Realtor ranks expected to shrink this year

This year, membership in the National Association of Realtors is expected to drop after nine consecutive years of growth.

And good riddance, say some real estate professionals — fewer agents may be better for the industry as a whole.

The trade group’s membership grew 89.6 percent during the latest spurt, from 716,078 members in 1997 to 1.36 million Realtors in 2006. But real estate is a cyclical business, and the housing market is slumping.