Jav's World

You tell me….

Some Background on how Real Estates websites work and than I’ll get to the post.

In this Gig we have something called “listing” agents and these agents “list properties” for sale and once you “list a property” on the MLS it is picked up by every website in the world…..really.

Now these websites, you will know some of them. i.e. Zillow, Trulia (one in the same BTW), Redfin, etc…and they will “sell” my listings to other agents IF I do not pay for some form of “protection”.

Think I’m lying?

Do a search right now on any property and see if on the quick you know who the true listing agent is?

BUT

One site that you would think protects Realtors from this type of deception would be a website fueled by Realtors, endorsed by the National Association of Realtors and even has Realtor (trademarked) in its name.

Yup, you guessed it that site would be “Realtor.com”…..well you would be wrong!

Now the Post….

So this is a phone call I just got and I am quoting.

Hi Jav, this is your account rep from Realtor.com and your “enhanced” listing package is expiring tomorrow and want to know if you are re upping.

Me: Same price, 140.00 a month?

AR: No the new package is now called “Mobile Enhanced” (or something like that) and it allows for …Blah, Blah, Blah…and it “protects your listings” and Blah, Blah Blah and it cost 189.00 monthly.

Me: So why the increase?

And here is where the extortion begins….

AR: it’s based on your listing performance and your listings are up, congrats!

Me: So let me get this straight; If I am successful and I want to protect my own listings from being sold by you to other Realtors I have to pay more?

AR: uh….yeah?

Me: So to be clear, I am being extorted by a company operated for the benefit of the National Association of Realtors to which I pay a yearly due?

AR: uh…sort of??

Me: Sure why not sign me up!!!

AR: OK

Ten minutes later I get this call because I think my “account manager” just realized that me may be an enforcer for NAR.

AR: Jav, I got you a promo code that will reduce your price, hope that helps “Bud”.

Want to know what the promo code was?

If you were thinking “NAR finding ways to F@#$% you daily”…….you would be close but wrong.

The promo code was “bundling” another Realtor product (Top Producer) that I don’t use….for get this “my benefit”.

I thought Zillow & Trulia were the worst….nope our very own association condones the very same thing AND we have to pay for it…now these guys are really Pro.

I can’t make this shit up!

I don’t think NAR want’s to “Gotta Jav Miami”

Until it’s not…

So there was this Commission meeting a couple of weeks ago and short term rentals (AirBnB) was the main topic. I wrote a little comment about it but what was really fun to watch was what was said and by who.

In an effort to “plead” their case to the commissioners AirBnB got lots of legal, upstanding citizens to confessed to them that they were breaking the law.

Little unknown fact about “public” speaking….

When you get up and speak publicly on a topic you have to give your name, address for the record AND prior to speaking publicly, you also have to fill out a little piece of paper that states the same and on what topic you are speaking to and that you are not a Lobbyist (see below).

So, if you are willingly breaking a law….it may not be in your best interest to speak publicly (let a Lobbyist do it)

Another unknown little fact about “Serving” the public….

When one is sworn in to “serve” the public, one states that he/she will protect the US Constitution, State Statutes, Local Ordinances and Blah, Blah….

So when a “Public” official, serving the Public states and I quote “We are now on notice for people who did come here and notify us in public and challenge us in public, I will be duly bound to request our personnel to enforce the city code.”

Said public official was spot on and the Public was put on notice.

Can’t wait to see where this all ends but I am sure it will involve expensive Mouth Pieces…

The Public may or may not “Gotta Jav Miami”

 

Things Miami girls say and that I live in a really nice part of town….

Where I live we have the highest per capita of candidates for City of Miami District 2 Commission seat, old white “activist”, “dog” people, “drink” walkers, Real Estate agents (true) and EXOTIC wildlife.

Exotic as in Peafowl which are commonalty known as; “Oh look honey, how pretty the peacock’s are in this supposably nice neighborhood”.

True story.

When I ran for City of Miami Commissioner of this nice part of town, I knock on pretty much every door in town asking concerned residents (and probably some AirBnB tenants) what their biggest concern was and I kid you not it was not some earth shattering topic like Climate Change but Dog poop….as in “if you get rid of the dog poop I’ll vote for you” next big topic of my concerned residents?

You guessed it….Peacocks!

And to be more specific “if you get rid of the peacocks I’ll vote for you”

Now because I am special and what I really mean is that I am a bit obsessive about problem solving, I said “I’ll look into it”….and I did (I actually have a file)

Some fun facts about Peacocks:

They are Peafowl, they are native to India, they were introduced by local residents (who were apparently not concerned) and they have their own local ordinance…

Really, Peafowl’s are a protected class!

Where was I going with this?

Ever heard the saying “coming home to roost”?

Well when these “Immigrants” come home they make a LOT of F@#$%^& Noise!

Moral of the story (if there is one).

I did not get rid of the peafowls (nor the dog poop) and I lost the election!

Peafowls love “Gotta Jav Miami”

 

For those of you who know me by now you know what I mean by Crazy…

Crazy are those Zillow customers who know more about Real Estate than I do, those “concerned” residents who know more about local politics than I do and those Real Estate “experts” who just do not have a clue.

Here’s the funny part of this Conversation and this is true, Crazy thinks it’s making a difference but in ALL honesty Crazy is just that….Crazy.

Crazy states lots of crap, makes some stupid comments on social media and than when it becomes “informed” it realizes that they were just wrong.

Thinking Trump?

No, you’ll be surprised how non partisan Crazy really is…

Loco’s “Gotta Jav Miami”

And I’m still working.

Tomorrow should be an interesting day as I get to hear some great political BS early in the morning….can’t wait!

OK, lets get this started by saying that I do not hold our Real Estate Associations in very high esteem. These would include NAR (National Association), FAR (Florida Association) and my all time favorite MAR (Miami Association).

My main reason is that it’s really sad that you have to “mandatory” participate in these associations to practice a job I really love to do and have to put up with all the condescending dribble from a bunch of folks who have no clue what is happening in the real world of local Real Estate and who for the most part have failed in the real world of local Real Estate……hence why they work at “Associations”…and hence why I have to pay their salaries.

But I Digress, no not really these bozo’s also back idiotic self serving legislative bills that go against the basic interest of their “supposed” members and the “Public” they are trying to protect.

AirBnB has been in the news and in classic “Oh shit we better do something for them”, some Florida Rep has sponsored a bill; HB 425 to be exact and with I am sure a little “Political Love” from the short term rental lobby requesting and I quote:

“Vacation Rentals; Provides that local laws, ordinances, & regulations adopted after certain date may not restrict use of, prohibit, or regulate vacation rentals based solely on classification, use, or occupancy.”

Now for those of you who may not get the big picture in this little paragraph, let me be the one to “splain” the real concern here…forget the vacation rental aspect of the bill but dont forget that the State is interfearing and restricting local municipalities (you know the ones who really run the show) to not allow them to do what is best for their residents.

For shits & giggles lets change the words “Vacation Rentals” too “Invasive Rectal Exams”….

Now how to you like this House Bill????

Best part?

You guessed it, Florida Association of Realtors (FAR) back this baby full on….

FAR needs to “Gotta Jav Miami”

You are living in a “Mature” condo building (AKA Heavens waiting room)?

You see signs like this…..

And there was more to this sign….really….and it was worst.

So there is no “Getting” in Gotta Jav Miami…