they know few tears will be shed for them(ZT)

By Dan Caterinicchia

ASSOCIATED PRESS

11:44 a.m. August 21, 2007

WASHINGTON – Plummeting stock prices. Mortgage lenders filing forbankruptcy or shutting down. Layoffs at homebuilders and banks. Soaringforeclosures and loan defaults.

Damage from the nation's slumping housing market is evidentthroughout the economy and permeates financial markets. Add real estateagents to the growing list of victims, although they know few tearswill be shed for them.