One reader wants to hear the current sales pitch. "I would like to know what sale pitches the realtors are using right now to even get buyers to buy in a down turning market. Buyers have more inventory to look at, but so what, homes are still over priced. I suspect the agents are selling based on get in now before the interest rates go up more.'"

One called this tactic 'sick.' "I think realtors are playing up the emotional factor–that buying a home is an emotional decision, not an investment, and let’s face it we all want to have a home of our own."

A reader is Florida saw this, "There was an article this week in SW FL about how the population has increased in FL a significant amount between July ‘04 & July ‘05. Not a day later, I see articles with Realtors proclaiming how the housing market will pick right back up after this 'pause' because of 'all the people still moving to FL despite the hurricanes.'"

Another asks, "I am curious about the possible climate for Realtor resentment and backlash as the bubbles’ mighty hiss starts to blow down strapped homebuyers that had listened to advice and analysis from realtors."

"For better or worse, the majority of homebuyers get their 'take' on the RE market from Realtors or RE affiliated economist from these main sources: Stories in the local/national newspapers and on the nightly news with 'RE expert' quotes. RE related Internet sites with the 'local market conditions/forecast'. And self education aside, it’s difficult to lay all the blame on them for believing these realtors because the complicit and/or lazy media give these spokespeople credibility by quoting them in NEWS ARTICLES as 'real estate experts' which they may be, but biased ones to be sure."

"The vast preponderance of comments by Realtors in the past few years have been decidedly declarative and never stated as 'This is my opinion' or 'This is how I see the market headed.' There’s nothing even close to a disclaimer amongst the babble. Realtors, both nationally and locally all steer us in the same optimistic, almost utopic direction. They play to our aspirations with guaranteed home price appreciation and to our fears with being priced out forever."

"There are without a doubt, professional, competent Realtors out there working hard in all kinds of markets that will not deserve the scorn and retribution that may come their way. However, when the leadership of the NAR is responsible for the quotes nationally and so many of the rank and file falls into step with their rhetoric, how will they be able to convince the pitch-forked angry mob that they’re one of the good ones."

"So I ask you fellow bloggers: How do you think the Realtor profession will be viewed in the post bubble era? And what, if any changes will come about in the aftermath, such as regulation similar to stockbrokers under the oversight of the NASD? Will the NAR choose to voluntarily change their culture of propaganda to remain credible or will it be done for them by public sentiment or legislation as the duped masses catch on that the guarantees that were promised are not the 'money back' variety."