Realtors completed fewer commercial sales transactions and their incomes have declined in the last three years, according to the National Association of Realtors 2010 Commercial Member Profile.

The profile revealed that Realtors completed a median of five commercial sales transactions last year, down from eight in 2008. The median sales volume was about $1.77 million among those engaged in sales transactions.

Fourteen percent of NAR’s commercial members did not complete a sales transaction in 2009. The median leasing volume was $330,200 in 2009 among those engaged in leasing business; 42 percent of commercial members had no leasing transactions in 2009.

Median gross annual income for Realtors practicing commercial real estate has been declining since 2006, when it was $115,600. In 2009, the median income was $68,600. Commercial practitioners with less than two years experience earned a lower median income than those with more than 26 years experience – $35,300 versus $112,500.

Commercial practitioners account for more than 80,000 of NAR’s 1.2 million members. Fifty-seven percent of commercial members have a broker’s license, and 28 percent have a sales agent’s license.

More than half of NAR’s commercial members work for a local commercial real estate firm. The typical commercial member has been in real estate for 20 years, has practiced commercial real estate for 12 years and has been a member of NAR for 15 years.

Land sales were cited as the primary specialty for commercial practitioners, which is consistent with past years. Investment sales and multifamily building sales were cited as the next two most popular specialties.

More women are entering the commercial real estate field. Although still in the minority – women comprise 26 percent of Realtor commercial practitioners compared with 18 percent last year – 37 percent of commercial members with two years or less experience are women. Nineteen percent of Realtors  in commercial real estate who have more than 26 years experience are women.