Being a Realtor is my dream job, but it's not for everyone. A good agent works hard behind the scenes to make the process smooth and painless, so many people get the misconception that it's "easy". When the market heats up, those who think they can make the "big bucks doing nothing" decide to "try" real estate.

Here are some not-so-fun facts from the National Association of Realtors' annual Members Profile:

$8,600 = Median gross income in 2008 for real estate agents with 2 years of experience or less (WAY below the poverty line of $22,500)

$23,300 = Average real estate agent's NET income in 2008, just above the poverty line

$36,700 = Median gross income for real estate agents in 2008

$53,900 = Annual income for agents with at least 16 years of experience

60% of all real estate agents are female, the average agent has been in business for 10 years, and the median age is 54.

With this information in mind, you may have a clearer understanding of why some agents seem desperate to make a sale. They're starving!

Align yourself with someone who is above average and committed to the business for the long-term. You won't regret working with a true professional when you're buying and selling. Sometimes a professional's listing fee is higher than the competition, but you can see there really isn't that much competition amongst the "average" agents.

Have a great week! Remember, I'm never too busy for your referrals.