Did You Know: Repeat Business and Referrals

July 7, 2009

 By Sophia Stuart, Marketing Associate 

  • IThe typical REALTOR® earned 18 percent of their business from past clients and customers, although the percentage varies across specialties.
  • Experienced REALTORS® reported a greater share of repeat business from past clients or from referrals; 39 percent of REALTORS® with 16 years or more experience had more than 50 percent of their business from repeat customers. Only 4 percent of those with two years or less experience received more than 50 percent of their business from past clients.
  • In 2008 a typical REALTOR® reported a median of 19 percent of their business from referrals, down from 30 percent the year before.
  • Referral business is more common among REALTORS® with more experience (a median of 23 percent for those with 16 or more years experience, compared to 1 percent for those with two years or less experience).
  • The 2009 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® Member Profile, which present the results of NAR’s annual survey of its members, details demographic and business characteristics, and business activity of REALTORS® during the past year.
  • The NEW 2009 Member Profile is FREE to members and can be found here >
  • For more research reports and profiles for members to download FREE visit here >

Source: NAR 2009 Member Profile

This is one in a series of commentaries by the Research staff of the National Association of REALTORS®. Read more commentaries >

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Fast Facts

Nearly one-quarter of first-time buyers are single females who purchased their first home on a median income of $47,400.
Source: 2008 NAR Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers.