The Greater Springfield Board of Realtors has lost over 1,000 members in the past three years. When I became a member in the year 2000, there were just over 1,800 members of the Board of Realtors. At the height of the market in 2005, the membership topped 3,000.
The Springfield Realtor Magazine came out online today and I noticed we now have 2,006 members. Because revenue from membership dues has decreased, the Board of Realtors was forced to downsize in staff and increase dues in order to maintain a balanced budget.
Our yearly dues are expected in January. As with the past couple of years, I expect to see another major fallout in membership by February and March of 2010. I think it's highly possible our membership will be down to the level of the year 2000.
I have asked our Membership Coordinator to provide me with stats of the membership from 2000 to present. I will share the numbers with you when I receive them.
As for me...I'm a Realtor. I am passionate about real estate. Take away my homes, my vehicle, and every material possession I have, and I'm still a Realtor. No matter how bad this market gets, or how long it lasts, as long as I have my license and my office, I will always have the ability to get back on my feet. So far God has blessed me with all of it.
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Lina Robertson Jones
Owner/Agent
RE/MAX Solutions
1715 James River Road
Ozark, MO, 65721 |
Mobile: (417) 844-7265
linarobertson@remax.net
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RE/MAX - Outstanding Agents, Outstanding Results!
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About the author: I am full-time REALTOR® with RE/MAX Solutions in Springfield, MO, and a member of the Greater Springfield Board of REALTORS®. I have helped hundreds of families in the Springfield, Nixa, Republic and Ozark real estate markets, whether buying a home, or selling a home. Visit my website at www.ozarks-realestate.com to search for All Springfield MO Area MLS listings. Want to know what our market is like? My website is also an excellent resource for current Springfield MO Area Real Estate Market Reports, as well as current market reports for Ozark, Nixa, Republic, and Rogersville.
Lina - Our membership is way down this year and we have to absorb the lost revenue so our dues went way up this year. I'm sure more agents will leave the business this year.
Rosalinda - I suspect this is the case pretty much across the country. I'm anxious to see what the actual stats are.
I think the numbers are down nationally. Have you seen those numbers?
No so badly here in my county in Western Oregon.
Nothing like the early 80's...when we had 1500 listings and 1500 agents one month and six months later had 10,000 listings and 400 agents.
Lina, we've seen this too. When the market was hot everyone wanted to be a REALTOR. Now that it takes actual work our members are way down. Its been sad to see some of them leave but others had no business being in real estate in the first place. We too are very passionate about real estate in Springfield. Its not our job, its our business!
Knowing the number should be decreased, this is good for the realtors that are full time agents. Companies that hire realtors to increase their numbers will suffer more than companies that hire realtors that run their business like a business will have higher profit lines this year.
Our annual dues are due in January also. It will be interesting to see if our numbers drop big again.
As Warren Buffett says "You find out who is swimming naked when the tide goes out."
I 100% agree with Kay on this one... it's the people who run their business like a business who will survive and thrive. Those of us in it to win it no matter what the market circumstances have staying power. The rest go out with the tide.
To them I say: Sayonara, Arrivederci, Ciao, Salukes, Au Revoir, Adios, Sawatdi, Goodbye.