NAR Leadership Summit '09: Report from Tuesday

Bart Stevens reports: A few final thoughts as we sit in the airport waiting to return to Maine.

Today we were all back in our seats at 8 AM. The day started with an introduction of NAR's new Real Estate Today radio program - which can even be added to company/agent web sites. NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun gave an economic update including that housing affordability is the best in 10 years. The NAR Chief Lobbyist highlighted largest areas of NAR legislative and regulatory focus including expanding the tax credit, appraisal issues, jumbo loans and health care. NAR's Chief Technology Officer took the stage dressed as Dr. Spock, and NAR CEO Dale Stinton announced NAR contest to identify "game changing" ideas - and asked for us all to submit ideas (by Oct. 1) - the best of which NAR will fully fund and implement nationwide.

The conference ended as it began - on a high note. The last speaker was Christopher Gardner - his amazing story out of homelessness was the inspiration for the movie, "The Pursuit of Happyness". Did anyone see it? Chris was played by Will Smith. An amazing story of misfortune and the overwhelming desire to succeed.

I believe the 1800 in attendance left believing the conference is well worth the time to attend, and we're looking forward to the year ahead as leaders of their Boards and Associations -I know our group from Maine is excited!

Also had the opportunity to pop into the NAR building to visit my CRS friends, Rachel Tristano in particular, and got the personalized tour. CRS chapter leadership are off to Phoenix this weekend for training. I'm really going to miss the trip this year. It's networking to the extreme with pretty much every Chapter President in attendance.

Marc, Linda and I found some time before our flight for seeing the sights and left with a little more than we came with - they don't call it the Magnificent Mile for nothing! Association Execs Cindy Butts and Kelly Craig moved onto AE classes for the balance of the day and the others had various flight times.

It was great having this opportunity and I firmly believe our Boards will benefit greatly from it next year! And NAR is funding it again next year for state/board incoming presidents and AEs!

Bart Stevens is the 2010 president of the Kennebec Valley Board. Pictures of NAR building by Monika McGillicuddy, the 2010 president of the NH Association of REALTORS