- The typical NAR member had 8 transaction sides in 2010—this is up from 7 sides in 2009.
- Brokers and broker associates typically had 10 transactions, while sales agents typically had 7.
- 51 percent of members had transaction involving a property in foreclosure and 44 percent of members had a transaction involving a short sale.
- While the median transaction sides increased, the brokerage sales volume fell to $1.1 million in 2010 from $1.2 million in 2009. Members had more transactions (typically), but the total volume of what those sales were worth was lower in 2010 than in 2009.
- A transaction side can either be the selling or buying side of a real estate transaction. If the agent worked as both the buyer and seller’s agent that would count as two transaction sides.
- For more information on the 2011 NAR Member Profile, click here.
Any sides are good in the market today. Sure is a tough way to make a living any more.
It is tough to pay your way in this world with only 8 transaction sides a year. I think it would be useful to further breakdown the numbers to account for “full-time” agents/brokers and “part-time” agents brokers.
That’s a great point John. I mean, if I was a part-time realtor/house wife, 8 transaction isn’t terrible. But if you’re the sole-earner that wouldn’t be near enough.
8 sides in some markets is an exceptional income especially when you consider markets like California, where the low end of the market is some realtors high end.
John has an excellent point. 8 sides a year would not be bad if each check was for 30-50 thousand. Just depends on your market.
I had 16 sides last year and still had less than 1.1million in total volume.
My total commissions after broker splits was just barely over $20K which is not much after you figure all the costs of doing business! And that was more than double the number of sides as most sales associates!!!
Describe full time versus part time though. If one has another job, it may not mean that one is part time in real estate. For a number of years, I worked a few nights or a day a week on an ambulance, but considered myself a full time agent. I typically was in the top 2 or 3 in production every month, out of 30 “full time” agents.
8 sides in my area would be living below poverty. I panic if I do not have 8 sides per month. Sad that most agents are OK with being average. 8 sides where I am would be $40,000 at most, before broker splits, fees, marketing and taxes so after all of that there may be 15K left over
In any market, in any US location, there are too many “easy to get” real estate licenses. I believe things would get better, more professional if only licensed brokers earned commissions and licensed salespersons “under the direction of their employing broker” would earn an hourly wage, paid by their broker, based on their annual performance and maybe tenure. Thirty years of experience has spoken.
great comments, my observations: 8 sides in Southern California is the same as 8 sides in Georgia you are flat broke as the cost of living is so much higher where the homes are priced higher. The fact that the number of average sides is trending up (I remember when it was three) is a very good sign. There is still a lot to be done, and still some bad apples out there but overall I am pleased with the apparent increasing quality of agents in the industry.