I attended the National Association of Realtors® Resort and Second-Home Symposium at the ridiculously beautiful Kiawah Island Golf Resort, on Kiawah Island, South Carolina. The National Home Watch Association was a proud sponsor of this very informative and timely event. Realtors® from all over the U.S. who specialize in second-home sales have now officially been exposed to the NHWA and its goals and standards. I had the opportunity to educate these professionals as to not only the existence of Home Watch, but what it does as well. Accredited Members from many different markets across the U.S. will be hearing from these Realtors®. I have asked many attendees to reach out to Home Watch businesses who do not belong to the NHWA and ask why they are not Members. Do they not believe in our Code of Ethics? Are they not properly licensed? Are they not properly insured?
I am pleased to tell you that I was able to meet with the 2012 NAR National President, Maurice "Moe" Viessi (see photo, below). I will share our the jist of conversation in an upcoming blog. I was also interviewed by Real Estate Today, a national radio show based in Washington, DC. In addition, I met with Russell Ridge, the NAR official for Government Affairs, to discuss insurance implications with regard to this market. I was able to share with him my ideas as to how the NHWA might play a role in solving the problem. Listening to Dr. Lawrence Yuen, who is considered to be one of the top ten economists in the U.S., was a treat. He talked about the role of the Real Estate industry in today's economic climate. I will get into his observations in a future blog.
On another note, I would like to thank all of you who sent positive thoughts and prayers for my wife. She is still fighting to recover. I cannot tell you how much your support means to us.
Oh, and one last thing: We will be introducing six new members in three new states within the next few days.
As always, I wish you
Much success,
Jack
