The NAR conference in Chicago was smaller this year, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Less noise can mean better focus.

As formerly large exhibitors such as HomeSeekers and HomeGain pulled out of the conference (but not with enough notice to prevent being included in the NAR's program, map and directory) it could have meant a poorer experience for the attendees. Instead, I saw Realtors being courted to try services and wares with patience and respect. The smaller conference meant less of a carnival-like atmosphere, but it appeared to me that better business was being done.

It was six years ago when I first started going to the NAR trade shows. At that time, we were presenting a company called Realty Connection, and I was one of the first exhibitors to have a live connection to the Internet. We had huge crowds with most attendees thinking we invented the Internet along with Al Gore, because they had never seen anything like a live Web site before.

The only other major crowd that I saw that year was at a discount jewelry booth. Since that time, I've seen NAR's trade show double in size with a lot of space given to Net companies of all shapes and sizes.

Realty Connection evolved four years ago when we added a stickiness feature called Agent News, and that grew into an even better business model called Realty Times. I went from being an exhibitor to reporting on the conventions. Now that work is handled by my staff, and I can make observations for the fun of it.

My observations on this year's conference are:

• The NAR seems to be a waking giant and is taking back its power.

• There are a lot of people mad at Homestore.

• There are a lot of people mad at Stuart Wolff (yes, there's a difference between the two)

• The trade show appeared to be half the size it was two years ago.

• Many of the lenders' booths seemed to be half or a third the size they used to be.

• The NAR did a nice job covering the large spaces vacated by HomeSeekers, HomeGain and others.

• There was much less glitz, laser shows, and giveaways.

• Almost all dot-comers were dot-yawners. Nothing really new.

• People were so down at Homestore's booth that I wanted to send a wreath.

• There was much less chest-beating going on. Vendors were less arrogant, and more anxious to please.

• The only line I saw was at Microsoft's booth because they were giving away money.

• Everywhere I went the most common question I heard was, "Is Blanche Evans here?"

• The biggest crowds were at the discount jewelry booths...some things never change.