I’ve been retired for almost thirteen years. Marty, you may remember my numerous rants herein regarding the almost untethered-from-accountability reality real estate registrants/licensees enjoyed as too many of same preyed on unsuspecting first-time entrants—for starters—into the real estate market as buyers/sellers. Do I respect some real estate agents/brokerages? Yes. The key word in my self-directed answer is “some”. Do I respect virtually all medical doctors, dentists, teachers etc.? Yes. The key word in that self-directed answer is, of course, “all”. Why such a divergence in how I see things? Answer: The latter group has earned the right to be designated as highly regarded “professionals” due to extensive rigorous educational requirements and subsequent apprenticeship-type internships to be met and successfully served respectively by every candidate aspiring to those professions.

Many desire to become doctors, dentists or teachers as youths. I have never heard of any youngster desiring to become a real estate agent. Why the disparity? Answer: Perceived admiration, or not, for the “profession(s)”.

You guys have it right. Nothing has changed for the betterment of the so-called profession, and things will never change as long as the greed factor remains paramount in the minds of far too many who think, “Let’s give real estate a try! What the hell; eight weeks of courses and I’ll be a big-time Realtor vs many years before I might become a doctor, dentist or teacher/professor or some such other professional, and I can quickly make as much, if not more money, as those folks! That’s what the managers/brokerages all tell me. Where do I sign up?”

You guys know I’m right.

Good to see you’re still on the green side, Marty:-)

Brian Martindale