How does a Real Estate Agent survive in this market?

So here is my dilema!  My husband works full time with the State of California.  He has 12 years left till retirement.  We have full medical, dental, and vision insurance and of corse a comfortable paycheck with the state.  We have 2 small children 3 and 8 who rarely are at the doctor, except for well child exams and injuries.  Now for the flip side.  He also owns his own branch as a loan officer.  His main objective has been to generate enough business to quit the state and work full time in real estate.  Suprisingly, the last 2 years he has surpassed the state income with just 15 loans a year.  He is ready to quit the state right now because it is interfearing with the business he prefers.  Now, I'm not looking for people to side with me here, just some different insights.  How does an agent survive in this market?  For the last 2 years we have recieved this extra money from loans closing and have paid things off, played, and have made some upgrades to the house.  The money is nice, when we get it.  My problems is that in todays market I feel that it would be hard for my husband to gain the clients he needs to support us.  We are used to a paycheck that comes every month, not one that may come today and not another one for 3 months.  I don't want to sound negative and I want to support him, I just don't know how it could work.  Do leads real work?  Most of his clients have come from the state, by word of mouth.  Where do they come from once he quits?  Help me Please!