While home sales here have fallen dramatically so far this year compared with last years volume, the number of real estate agents serving the market isnt showing as much fallout, industry insiders say.


Rob Higgins, executive officer of the Spokane Association of Realtors, says that as of last week, the association had about 2,150 member agents, down from a peak of about 2,250 agents at the end of last year.


That 4.4 percent decrease is right in line with whats happening statewide, says Christine Anthony, of the Washington state Department of Licensing.


State figures show that the number of licensed real estate agents in Washington also fell 4.4 percent between the end of last year and late last month, to 31,075 agents, she says.


Ken Lewis, the broker at Prudential Spokane Real Estate, which has offices in Spokane and Spokane Valley, says that although many less successful agents are leaving the industry, nearly as many others are entering it.


Were seeing a few less people, but way different people, Lewis says. People coming into the business now typically are more skilled than those who were new to the business just a few years ago. They may have gone through a job loss in a different sector of the economy.


Gregarious people who also are high-tech savvy can still do well in this business, he asserts.


Higgins says the Spokane Association of Realtors membership numbers began to level off in 2005, after rising steeply from about 1,200 members in 2002.


Generally, real estate agent membership numbers cycle three to six months behind after market cycles, although there could be another drop in membership in January, when 2009 membership fees are due, he says. The associations annual agent dues are $400. Members also pay $40 a month for access to the associations multiple listing service (MLS).


Higgins says the decline so far in membership isnt as much as some had anticipated.


We budgeted for a membership of around 2,000, he says.


Meanwhile, this years home sales volume through July in Spokane County lagged 29.4 percent behind the year-earlier period, the association says.


The associations latest MLS activity report showed 2,980 homes have sold in the first seven months of the year with a total volume of $623 million, down from 4,174 home sales with a volume of $882.3 million in the year-earlier period.


In July, 586 homes were sold in Spokane County, down from 721 home sales in July 2007, the report says.


Lewis, however, is hopeful that national housing legislation enacted July 31 will help spur home sales during the fall and winter, usually the slowest time of the year. The legislation includes a temporary tax credit of up to $7,500 for first-time home buyers.


Its a good incentive for first-time home buyers, and it should help keep people from leaving the business, he says.


Lewis, a broker of 41 years, also operates a training program in which he teaches a course called Washington Real Estate Practices, which real estate agents are required to take during their first year in the business. His course is open to agents affiliated with any real estate broker.


He says 13 agents enrolled in the June class, which is fewer than most spring classes, although he says interest shown so far in a planned fall class is at a more normal level.


Rick Vernon, executive officer at the Coeur dAlene Association of Realtors, says that association is starting to bounce back from a 10 percent drop in membership, which is currently at 1,003 after peaking in 2006 at around 1,100.


The association still has twice the agent membership that it had in 2000, Vernon says.


We went through a substantial growth spurt in membership at the same time we had large population growth, he says.


Candace Godwin, director of marketing at Coeur dAlene-based Century 21-Beutler & Associates, says the companys Inland Northwest sales force is stable at about 250 agents.


We have a high retention rate companywide, she says. We really havent seen a flood of people leaving.


She attributes the companys retention rate to its policy of generally only taking on experienced agents.


We hire very few people right out of real estate school, she says.


Godwin says Beutler & Associates is looking to add a few agents, specifically in the companys Spokane and Liberty Lake offices.


Were not recruiting aggressively, she says. Its more a matter of finding the right person.


Lewis, who switched affiliations in May from John L. Scott Real Estate Inc., has maintained a staff of about 70 agents and 10 support employees in two offices since then.


He originally planned to open a third office with 20 additional agents on the South Hill this summer, but he says hes holding off on that until hes more confident the market has bottomed out.


Contact Mike McLean at (509) 344-1266 or via e-mail at mikem@spokanejournal.com.