NCAR Membership Continues Decline

Membership in the North Carolina Association of Realtors (NCAR) declined further in 2008 having peaked in 2007, according to data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR). The current membership roll of 41,044 as of 11/30/2008 is 5.8% below the enrollment of 43,569 at the same time last year, a loss of 2,525 members, and is below the 2007 year end total of 43,342 members. This is consistent with a national decline in NAR membership which saw an average drop of 9.24% from 1,357,993 members to 1,232,521, a loss of 125,472 members since 11/30/2007.

Membership in NAR peaked in October 2006 at 1,370,758. The only three territories that saw an increase in membership since 11/30/2007 were South Dakota (+7 members), North Dakota (+28) and Guam (+21). The rate of growth in NCAR membership peaked in 2006 at 17% slowing to 5% in 2007 before turning negative for the first time in about 15 years.  NCAR's membership decline of 5.8% still outperforms neighboring states: Virginia membership declined 11.43%, Tennessee 8.94%, South Carolina 9.3%, Georgia 14.22% and Florida membership declined 13.25% since 11/30/2007.