RealTown's RealTalk

You said, "Clearly these are usually not "producing" agents." I disagree with you. I am a "producing agent" who thinks that it is just good business sense to keep your costs as low as possible. Low costs, high volume equals greater net income. I was with a very high cost franchise for too many years until I realized that clients were not choosing me because of the company with which I was affiliated, but because they appreciated my honesty and expertise.
Jacquie

I consider myself a producing agent as well (better last year than this year). I prefer the franchise operation. I could not afford the national advertising given by the franchises, (we are a tourist area) we have retirees and second homes. I have gotten many transactions both listings and buyers do to being affiliated with Re Max. Locals work with the individual, but buyers from out of town work more with the companies they see advertised.

As for the expense, a 95%commissionon nets a lot more to me than a 60% to 75% commission even with my desk fees. Now I do agree that all franchises are not the best way to go. Last year I paid 6000 to the franchise not including what I paid my broker, this type of franchise I did not like. When returning to REmax my first 2 settlments need me enough above what I would have netted with the other company to pay my desk fees for the year.

I think that in terms of the miss information, it is not intended as such towards the general public, however it is based
on the perspectives of the difference entities that work within the industry and their self serving biases.
for example some internet companies will publish information from a segment of an industry associated with Real Estate
and give it a great reverance as if it was a God sent Axxiom, when in effect it is a self serving skeem to generate more
business without regard to the general public safety, like for example the mortgage back securities derivatives,
credit swaps derivatives and colateral debt obligation derivatives. the effect of all these dogmas is that the general public
gets a prejudicial product that is going to hurt them, but it was presented as a great product at first when the teaser rate was in really low, and there was no verification if they could really afford to pay off the loan. Also the public are being bonbarded
with pop ups offers that could be very deceiving and actually scams that could very damaging financially to an individual,
so the general advice is always buyer be aware of these practices and that make the internet consumer confuse and eskeptical.