us out of this current mess are going to be those most willing to change. They will share three key attributes: they will be the most competent in their craft, utilize all available technology, and be the most dedicated to customer service.

It seems like that should be the case today, but some, and perhaps a majority, are resistant to change. But pure Darwinism, survival of the fittest, is on the way. And internal and external changes to real estate brokerage offices will be a part of our evolution.

Undoubtedly, these changes will be fundamental. Externally, technology will continue to drive our industry change, and internally, change will be in the form of technology and reduced commissions. Sounds simple, but the transformation to the brokerage of 2020 will be drastic.  more...

Mar

1
2010

Agents, dual agency and 'referees'

By Inman News, Monday, March 1, 2010.

Re: 'Fairness in Dual Agency' (March 1)

Dear Editor:

I am no real estate attorney, but I believe dual agency is impossible by definition. It automatically creates a conflict of interest. Agency creates fiduciary duty -- and vicarious liability -- of the agent or broker to represent a client with utmost good faith, loyalty and trustworthiness, and to negotiate the best possible price for a client without disclosing specifics about the price or the motivation of the client.  more...

Fairness in dual agency

By Inman News, Monday, March 1, 2010.

Re: 'Dual-agency disclosure makes no sense' (Feb. 22)

Dear Editor:

(In some cases) the buyers want the (listing agent) to show them property first of all or they would have chosen someone else. They may have called the agent from a sign with the agent's name and number, or from the buyer Googling the name of the town they want to buy in and this agent's name has popped up.

Most of the time the buyer has researched ahead of time and brings the printouts to the office for the agent to show only those properties that the buyer has chosen, and sure enough several may be the company's own listings or the agent's own listings.  more...

Feb

26
2010

Jobs should be job No. 1

By Inman News, Friday, February 26, 2010.

 

Re: 'Bye-bye equity' (Feb. 26)

Dear Editor:

Everything Lou Barnes says is correct, but as I see it his prescription to restore adequate credit misses the real fundamental remedy -- namely JOBS. Lenders are not lending because the incomes, at the margin, are simply not there.  more...

Feb

23
2010

Dot-com crash anniversary, Part 2

By Bradley Inman, Tuesday, February 23, 2010.
Flickr photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oxborrow/82522931/">Mr Wabu</a>.

Over the years, I have worked with many remarkable people.

Take Andrew Coleman, who earned a master's degree in business administration from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management  before joining HomeGain in 1999 as head of business development.

He is smart, hard-working and packed with passion. And his courage saved the company.

One day in the Spring of 2000, he came into my office to tell me that things were upside down at HomeGain. I can be intimidating, so I know this was not an easy conversation.  more...

Where is our bailout?

By Inman News, Tuesday, February 23, 2010.

Re: 'Study: Foreclosures hurt family stability' (Feb. 18)

Dear Editor:

If the banks and the "investors" that securitized loans don't come to the realization that they need to reduce principal and fix rates for underwater homeowners, it will not just be the lower-priced homes that will go into foreclosure.

People are just going to walk from their properties. The banks accepted the overinflated appraisals and now we, the normal people, are paying the price for Wall Street fraud. Where is our stimulus package and bailout?  more...

Feb

22
2010

Dual-agency disclosure makes no sense

By Inman News, Monday, February 22, 2010.

Re: 'N.C. Realtors fight dual-agency disclosure' (Feb. 18)

Dear Editor:

Here again there is an issue about Realtors' commissions. If an agent represents both buyer and seller -- dual agency -- he therefore is paid the total commission, since there is no split.

Many times the commission paid is at a reduced rate, since there is only one agent involved, but regardless, how does this have anything to do with the buyer making the offer?  more...

Feb

19
2010

Technology will never replace agents

By Inman News, Friday, February 19, 2010.

Re: 'I can be replaced' (Feb. 17)

Dear Editor:

While technological advancement should be embraced, it will never replace human intervention. Were that not true, there would be no need for judges, bankers, lawyers or politicians. Well ... maybe mechanical replacement is not all bad.

That aside, machines and technology will never be able to consult, identifying the true motivation for buying or selling or determining the proper strategy for maximizing return, both monetary and psychological.  more...

« first‹ previous…456789101112…next ›last »