Letters to the Editor

Re: 'Consumer access in the cards for NAR's real estate 'Gateway'' (Nov. 26)

Dear Editor:

Finally! Some forward, consumer-oriented thinking from WITHIN the industry, rather than from the outside. It's this type of strategic thinking that will allow us to leapfrog the "interlopers." And yes, those who make their money by reducing the value of the real estate broker are interlopers, regardless of whether or not they are now being invited to serve Kool-Aid at our conventions. These interlopers are also hurting the consumer by devaluing their property.

When was the last time you went to one of the new property estimators and found your (or someone else's) property was estimated OVER the value you believed it to be? Here, in our market, they are often off by 30-50 percent, which amounts to millions of dollars in many situations. They have not been held accountable yet for their contribution to this market softness, because everyone is still either in love or in shock with their version of real estate between the sheets. Yes, knowledge is power, but misinformation is destructive.

Michael Daly
RE/MAX Beach Properties
Southampton, N.Y.

Dear Editor:

Thanks for this detailed overview of Gateway. I've been leading some MLS strategic planning sessions around the country recently, and I obviously include Gateway as a real possibility for the future. The response I am getting from the rank-and-file members -- particularly the younger ones -- is that Gateway is a welcome concept and a necessary professional tool. There is skepticism, of course, but not of the Gateway concept. The skepticism is of the governance; can NAR build a useful information infrastructure by committee? And can NAR leaders accomplish this in a timely fashion? Because while leadership wrangles and plays politics, Google flourishes.

Judith Lindenau
JWL Associates, Consulting
Traverse City, Mich.

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