I keep hearing that the smaller volume of sales will drive the amateur agents out of the real estate business. Is this happening in your market? Not in mine. Here are the numbers of members of our Board and MLS, from February 2008 compared to February 2007, according to Friday's Northern Arizona Association of Realtors® newsletter:
I heard at the RE/MAX Convention that the number of national members has gone from 1.4 million to 1.3 million, and the speaker projected it would go to one million before starting to rise again. NAR raised its fees - I guess they need to cover costs with the reduced membership! As far as I'm concerned, it's too easy, and too inexpensive, to be a Realtor®. Half the agents who are members of our MLS didn't record a sale last year. Yet, they can go out and try to grab an unsuspecting seller or buyer and give them really poor representation. This market is great if it clears some of those part-time agents out of the industry!
Happy weekend fellow Rainers!
Ann Heitland, Team Heitland at RE/MAX Peak Properties, Flagstaff, AZ
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Ann loves selling real estate. Ann works with a team of in order to provide you the best real estate experience ever! The best advice about the market, selling your home, or finding your dream home
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Always amaze me when other agents wants some part time agents to clear out of the way.... Instead of focusing on part time agents or agents that are not closing any deal we need to focus on informing the general public about what we do and what value we bring to the transaction.
I don't see any slow down of new agents. However, I don't have any official numbers...just observation in the St. Louis area.
I don't see a lot of new agents. THe loan officers took a big hit in Idaho. I think there are fewer of us and more of us have day jobs. Not me I pay money to work.......
The number of agents in our Northwest FL area has declined only slightly, but the market has forced some to become part-time because of the need for a steady paycheck.
Same here in Atlanta. WE used to have 12500 about 3 years ago. That climbed to 45000 ( a 300% increase in 3 years), and has backed off to 41500. Our number for normal times? is about 8500.
Here in the SE Valley of Phoenix we have the same number or more in our local association. I just heard that from the head of our local RAR. I'm glad for it too. There is lots of inventory here and we need to get it sold! Working for a living is a good thing, isn't it?
It is easy for inactive agents to maintain their licenses indefinitely. I don't see that as a problem, so long as they stay inactive.
I think what we've seen here in Tucson for RE/MAX Agents, is a short shuffle of folks looking for cover in discount brokerages...you know the ones, "Hang Your License Here For $49 a month!". Overall, the agents appear to be just moving about and not finding alternative career choices. Although, I think I did here one agent, when speaking to me regarding showing one of her listings, say, "Would You Like Fries with That?" in the background.
-=Dan
Keji -- I was just commenting on the predictions of the real estate gurus.
Dan -- LOL!