We are disappointed that the Rhode Island Association of Realtors has decided to change the way it has released statistics for the last six years. The organization has decided to release real estate sales quarterly, as opposed to monthly, as has been its practice. The Realtors believe that the monthly reports present an unclear picture of real estate trends. In essence, they suggest that the numbers are being taken out of context. For example, August is typically a busy month for the industry – many closings are held for sales that began in June. Many families push for closings in August so that their children can start school on time in September. Evolving Funding Landscape for Not-for-Profits Not-for-profit organizations are being asked to do more with less,… So there may be a valid reason why September’s sales numbers would be down from August, according to the Rhode Island Association of Realtors. We are confident that the media and the public in general can reach such conclusions, particularly if the Realtors work to educate them about their industry. Withholding the sales numbers for several months at a time does not, in our opinion, do a service to anyone. The information is valuable. Present and potential homeowners certainly deserve access to such information. Seeing it monthly is not unreasonable. It is also difficult for us to separate the fact that the real estate industry enjoyed an especially strong run throughout the 1990s and that now, in the midst of a recession, home sales are trending either flat or downward, according to economists. Reporting sales figures on a monthly basis is not a misleading practice to an informed public. We urge the Rhode Island Association of Realtors to reconsider their decision and return to the monthly reports. The information is a public service – in good times, and in bad.
Beyond Cash Donations: How New Forms of Giving Are Transforming Not-for-Profit Accounting
Home sales reports
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