Where have all the Realtors gone?

Hi Carolyn;

 I think they are all working trying to pay our bills....................................................

Anthony

Good post Carolyn, but you obviously already know the answer.  Pardon me for speaking out of turn as a I'm a "gasp" home inspector and not realtor, but really... the situation is the same.  The people hoping to make a quick buck are leaving and pardon me for saying the true professionals are left.  A bad thing... I think not.  Those people left in the industry that want to build meaningful relationships, that are good at their jobs, and treat it like a job (yes marketing is work) are the ones that are left.  Personally I think that is a positive thing.  Yes it makes earning a living a little more difficult temporarily but ultimately the industry is better for it.  Should we have a market correction every year... no... but I can't say they are all bad.  I love the company I'm left to keep.

Hi Carolyn

The numbers of Realtors steadily grew from 2000 to about 1,500,000 members in 2005 and has adjusted currently to about 1,250,000 members. NAR has projected that membership will adjust to about 850,000 member in 2012. The numbers will adjust to meet the market demand.

Good luck and success

Lou Ludwig

First time in YEARS last month we actually had our MLS membership drop....

It just follows that if there are less transactions in the marketplace, there will be less agents, lenders, closers, inspectors and so on working. Our local board numbers are down as well.

I think many real estate agents are expanding their resumes during these challenging times.  It was bound to happen--there was an oversupply of agents and not enough buyers and sellers--the market dictated it.

Hi  With due respect to this blog,

I just don't think that we can put everyone in a box to say that  only the good Realtors are left.  I am sure there are plenty of excellent Realtors who have left Real Estate for various  reasons, of which, had nothing to do with whether they were good or bad agents.  In the situation in the market, mortgages, economy, my heart goes to these Realtors  who are

self supporting or have families and households where expenses have to be met.  I think we lost many who didn't deserve the title of being a good agent,  but there are just as many who left to find other means to support their families in these days of an unstable market as well as industry.

I was here showing a buyer homes and he bought tonight.  You are right we are a smaller group and only the strong will survive.

It's a shake out...some will fall others will step in to take some of their places and when the smoke clears, we'll start the cycle over again!

We've noticed a significant drop in the number of Realtors  in our area Phoenix/Scottsdale.  We had a lot of fly by nighters during the boom.  Teenage kids right out of high school, part time agents looking for a quick buck, and also the shcheisters (sp?).  We still have some bad agents, but for the most part we've cleared a lot of them out.  Hopefully they won't all rush back in when the news turns positive.  Let those who stuck it out reap the rewards.