Pros
Training and exposure. Information sharing.
Cons
No power to make a difference. (The difficulty Century 21 has is similar to any real estate firm. The problems are a result of our country's economic problems due to lack of regulations on the mortgage industry which interfaced with the investment industry to create credit default swaps with little value leading to distrust in the stock market and an enormous number of foreclosures reducing the value of all homes. The lack of cooperation on the Hill only creates more distrust and lack of confidence so our economy doesn't heal. Most businesses are looking at the small picture (their bottom lines;) most politicians are saying what their funders want to hear so they can keep their jobs; and therefore, what's best for country comes in a distant third in consideration. Everyone needs to look at the big picture and try to get "truth and reason" from someone - perhaps the economists who know the whole story especially those who are students of history and who have seen some of these problems before as in Japan, etc -)