A new

survey by the National Association of Realtors is causing

many of the stereotypes surrounding Realtors to fall by

the wayside.

"A lot

of people think Realtors make a ton of money and don't

work many hours, but that's just not true," said

Helen Garr, an association executive with the Fayette

County Board of Realtors.

The survey

was mailed to 40,000 randomly selected Realtors around

the country and is a representative of all four

geographic areas.

According

to the survey, the typical agent is:

- Female.

- 52 years old.

- Married.

- Lives in a household with two to

four people.

- Has a personal gross income of

$43,500 and a household income of $83,800.

- Works 45 hours a week.

- Has been in the real estate business

for 13 years and has been with her current firm for six

years.

Realtors

also are better educated than many other workers around

the country. Eighty-seven percent of Realtors have had at

least some college education, while the U.S. Census

Bureau reports that only 49 percent of the general

population have achieved that same level of education.

Most

Realtors did not start in the real estate business. Only

10 percent started as agents. Most agents started in

management, with sales following close behind.

Realtors

also are a patriotic crowd, with 95 percent registered to

vote. Of those who listed a party affiliation, 53 percent

are Republicans, while 27 percent are Democrats.

Eight-six

percent of the surveyed Realtors said they voted in both

the 1996 presidential and 1998 mid-term elections.

The real

estate professionals also are in tune with today's

technology. Nearly 90 percent own or lease a computer.

Real estate professionals who own or lease a computer

earn $22,600 more than their counterparts who do not.

The

National Association of Realtors has 727,000 members and

has done an annual survey of its residents since 1964.

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