California Real Estate New Licensee’s Drop Significantly
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The number of California real estate licensees has barely moved since the peak in November, but those taking the licensing exam have dropped significantly.
State data also show a stark drop in the number of people signing up for the licensing exam. Just 1,324 people took the real estate salesperson exam in January, down from 8,765 a year earlier and 14,397 two years ago, according to the Department of Real Estate. via the SF Gate.
So at least their is not one trend that is defying common sense.


Comment by Rob Lawrence on 6 April 2008:
California isn’t the only place where this is happening. The Northeast is another casualty of the housing crisis.
Warm Regards,
Rob
http://www.battlecall.com
Comment by sfvrealestate on 6 April 2008:
Let’s be honest…we’ve been waiting for this to happen. California’s no. of licensed real estate agents quadrupled in the last eight years — way too many agents for the amount of business that was going on even then.
Comment by Phyllis Harb on 7 April 2008:
Amen! There is not enough business to go around;
Comment by Joe P. on 8 April 2008:
Good news and Bad News!
Good that the fluff and stuff agents are getting out.
Bad that there are also excellent agents and agents who would have become excellent agents and a credit to their profession who are leaving as well.
Comment by dean on 8 April 2008:
Tommy,
I find comments like the Phyllis Harb voiced and sfvrealestate rather difficult to understand. Are they saying that “green” no experience, few contact, no blogging newbes would be a threat by their mere presence in the market? I find that odd and a lack of confidence on their parts–I am sure both Phyllis and sfv are more experienced agents than any incoming wave of this type.
Why would either one of these Realtors worry about the type of competition they must be referring to in their comments?
The majority of the new agents “jumping off the ship” right now are in most cases without experience, fewer contacts, and a poor understanding of the business.
Many of those first and second year agents are living in households where their income is not necessary. Many are bored housewives, retirees, or worse yet the local bus driver who is trying to supplement his/her income without concern for their actions.
The people who are no longer clamoring to get into real estate would have posed little threat if established agents had pristine reputations, blogs to market their hyper local niches, and business practices that included transparency at every level.
If anything is true, the departure of these “would be” agents gives established agents and the industry a break from the crap that the uncaring, under educated, incompetents brought with them: bad results and angry consumers.
Rejoice in this drop not because these people could actually compete with you Phyllis or sfv but rather because you do not have to wade through their mistakes, overcome fears created by their inexperience, or combat misinformation.
Comment by Santa Barbara Real Estate Voice on 9 April 2008:
This goes with what I am seeing here in the Santa Barbara CA area. So far there are almost no new faces in the business around in the last 6-9 months and in face many agents are looking for second jobs or a change in careers. I think we are into this cycle for another 1-2 years.