[Preface: I seem to have a constant need to engage in a conversation with my favorite blogging Realtor Keith Byrd.  Keith, I hope you know I love your blog that's why I read it.  The fact that I disagree with you consistently and need to provide a counter point has nothing to do with your skill as a Realtor or a blogger.]

With Keith’s latest post on Cal Poly’s instruction to have students drag a Realtor through a buying process as a “learn by doing” experience, I’ve found myself wondering about his conclusion: Is this learn by deceiving?  I think it is.  However, I also think it’s fair turn around.  We are now experiencing one of the worst economic down turns due to the fact that multiple professionals did not throw up a red flag during the housing boom.  Instead of doing their due diligence as Realtors and advising their clients that while a home is definitely a great investment, it might not be the best investment for them if they have to take a sub prime mortgage.  Isn’t that also a deception?  Is it fair turn around for students to now use Realtors to learn about a buying process?  I’ve never been a fan of the “eye for an eye” as it usually leaves everyone blind, but I have a hard time staying quiet when the Realtor could attone for their misdeeds by helping out a college student.

We’re destined to make the same mistakes over and over unless we learn from them.  Be the bigger man (or woman) and help the college students out.  Just know they are probably not in the market to buy a home but help them anyway.  This is your chance to stand up and be the bigger person.

To the students of whichever class this is for: Be honest.  Tell the Realtor what you’re trying to do and hope they are an upstanding human being as well and will help you through the process.  Win win for everyone.

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