Comments on: 20% Drop in Number of Realtors?

By: Nashville Grant

Nashville Grant — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 05:55:51 +0000

I am wondering if this stat is a little misleading. Has the number of licensed real estate agents dropped by 20% of the number of agents who chose to pay dues and join the NAR? I am guess that less than 20% have dropped out of the biz, some have simply dropped their NAR membership.

I agree with Jim though, the less Realtors there are, the better it is for the rest of us, not just monetarily.

By: Benn Rosales

Benn Rosales — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 15:29:58 +0000

Ruthmarie, you hit the nail on the head, the issue really boils down to volume- it simply doesn’t exist.

By: Ruthmarie Hicks

Ruthmarie Hicks — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 06:45:09 +0000

In our area volume is so low that only the top 2-3% actually have viable incomes. Last month the entire lower part of the county had 121 closings. It’s usually well over two times that number. The population of the area in question is close to 500,000. So most of us simply don’t have a choice but to “add on” other work _ IF we can find it!

Oddly enough this isn’t impacting the PT group who were always in it for the quick buck. They can wait to their hearts content because they have a FT job. So the shakeout is getting rid of the dead wood. It’s getting rid of some of the more committed types.

Sad but true.

By: Missy Caulk

Missy Caulk — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 03:52:05 +0000

Lindsey, we have a saying in Michigan, that started in the U of M lockeroom.

It was by Bo Schembechler

“Those who stay will be Champions”

By: fred

fred — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 03:11:18 +0000

I also feel little sympathy for part-time agents. They mostly got into the biz to make a “quick buck” on the side. They can all go! I have been a full timer from the get go, and I’m now a broker. I have fired agents in the past when they decided to go “part-time”. We need full time career agents that actually work for their money… So goodbye PT’s.

By: Paula Henry

Paula Henry — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 18:48:13 +0000

Linsey – I believe 2009 will be a make or break year for many agents. Yes, in a sense, I am glad to see some agents leave – OTOH – I’ve seen many good agents leave. They simply did not keep up with the changing times and technology.

It is a bittersweet reckoning.

By: Katie Minkus

Katie Minkus — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 20:10:22 +0000

Aloha, Linsey – great post and oh so true! Although I have to say part of me is glad to be rid of those agents I call the “carpetbaggers” – the ones who came into the industry as it was trending up because they saw it as a way to “get rich quick” – and who are now onto whatever the next great thing is to make them money quickly.

What we’re having a big problem with right now on the Big Island is dealing with the “part-time” agents who have another full time job such that when you call for a showing appointment they can’t call you back for 8 hours because they are at their “other job” or the ones who can only show your listing at noon to their clients because it’s their lunch hour. While I understand and deeply empathize that times are tough and getting another job is a necessity for some agents, it’s my belief at that point they should step back and play the “referral” game until such time as their finances or the economy and industry improves so they can work full-time as an agent again.

Both groups of agents, in my opinion, keep contributing to the “negative opinion” many consumers have of Realtors – in other words, they make ALL of us look bad. I hope they are the ones making up the biggest portion of the 20% leaving the business.