N.J. agents find other jobs during downturn

Some real estate agents in New Jersey are not renewing their licenses during the downturn, and instead are finding other jobs until the market improves. One agent took a job at the Payless ShoeSource instead of paying to renew her license, and another left to become a substitute teacher. The number of people getting real estate licenses in New Jersey last year fell by a third, according to state statistics, and enrollment in real estate classes is declining. Some brokers think the decline in agents is good for the market. “The less experienced, less committed people probably did some damage to the reputations of the good ones,” said Pam O’Connor, CEO of LeadingRE, a national real estate conglomerate, where membership nationwide is down 9 percent.