Read a post last week from Jim Duncan regarding the drop in REALTORs there in Charlottesville.  He had been predicting that the drop in REALTORs would be 10% in Charlottesville in 2008, and the numbers are in – down 2%.  He still contends that membership will drop next year, so we’ll see how his prediction plays out.

With that in mind, I asked Elaine Head,  director of the New River Valley Association of REALTORS (NRVAR) trade association, how membership looked for 2008 compared to 2007.  She wrote:

• NRVAR has had a net loss of 28 agents, for a total of 4%, and a renewal rate of 96%.   This is not at all unusual at this time of year.  We always lose some at dues billing time.  We’ve already had 25 new applications since December 1st.   

Not bad.  When you count the number of agents who have left the industry, and those that are coming into the industry, it’s a net loss of 28 agents, or 4%. 

Nationally, membership in the industry is flat, and I’d bet we’ll see that drop in 2008.