NAR DISPUTES AP STORY ON MEMBERSHIP NUMBERS

Lucien Salvant, NAR managing director of public affairs, says that a story about a drop is NAR membership is false. The article, researched and written by the Associated Press (AP) and published on floridarealtors.org (http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/n2-082207.cfm) says that NAR estimates a 4 percent drop in membership for 2007. But “membership has increased by nearly 6,000 this year,” says Salvant. “That figure was provided to the Associated Press, which knowingly chose not to include it and also chose not to run a correction or clarification.” Savant says that many new Realtor members appear to existing licensees who previously were not members, though some are new to the business. “We expect 2007 to be the fifth highest year on record for existing home sales,” says Salvant. “That historically strong level is supporting our membership base.”

© 2007 FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

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