It seems incredible that at a time when this profession gets more complex each day, the Virginia Senate thinks once you've been a broker for 15 years you no longer need to learn anything new.

But I've ranted about the lack of educational expectations in the industry before. I'll let my friend and colleague, Jim Duncan, in Charlottesville state the case this time around.

For the record, though, this is an idiotic idea. The only thing more idiotic is that it passed unanimously. Is there something in the water in Richmond?

I had lunch with a number of business friends the other day and, of course, the conversation turned to the current real estate market and then to the actions currently being contemplated by Congress to fix it.

Every fix seemed to have a down side for someone. And, then one of my friends stated what was staring us all in the fact. "I guess no one said it was going to be fair."

 What I'd like to see is everyone staying focused on the larger picture, rather than whether someone else is going to get a "better deal" out of any particular piece of legislation.

If your neighbor got himself in trouble with his mortgage and the government helps him out, one way to look at that is that he got bailed out for his recklessness or stupidity and that you got no reward for being a responsible adult.

But the other way to see this is that if his house goes into foreclosure, your property value declines. And, if several houses in your neighborhood go into foreclosure, your property value declines steeply, crime rises in the neighborhood and a whole host of bad things follow!

While it may be more morally satisfying to watch people get what they deserve, it is also, in this instance, cutting off your nose to spite your face!

Sometimes, looking out for your neighbor turns out to be a good thing for you too!