Choosing a Brokerage Is About Your Future, Not Just Splits

Choosing your brokerage in real estate is not about a split. It is about your future as a real estate agent. Too many agents are like some of our clients when we are out showing homes asking, “Can you give a discount on your commission?” The answer is no because the value is not in the number. It is in the results. Yet so many agents shop for brokerages the same way focusing on who takes less instead of who helps them grow more. When Al and I became real estate agents we looked at eXp Realty and we looked at other traditional brokerages. We made a strategic decision to join eXp and to this day we say it was the best choice we ever made for our business and for our family.

Each year nearly one third of real estate agents switch brokerages hoping for better support, more leads, or higher commission splits. But what many discover is that the grass is not greener. The problem is not the split. It is that too many brokerages operate with outdated models that do not prioritize the agent’s long term growth. I remember walking into one local office that advertised a 100 percent commission model. On paper it sounded amazing. But once I looked at the math and the fine print it turned out that if I brought in my own lead I would still owe half if their system had an old email tied to that person. It was not freedom. It was control disguised as independence.

Many agents confuse marketing with mentorship. They think buying into a brokerage with fancy ads or lead promises means they are getting real support. But the truth is most of those free leads are recycled, cold, and years old. I cannot tell you how many agents I have met who burned months calling through lists that never converted. What agents actually need is growth, guidance, and a community that teaches them to generate their own leads and brand themselves as professionals. That is exactly why switching to eXp Realty became the turning point for us.

In traditional offices there is usually one broker owner at the top, a couple of high producers who get all the attention, and then everyone else trying to figure it out on their own. That environment can drain even the most motivated agent. When we joined eXp Realty what stood out immediately was the collaboration. It was not about competing against each other. It was about growing together. The training and support at eXp were unlike anything I had seen before. There are over 80 hours of live classes every week from marketing to contracts to mindset. I even took a class taught by Glenn Sanford himself which shows how accessible leadership truly is here. That is what mentorship looks like. Real, consistent, and actionable.

When Al and I joined the Wolfpack under Mike Sherrard we realized mentorship is not just a buzzword. It is a system. Between the Social Agent Academy and our Prosperity Agent community our agents get hands on guidance on building their social media presence, growing YouTube channels, and mastering lead generation. And because teaching is in my blood since I used to teach AP Macroeconomics I love helping new and struggling agents understand the why behind the numbers. It is not just about selling more homes. It is about creating a scalable business. eXp Realty training and support gave us that foundation and now we pass it forward to everyone who partners with us.

Let’s talk about splits because they still matter but only in the right context. eXp Realty has an 80/20 split with a $16,000 annual cap. Once you hit your cap you keep 100 percent for the rest of your anniversary year. But that is just the beginning. eXp also rewards agents with stock ownership as they hit production milestones, close their first deals, or attract other talented agents to the company. This is not just commission. It is equity. As someone who values long term stability and financial planning I see that as one of the biggest benefits of joining eXp Realty. You are not just working for today’s paycheck. You are building your future portfolio.

And then there is the revenue share. The idea that part of the company’s 20 percent goes back to agents who help others grow their business is brilliant. It is one of those rare models where success truly multiplies. When agents succeed everyone wins. That is something traditional brokerages cannot match. They are built to serve the broker owner. eXp is built to serve the agent. And when you combine that with genuine leadership and community it changes everything.

The other major difference I noticed after switching to eXp Realty was how easy it became to access real people for real help. Managing brokers are available in every state often after hours. There is the eXp Hub where agents can chat directly with staff about compliance, marketing, or accounting questions. No waiting days for a callback. No office politics. Just support when you need it. For busy parents or full time agents juggling clients and closings that responsiveness is invaluable.

One of my favorite parts of eXp has been the masterminds. Between the Wolfpack weekly calls and our own Prosperity Agent sessions there is a sense of shared mission and momentum. You see people who were struggling last year now doubling or tripling their income. You see agents who finally have the tools to scale through social media, automation, and personal branding. I remember meeting an agent named John at an event in Denver. He joined the Wolfpack after feeling stuck for years. Within twelve months his business transformed. He told us, “I finally feel like I am building something that matters.” That is what mentorship can do.

If you are an agent feeling stuck, if your brokerage has not helped you grow your income or confidence, it might be time to step back and ask what is really holding you back. Are you chasing a split or chasing growth? Are you surrounded by people who help you or people who see you as competition? The right brokerage should make you better, not busier. For us, switching to eXp Realty was about leverage, freedom, and alignment with our values. It was about creating a business that serves our family and our clients for the long term.

At Prosperity Agent with Al and Victoria we offer every agent who joins our group access to all of our courses and training for free. You also get the mentorship of Mike Sherrard and the entire Wolfpack network, people who have mastered social media, YouTube, and real estate branding at the highest level. We do not just teach you how to sell more homes. We teach you how to build systems that create time freedom and lasting income. Whether you are new or experienced our goal is to help you grow your real estate business the smart way.

If you are curious about what this could look like for you I invite you to explore it for yourself. Watch a free training, reach out to us directly, and let us talk through your goals. I understand that every agent has their own story, their own challenges, and their own vision. That is why our first conversation is always about you. We will go over your pain points, your numbers, and your dreams and help you map out a plan that works. Because at the end of the day this business is not just about homes. It is about people. And you deserve to be part of a brokerage that treats you like one.

”đź’ś

See related reading on our site.

🗓️ Last Tuesday of every month | 1–2 PM EST

Your future doesn’t change until you do. Join us and start building a life-first business today.

Explore free resources; from lead-generation hacks to our Daily Success Planner.

Your split doesn’t define your future. Your support system does.

Frequently Asked Questions

How should a real estate agent choose a brokerage?

Agents should choose a brokerage based on long-term growth support, not just commission splits. Nearly one third of agents switch brokerages each year chasing better splits, only to find the real problem is outdated brokerage models. The key question is not who takes less of your commission, but who actively helps you build a sustainable, growing real estate business.

What is wrong with 100 percent commission brokerage models?

A 100 percent commission model can be misleading once you read the fine print. Some brokerages with this structure still claim a portion of your commission if their system has a prior connection to your lead — for example, an old email on file. What appears to be agent independence can actually be control disguised as freedom, making the advertised split far less valuable than it seems.

eXp Realty vs traditional brokerage — which is better for a new real estate agent?

According to agents who have evaluated both, eXp Realty offered a strategic advantage over traditional brokerages due to its agent-growth model rather than a conventional office structure. Traditional brokerages often operate with outdated systems that do not prioritize long-term agent development. The deciding factor should be which brokerage genuinely invests in your growth, mentorship, and business infrastructure — not which one promises the highest split percentage.

The Real Estate Agent’s Survival Guide: Tough Markets

Let’s be honest, this market has been humbling. Homes that used to sell in 48 hours now sit for weeks. Interest rates keep inching up, buyers hesitate, and listings seem harder to win. If you’re a new or struggling agent, it can feel like you’re pushing a boulder uphill. But tough markets don’t kill real estate careers, they reveal who’s truly built for this business. As a coach at eXp Realty, I’ve seen both sides. I’ve helped brand-new agents go from “Where do I even start?” to confidently closing deals. And I’ve watched experienced agents reinvent themselves after feeling burned out. I want to share my Real Estate Agent’s Survival Guide, a mix of strategy, mindset, and mom-talk encouragement, to help you not just survive but thrive in this market.

Reframe the Market: Hard Times Are Hidden Opportunities

When I taught AP Macroeconomics, I always reminded my students that the economy runs in cycles. Success depends on whether you panic during the down cycle or prepare for the next one. Real estate works the same way. Tough markets weed out agents who relied on easy listings or passive lead flow. The ones who stay, grow, and adapt are the ones who dominate when things turn around. Use this time to become the agent everyone trusts. Learn the data, understand your local market better than anyone, build relationships with homeowners instead of chasing quick wins, and show up consistently online even when your phone isn’t ringing. When the market shifts again, and it will, you’ll be the name people remember. That’s what I love about being part of eXp Realty—our training and support help agents see the long game and grow stronger when others are retreating.

Build Systems That Keep You Consistent Even When Motivation Fades

If you’ve been in real estate for more than a month, you’ve probably had a “what am I even doing” day. You stare at your CRM, your coffee gets cold, and you wonder if this career is really for you. That’s when systems save your sanity. One of the biggest reasons agents burn out is because they run their business on emotion instead of structure. But the top earners, even in this market, run on systems. At eXp Realty, new agents have access to daily prospecting schedules, listing presentation templates, CRM follow-up plans, and even video content frameworks. And with my upline, Mike Sherrard, leading social media strategy, we show agents how to turn those systems into consistent business growth. So when people ask me if eXp Realty is good for new agents, I tell them absolutely yes—if you’re ready to take ownership. The eXp Realty training and support are there, the tools are ready, and all that’s missing is your commitment to stay consistent.

Learn to Market Like a Modern Agent

Marketing used to mean knocking on doors, sending postcards, and cold calling. And while those still work, today’s most successful agents are the ones who show up online with authenticity and purpose. I’m living proof. When I started creating video content, everything changed. I didn’t have a big following or a fancy setup, but I did have a desire to teach and connect. I shared insights about the housing market and offered practical advice that helped my community understand what was really happening. That’s what builds trust. Inside eXp Realty, our training and support focus heavily on modern marketing strategies like video, personal branding, and social media storytelling. Mike Sherrard’s social media mastery program gives agents plug-and-play templates to grow visibility fast. You don’t have to be an influencer to make it work—you just have to show up, educate, and stay consistent.

Master the Mental Game: Mindset Before Market

Mindset matters more than market conditions. I’ve coached agents who closed six figures in their first year and others who struggled despite knowing the same systems. The difference is belief. When you join our Prosperity Agent community at eXp Realty, you’re joining a group that focuses on collaboration over competition. We host weekly mindset sessions, accountability calls, and small group trainings where you learn from agents who started exactly where you are now. You’ll see firsthand that tough markets are simply the best training ground for great agents. When others are slowing down, our group is building new habits, strengthening confidence, and planning for the rebound.

Find the Right People to Grow With

No one succeeds in real estate alone. The brokerage you align with shapes your growth, and that’s why I chose eXp Realty. The culture here rewards collaboration, innovation, and mentorship. Through my team, The Prosperity Agent, you’ll get free access to my courses, Mike Sherrard’s marketing systems, and personalized coaching that keeps you accountable. We guide you through branding, systems, and mindset so you can grow a profitable business built around your strengths. So if you’ve been wondering whether eXp Realty is good for new agents, think about what kind of agent you want to become. If you want community, real support, and practical systems that lead to results, then this is the place for you.
Tough markets don’t last forever, but tough agents do. If you’re ready to stop surviving and start thriving, it’s time to join a team that’s built to help you grow. Let’s talk about your goals, your market, and how The Prosperity Agent team at eXp Realty can help you create a business that thrives in any market.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can a real estate agent survive when homes are sitting on the market for weeks?

When homes stop selling quickly, agents should shift focus to learning local market data deeply, building genuine relationships with homeowners rather than chasing quick transactions, and maintaining consistent online presence even during slow periods. Tough markets reward preparation — agents who use downturns to sharpen skills and build trust tend to dominate when conditions improve, according to coaching insights from eXp Realty.

What should a struggling real estate agent do differently in a high interest rate market?

In a high interest rate environment, struggling agents should stop relying on passive lead flow or easy listings and instead become the most knowledgeable agent in their local market. This means understanding market cycles, tracking data, and showing up consistently for clients. Agents who adapt their strategy during downturns — rather than panicking — are better positioned when market conditions shift.

Is it better to leave real estate during a tough market or push through and adapt?

Pushing through and adapting is the stronger long-term move. Tough markets naturally filter out agents who depended on favorable conditions, while those who stay, learn, and build relationships gain a competitive edge. Agents who invest in training, deepen their market knowledge, and maintain client relationships during slow periods become the trusted names buyers and sellers turn to when the market rebounds.