Mass.: Pool of Real Estate Pros Shrinks
Massachusetts' tightening housing market has resulted in a winnowing of the real estate industry.

The number of licensed real estate professionals has dropped by more than 1,300 over the past year, to 82,722, according to the state's Board of Registration of Real Estate.

The number of applications for new brokerage and other licenses is on track to fall by 25 percent - or more than 2,000 - from last year, the state real estate board reports.

"I think real estate has long been thought of as a service industry, when in fact it's a skill industry," says Michael Carucci, president of ERA Boston Real Estate Group. "It requires some skills sets, some salesmanship, some holding hands, some good old-fashioned work."

Source: The Boston Herald, Scott Van Voorhis (01/29/07)

I was wondering when this would start to happen? I would love to know the rest of the country!