Posts made by author 'Frank Malone, Managing Broker - Gulf Shores'

This week in the Gulf Shores sales meeting, we had an impromptu discussion about the flurry of lawsuits affecting the real estate industry. There is still confusion about how these lawsuits will affect our industry, so NAR is compiling some articles, videos, PR, and making various statements about this subject.

Below I have included several links to videos, articles, and positioning statements made by NAR. You may have seen Wednesday morning that NAR sent the members an email with the subject line, "Telling the REALTOR® Value Story." NAR has begun a PR campaign on various recent topics, importantly highlighting and demonstrating the value a REALTOR® provides to the consumer.

In the video below, a consumer that recently purchased a home shares his opinion of a change in commission structure: 

Click Here to Read More...

As we barrel through to the end of the year, we all have a lot of questions about how our real estate business will fare in 2024. We've been through a lot since 2020, mostly all good in the real estate world. As we clip along with higher interest rates and concern about the economy, all I have for a 2024 prediction is a gut feel. But I am encouraged by articles as follows:

Recession Coming? Soft Landing? - CLICK HERE TO READ

We have heard a wide range of predictions and nothing is certain. What we do know is that there has been a considerable slow down in our nu...

Click Here to Read More...

As Bellator Expert Real Estate Advisors, we can go about our average day with our hot list, warm list, call list, follow up list, market studies, favors for folks, etc. as every normal day, where days just run together and time just passes by. It is very easy to disregard the things we do every day as just regular tasks. But, if you sit and really think about it, most all of the things we do each day are to provide service to others. When you look at it that way, providing service to others is much more meaningful than just a "to do" list. 

The current national real estate landscape is changing in how we get compensated, take listings, and represent buyers. I won't go into our future policies and procedures here, because it is all a work in progress...

Click Here to Read More...

NEWS FLASH! Congress is arguing.

If the government does not pass stopgap spending measures by the end of this fiscal year on Saturday at midnight (9/30), beginning on Sunday, October 1, a government shutdown of "non-essential" services will begin. The United States has had 14 similar shutdowns since 1980 and the most recent was in 2018-2019, and it was the longest at 34 days. We have had 22 shutdowns in the last 50 years. At least we have survived these before, but there are some things us real estate warriors need to know:

1. FLOOD INSURANCE
   Regarding the National Flood Insurance Program, there are some SIGNIFICANT effects of a lapse in authority from Congress (aka "Government Shutdown") for NFIP issuance of flood policies, including renewals as detailed below (

Click Here to Read More...

Roughly two years ago I was at an event where Andy Andrews was the guest speaker. Many of us have heard him tell his story of the importance of your actions and their profound effect on others around you. What you say and do matters. 

Taken from one of the reviews on Amazon of The Butterfly Effect written by Andy Andrews, "The idea is that good, seemingly small things that we do cause a ripple like effect . . . resulting in some amazing outcomes as our influence touches others lives, who then affect others for good and it goes on." In the story, a caring couple saves a baby from rough kidnappers some 200 years ago which leads to saving 2 billion people from starving 150 years later. Wait, WHAT???? If you don't know the story, you should read the book.

Occasionally, I trace back certain real estate transactions to their origin and find that they...

Click Here to Read More...