This is what happens when facts and dreams collide. This is what happens when people with business and financial information at their disposal get into conversations with ideologues. The ideologues advocacy leaves them hopeless in the face of verifiable information.

That leaves us with this weeks Head Up the Butt award winner, Charles McMillan. Who is Charles McMillan? Unfortunately, he is the President-Elect of the National Association of Realtors. This guy epitomizes and underscores all that is wrong with the real estate agency  / brokerage business. They are clueless and unprepared. Even for a television interview.

You would think that if you knew you were going to be on national television, in front of millions of people, that you would have your ducks in a row. Now couple that with the fact that your adversary on that show, your ruthless opponent, would be none other than Mad Money’s own Jim Cramer makes McMillan’s appearance of futility even more surprising.

No wonder real estate agents on a local level have so much problem succeeding. Their leadership is floundering and not respected in the least. Every talk show they go on they are mercilessly ripped apart and left to lie bleeding and wounded begging for the referee to call the fight so they can slither back to their corner.

I listened to this interview over and over, I read the transcript, and all McMillan could muster in defense is the mantra that “real estate is local”.

That’s it? That’s what you want to tell the world? Millions of people watching the news, reading the blogs, being swamped with all kinds of REAL data and you expect the public not to believe it because “real estate is local”? Are you kidding?

Please tell me you have not pinned the livelihood of 1.5 million buggywhippers on a mantra of idiotic proportions. Please tell me that you have empirical data to combat what is being reported. After watching this video in complete disbelief, I guess you don’t.

He is asked just where is a good place to buy a property and he says Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. Did you hear what i said…he said Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. This, from the gand poohbah, the head honcho, the President of the Buggywhippers, the National Association of Realtors. He said Indiana, Michigan and Ohio were good places to buy.

When posed with the question as to if people buy will they indeed lose money, he responded by basically saying that people should not be buying to make money, they should be buying to have someplace to live. ARE YOU KIDDING ME???

That’s your response?? No wonder so many agents are starving. No wonder so many agents are leaving the “business”. No wonder so many agents have not a single clue. The apple did not stray too far from the tree.

It’s 2008. This “business” needs a complete overhaul. I will keep saying it. I hope to reach and save those who truly want to make real estate their business. Get with it agents..your product is real estate. Know who your buyer is and understand it changes and you need to adapt accordingly. Learn how to sell to those who want to buy. Understand those who are indeed buying right now are serious investors and informed consumers.

Most right now, know much more than the real estate agents. We’re tired of all of the mantras, phony business cards, and BS. You want to move some product, PERFORM. Give your Buyer what they want.

When I sell a house, I tell the Seller from the beginning. YOU ARE NOT IN CONTROL. The Buyer who responds will dictate the pricing. It does not matter what you think the house is worth, it does not matter what you put into the house, it does not matter what you hope to sell it for. If you want to sell, if you truly want to sell, I will get you offers. I will get you offers from people who understand the market and are willing to pay what their research shows to be a prudent purchase.

If the Seller disagrees, I walk, That simple. Game over.

Most agents won’t sell more than 2 houses all year..if any. The opportunity is there to sell at least one per week. It’s the agent who has to respond.

However seeing how they are being led by their president, I don’t have much hope.

Real estate is local…what a joke!