The Baltimore Sun reports on the realtor bubble in that city. "Lured by the opportunity to get their piece of escalating housing prices and record sales volumes, newcomers have flooded into the real estate business in the past five years. But as the market loses some sizzle, so do classes to license new real estate professionals, as aspiring and neophyte Realtors alike realize that the money may not be as easy as it once was."

"Evidence has been mounting for several months that the market is slowing. Sales in the Baltimore metropolitan area fell 19 percent last month, with double-digit declines in the city and all five surrounding counties. Prices, too, are slipping, with the average down more than 6 percent from its July peak."

"'I'm actually surprised it's taken as long as it has for some people to realize they've gotten into something more agonizing than they thought it was going to be, for the money you can make,' said Colin McGowan, director and owner of the Frederick Academy of Real Estate."

"Statistics from the NAR bear that out. The median income for sales agents dropped to $38,300 in 2004 from $44,100 two years earlier, according to the NAR. The decline is largely attributed to the number of newcomers. As of Jan. 31, Maryland had 29,718 Realtors, up 15 percent from a year earlier and about 75 percent from 2000."

"Stacey Ingerson left the business in August, just as the local market was passing its peak, after about a nine-month stint as a realtor. She sold two houses. 'I quickly realized it wasn't something I was going to do well in,' she said. 'I just didn't think it was a fit for me and my personality. I hate cold calls, and that's a huge part of it.'"

"Instead, seeing that the market was shifting in favor of buyers, Ingerson started a company that helps sellers fix up their home for sale. 'I wanted to have my business up when the market did even out a little more,' Ingerson said. 'I figured it might not be such a hot market for sellers. They might have to clean the smells out of their refrigerators and uncover the fireplace that they blocked or clean the dining room area that's full of toys.'"