Seattle top market for real estate agents, study finds

According to new Inman News report, Seattle is the top market in the country for real estate agents.

Inman examined total sales, median sales price, real estate licensee data and Realtor membership counts in dozens of metro areas across the country to develop a list of 10 metros where real estate professionals are doing comparatively well in terms of sales and average total dollar volume in sales per Realtor.

Inman News, based in Alameda, California, is an independent real estate news, information, advice, research, opinion and commentary for industry professionals and consumers.

The 10 markets are, in order: Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, Wash.; Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas; Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, Colo.; Salt Lake City; San Antonio-New Braunfels, Texas; Pittsburgh; Dallas-Plano-Irving, Texas; Kansas City Mo.-Kan.; Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, Texas; and Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, Tenn.

The average total dollar volume in sales per Realtor was calculated by multiplying the average number of sales per Realtor by the median sales price in a given metro in the 12 months between June 2010 and May 2011.

The Seattle figures:

* Sales per Realtor (June 2010-May 2011) – 5.1

* Average total dollar volume in sales per Realtor (June 2010-May 2011) – $1.54 million

* Realtor membership (Aug. 2011) – 5,790

* Median sales price (May 2011) – $290,000

* Median price change (May 2011 vs. May 2010) – (-) 7.8 percent