Icons of Real Estate is a growth platform for real estate professionals powered by one of the best SEO agencies in the business. We work with the nº1 eXp team in the USA and Canada. Our mission is to empower real estate professionals to reach unprecedented levels of success and become industry icons. Curious to learn how we can achieve this together? Schedule a consultation with our team of experts today and get ready to watch your sales grow!
Overview of eXp Realty
The real estate industry is filled with unpredictability, opportunities, and choices—all of which affect today's empowered real estate agents. As agents navigate their career paths, they are constantly seeking the best environment, tools, and community to thrive. A prevalent choice for many real estate brokers has been eXp Realty, a global virtual brokerage known for its innovation and unique business model.
eXp Realty agents have access to technology that helps shape up the industry, an extensive network of professionals, training, and various benefits that are very enticing. Generally, the brokerage is a melting pot of driven real estate professionals seeking to create successful businesses on a platform designed for the 21st-century realtor.
While many agents have found their home at eXp Realty, others also choose to explore new firms and move on to further diversify their exposure to the industry. In fact, a July 31, 2024 report by HousingWire mentioned a 1% year-over-year drop in its agent count. This is a testament to the dynamic nature of the industry, where flexibility and adaptability are encouraged.
The movement of agents in and out of a brokerage is a common phenomenon in the industry, reflecting their drive to continuously seek environments that align with their evolving goals.
The narrative of agents leaving eXp echoes this. After all, the freedom to choose one's brokerage is one of the elements that make a career in real estate so appealing.
Why Choosing a Brokerage Firm Is a Challenge for Real Estate Agents
Choosing the right real estate brokerage to pursue a career is a crucial decision for every agent, and it's not always an easy one. Here are some reasons why agents might struggle to pick the right brokerage.
1. Lack of Experience
New agents, in particular, may not have a clear understanding of what to look for in a brokerage. They may not yet fully understand their own career goals, strengths, and preferences, which can make it challenging to choose a firm that will best support their professional growth.
2. Overwhelming Choices
The real estate industry is vast and varied, with brokerages ranging from small, local firms to large, international franchises. Each offers different benefits, commission structures, cultures, resources, and training opportunities.
The sheer number of choices can be overwhelming, making it difficult for agents to determine which is the best fit for them.
3. Misalignment of Values and Culture
Every brokerage has its unique culture and values. An agent may join a firm only to discover that its culture doesn't align with their work style or values.
For instance, an agent who values autonomy and flexibility might struggle at a brokerage with a strict, hierarchical structure.
4. Unclear Career Goals
If agents don't have clear career goals, they may find it challenging to choose a brokerage that can help them reach those goals.
For example, an agent who wants to work with high-end clients will need different resources than an agent who wants to specialize in first-time homebuyers.
5. Lack of Adequate Research
Some agents might base their decision on surface-level factors, such as brand recognition or the promise of high commissions, without digging deeper into what the brokerage offers and whether it aligns with their needs.
6. Changing Needs
What agents need from a brokerage can change over time. As they gain experience and their career goals evolve, they may outgrow their current brokerage and need to seek out a new one that can better serve their needs.
You May Also Like: Tech Tools for Real Estate Agents
Common Explanations for "Why I Left eXp Realty"
The real estate market is consistently changing and growing. An exciting element of this industry is the range of choices it offers to agents, enabling them to take control of their careers and shape their professional trajectories.
So, if it's one of the best brokerage firms in the business, why are agents leaving eXp Realty? Let's get into seven of the most common reasons.
1. Seeking Tradition Over Innovation
eXp Realty has always been a pioneer in the industry, embracing innovative approaches to the real estate business. They have chosen the path less traveled by operating as a cloud-based brokerage, far removed from the traditional brick-and-mortar setup.
This might be one of the reasons why many real estate agents are leaving eXp Realty. Some local agents might prefer the traditional work environment where they can physically meet their team.
As a business owner or real estate agent, you need to understand your work preference. If a traditional setup aids your productivity, then leaving eXp Realty could be seen as a step toward your career progression.
2. Need for a More Structured Business Environment
eXp Realty operates on a flexible model where real estate agents have the autonomy to build their teams and businesses. However, some agents might find this model challenging, especially if they are new to the industry. These agents often find a structured environment like that of Keller Williams Realty more suitable.
So, how to leave eXp Realty becomes a relevant issue for agents seeking more guidance and a pre-set path to follow in their careers.
3. Desire for More Local Networking Opportunities
While the virtual model of eXp Realty offers real estate agents a vast, global network, some agents crave more local networking opportunities. They believe that cultivating a local network is more effective for their business growth.
Therefore, the cost of leaving eXp Realty is outweighed by the potential benefits of focusing on building relationships in their immediate vicinity.
4. Recruitment Overload
Recruiting agents is an integral part of eXp's business model. Incentive programs, such as Boost, allow agents to earn extra income and encourage growth within the company.
However, for some, the emphasis on recruitment might detract from their primary focus of selling real estate.
5. Desire for More Brand Control
Many real estate agents leave eXp Realty to pursue opportunities where they can build their personal brand. While eXp Realty offers an attractive commission split structure and numerous resources and tools for agents, some individuals still seek greater control over their marketing and branding.
The desire to create a unique identity in the industry is a driving force behind agents leaving eXp Realty.
6. Financial Considerations
Joining eXp Realty involves fees and costs that might not be palatable to all agents.
While many agents find the financial benefits of being an eXp Realty agent outweigh these costs, others do not. These agents consider leaving eXp Realty and joining other brokerages as a financial move that will lessen their business expenses.
7. Seeking New Challenges
The real estate industry is diverse, and so are the challenges and experiences it offers.
Many agents leave eXp Realty not because it is a substandard workplace. However, there should be eXp Realty agent experiences and challenges that are new to them and can help them grow. For some, quitting eXp Realty is about pursuing new opportunities that align more closely with new career goals.
While there are challenges of working at eXp Realty, it is essential to understand that no single brokerage can cater to every agent's needs. For many, joining this brokerage has been a game-changer, offering opportunities and benefits unrivaled in the industry.
Nevertheless, the factors mentioned above could lead to some agents leaving eXp Realty, which should not be seen as a sign of failure, but as a positive step toward realizing individual career aspirations.
To Summarize:
Understanding your career goals, needs, and preferences will help you decide whether joining or leaving eXp Realty is the right move for you. As the saying goes, “Different strokes for different folks.” Your journey as a real estate agent is unique, and the best decision is always the one that aligns with your unique career trajectory.
eXp Realty has revolutionized the real estate industry with its cloud-based model, offering a compelling platform for agents worldwide. Like any other innovative venture, it presents unique opportunities along with its own set of challenges, aptly referred to as eXp Realty problems by some.
As agents chart their paths in this vibrant industry, the exploration of different brokerages, including eXp Realty, fuels the industry's dynamism, fosters healthy competition, and ultimately pushes for constant improvement and innovation.
If you would like to know more about eXp and how the brokerage operates, we encourage you to read through the eXp ICON Guide 2023 by Icons of Real Estate!
You May Also Like: Zillow Leads Worth It for Real Estate Agents
Frequently Asked Questions About Why Agents Are Leaving eXp Realty
eXp Realty's business model encourages agents to recruit agents and build a revenue share team. While many agents find success with this model, not every agent is interested in multi-level marketing. Some prefer to focus solely on selling real estate, leading them to explore other brokerages that align more with their preferences.
Agent success in eXp Realty largely depends on their ability to adapt to the brokerage model. The brokerage offers comprehensive agent training, support, and technology platforms to ensure agents succeed. However, this model is not a one-size-fits-all, and some agents may find more success with traditional brokerages or as solo agents.
eXp World is the virtual office space where many eXp agents interact with fellow agents and participate in training. While this innovative approach is appealing to many, some agents crave the tangible camaraderie of a physical office. Such agents might prefer joining local brokerages, leading to more agents leaving the firm.
The revenue share model can be a significant source of passive income, where agents earn a portion of the transaction fees from agents they've recruited. While this model is lucrative for many, new agents without a large network might find it challenging and may choose to leave eXp Realty.
Yes, leaving eXp Realty may involve a flat fee, depending on the terms of your contract. Agents need to understand these implications the their terms and conditions before they decide to leave eXp Realty.
While the cloud-based model of eXp Realty provides flexibility and cost savings, some agents prefer a physical office for face-to-face interaction and localized networking. Therefore, they may decide to join local brokerages or even start their own independent brokerage.
Indeed, for some agents, joining traditional brokerages that offer a physical office, localized focus, and different commission structures could be beneficial. It's about finding a brokerage that best aligns with their business planning and career goals.
Remember, key insights into why agents leave eXp Realty indicate that it is not about whether eXp is good or bad, but about what suits individual agents' preferences and career plans. There's no one-size-fits-all in real estate, so agents must find a business model that helps them avoid making the same mistakes and allows them to flourish.
First off, kudos on such an insightful article! As a real estate enthusiast myself, it's always fascinating to delve into discussions about industry trends and shifts. Your piece on why agents are leaving EXP Realty really struck a chord with me. You've managed to encapsulate the sentiments and concerns of agents considering their options in today's ever-evolving real estate landscape.
Thanks Nancy. I hope the article explains why eXp was the fastest growing real estate company in the history of real estate but also the challenges the model is having. Once you hit 90,000 agents, it's hard to grow at the same rate!