State sees drop in number of real estate licenses

From the May issue: Not long ago, during the peak of the real estate boom, aspiring agents would camp outside the state Division of Licensing Services’ Lower Manhattan office to secure spots at licensing exams. The test was given once a week on a first-come, first-serve basis, and demand was so strong that pushing, shoving and even fistfights occurred. Since real estate has lost some of its sizzle, fewer people are signing up to take the exam, now administered in a more civil manner online. Also, fewer real estate pros are renewing their licenses after their two-year expiration period. The result is the first drop in the number of licensed agents — and brokers — in several years.