Real Living joins GMAC realty unit in merger | The Columbus Dis...

The pie is **much** smaller - far less buyers today than in past decades to go around. Many of the 8000 GMAC franchises are going to get the boot in this merger because they aren't moving houses anyway. In today's market any fool can get a listing - its the agents who can bring buyers to the table who are adding value. And with the pending bankruptcy of FHA, congress is going to reorganize it so that it has much tougher lending standards. That means even fewer buyers for the massive surplus of houses for sale. Residential real estate over the next twenty years is going to be a very difficult business indeed to make a living at.

Those in control at HER have taken a concept of personal service and diluted it all in an effort to reach his goal of a nataional brand. The business model is only advantageous to new agents, who need the commission split to start with, or a few select veteran agents who are given "sweetheart" deals to stay. Consumers are better served by small brokerages and/or Re/Max agents.

further proof of the innovative spirit and capital that is part of the strength of the Columbus business community.

I rank real estate agents one step below child molesters. I have had 10-15 experiences with them when I was in CMH. Tales that would curl your hair. Give you a quick one, agent should me a place, bank owned, I signed a contract. A few days later he said the bank decided to keep it as a rental. I found out by accident he bought it out from under me. I could go on for awhile. Get educated folks and sell on your own!

Never been "real" excited by the old name, certainly aren't "real" excited about the new name.

ROBERT LONG wrote:

GREAT NEWS NOW SOME ONE HAS STEPPED UP TO FILL THE REAL ESTATE PROFFESSIONAL SERVICE GAP.
WHAT A GREAT COMBINATION. KUDOS TO THE ROUDAS.

You must be a friend of the Roudas, because I haven't equated "Professional" service with HER since Harley Sr. turned over the reigns. I am willing to bet that most real estate "professionals" would agree (I have heard it from several prominent Realtors).

These mergers where the mouse eats the elephant rarely work as a practicle matter in business history... The fact that Brookfield bought a pig in a poke, and needs to save face.... shed poorly respected "marks" of the GMAC brand, and has to deal with what may be more than a temporary minor glitch in the nature of the entire residential real estate future makes me worry for this point:

If Brookfield made a serious miscalculation in buying GMAC, and got rid of Beardon because of apparently gross misrepresentation about the GMAC franchise value, what makes anyone think they are making a good decision in allowing this globally speaking midget of a comapny manage this large "red headed stepchild" of a real estate franchise?

The folks in real living better do some real maneuvering if they don't want to have the distinction of being the fastest SHRINKING real estate franchise in the world... And shed the skirts and high heals for some boots and jeans... real estate for the forseen future will be in the trenches, not at the debutants ball!!!

the key point wrote:

These mergers where the mouse eats the elephant rarely work as a practicle matter in business history... The fact that Brookfield bought a pig in a poke, and needs to save face.... shed poorly respected "marks" of the GMAC brand, and has to deal with what may be more than a temporary minor glitch in the nature of the entire residential real estate future makes me worry for this point:
If Brookfield made a serious miscalculation in buying GMAC, and got rid of Beardon because of apparently gross misrepresentation about the GMAC franchise value, what makes anyone think they are making a good decision in allowing this globally speaking midget of a comapny manage this large "red headed stepchild" of a real estate franchise?
The folks in real living better do some real maneuvering if they don't want to have the distinction of being the fastest SHRINKING real estate franchise in the world... And shed the skirts and high heals for some boots and jeans... real estate for the forseen future will be in the trenches, not at the debutants ball!!!

Sounds as though you are familiar with the charade that has been going on at HER for the past several years, you are right on!