THE RANKS OF REAL ESTATE AGENTS CONTINUE TO GROW IN SPITE OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND A SKETCHY ECONOMY.

Believe it or not, there are over 900,000 dues-paying members of The National Association of Realtors, an INCREASE of over 200,000 members in three years (San Jose Mercury News, February 27th 2004, Sec. G).
  
 


This increase has baffled industry experts, who incorrectly assumed that consumer-friendly technological advances such as contend that the increase is partially due to folks becoming agents in the wake of losing other jobs in this turbulent economy.

John Tuccillo, former chief economist with the Realtors group, had the following observation:   “You can explain what is happening now very easily…when people lose their jobs, becoming a real estate agent and selling $5,000,000 properties looks attractive” (San Jose Mercury News, February 7th 2004 – "People Are Jumping INTO, Rather Than AWAY From Real Estate Sales As A Career")

  
 

A 50+-year-old female, homeowner, educated past high school who is affiliated with a non-franchised real estate firm. This agent e-mails clients frequently, maintains a certain independence from the firm she works for and makes about $52,000 a year.

According to data compiled by The National Association of Realtors, only about 6% of current members work full time selling properties, and this is not necessarily a good thing.  
 

Besides robbing real estate sales of a certain level of professionalism, part-time agents help heighten the myth that selling homes is a quick, simple way to earn extra income, according to Philadelphia-based super agent Christopher J. Artur, who has been in the business since he was a Penn State student in 1976.

According to Artur, “(part-time work) doesn't send a great message to consumers.   (This profession) has to be more than part-time, especially when you deal with first time home buyers who need face-to-face and accessibility all the time.”   Artur further notes that the realtor ranks are becoming more diverse, with more minorities entering the field as minority populations continue to grow around the state.


90% White, with Black, Hispanic and Asian individuals making up the other 10%.   In 1970, over 80% of agents were men; in 2003 52% of agents were women.   For the first time since 1984, the median age of agents declined from 50 to 49.   However, most agents are still 55+ years of age.   Nearly 25% of realtors make gross over $100,000 annually from selling properties; this is up from only 10% in 1996.   And, as one might expect, the longer an agent has been selling, the more they tend to make.   The numbers seem to indicate that age and experience count.