The Brokerage Landscape

More than 1.5 million REALTORS® hold membership in the National Association of REALTORS®, a figure that stayed stubbornly high through 2024 despite slower home sales. 

Those agents spread across thousands of real estate companies, from household franchise names to one-office independents. Now, cloud-based brokerage models have added another lane, asking whether agents need brick walls at all.

For someone brand-new, sorting this maze can feel harder than prospecting your first listing.

What New Agents Should Look For in A Real Estate Company

Mentorship and Support Systems

In real estate brokerage life, questions never respect office hours.

A brokerage for new agents must pair each rookie with a mentor who answers the “Can I write that into the addendum?” text before the client loses faith.

Top real estate professionals surround fresh licensees with contract clinics, live broker hotlines, and referral forums that build confidence faster than any textbook.

Fair Commission Splits

Cash flow keeps the lights on.

A commission structure hovering around an 85 / 15 split, capped at a predictable dollar amount, lets new real estate agents keep 100 percent of their income sooner while still funding broker oversight. 

Hidden desk fees or marketing surcharges sabotage early budgets, so read every transaction fee line like a closing disclosure.

Training, Tools, and Technology

Transaction software, e-signature portals, and CRM dashboards are no longer optional. Brokerages that offer comprehensive training inside a single cloud-based platform help agents streamline operations, freeing evenings for prospecting instead of troubleshooting PDFs.

With the real estate industry embracing mobile workflows, these tools are now non-negotiable.

Branding Flexibility

A brokerage that offers rigid templates can box in your voice before it ever develops. New agents often want a personal brand that matches their neighborhood vibe—modern, luxury, or laid-back.

The best brokerages for new agents allow color palettes, domain choices, and signage tweaks as long as state rules stay intact.

Growth Potential

Choosing the best brokerage means thinking two years ahead. Look for wealth-building avenues like stock awards, revenue share, or team-leader tracks that grow alongside production.

A real estate career shouldn’t demand a second move when success arrives.

Company Culture

Culture is more than slogans. It’s whether experienced agents share their listing presentation deck, whether the broker reviews contracts within an hour, and whether masterminds feature honest numbers or inflated chest-pounding.

A supportive work environment encourages new real estate agents to ask clumsy questions without embarrassment, a crucial factor when deals go sideways.

Types of Brokerages

Traditional Franchises (e.g. Keller Williams Realty, Coldwell Banker)

Traditional brokerage brands deliver office space, in-house staff, and the comfort of well-worn signage.

They typically charge ongoing royalties in addition to the commission split, yet agents benefit from established training tracks and regional conferences.

If face-to-face mentorship and nationally recognized logos feel vital, this lane might fit.

Local Boutiques & Independent Brokerages

Independent brokerages win on neighborhood expertise and direct broker access.

Splits and fees vary because each owner writes the rulebook, but nimble marketing and hyper-local reputation attract clients who value community roots over national reach.

New agents may find boutique teams ideal when they crave hands-on coaching and intimate market focus.

Cloud-Based Models (e.g., eXp, Real Broker)

Virtual brokerages scrap the office rent and reinvest in technology.

Agents upload contracts, attend classes, and join masterminds through an app. Lower overhead allows some of the best commission splits in the country while still funding robust E&O insurance, compliance review, and national referral rooms.

For agents looking to work from a coffee shop or a home office, a cloud-based brokerage promises flexibility without sacrificing training.

Why Real is a Great Fit for New Agents

Simple Commission Plan

Real Broker keeps math simple.

Agents start at an 85 / 15 split until they contribute $12,000 to the company dollar, after which they keep the full commission, aside from a modest transaction fee, on every closing.

No monthly desk costs appear on a credit-card statement, just a one-time sign-up fee and an annual brokerage fee deducted from the first few deals. 

Virtual Support & Training

Because Real operates entirely in the cloud, help is available seven days a week.

State brokers run live Q&A rooms, compliance staff turn contracts around in hours, and Real Academy stores recorded classes ranging from lead generation to luxury staging.

A new real estate agent can binge those tutorials at midnight, then ask clarifying questions in the morning without feeling lost.

Stock & Revenue Share

Each time an agent caps, refers another licensee, or earns an Elite badge, Real drops company stock into their account.

The five-tier revenue share program pays from one to five percent of company dollar on up-line transactions, letting even newer agents plant passive-income seeds early.

That extra income stream eases the unpredictable pay cycles that challenge new agents in 2025.

National Reach, Local Support

By the first quarter of 2025, Real's agent count climbed past 29,000 across the U.S. and Canada.

New Texas real estate licensees, California rookies, and Florida veterans all mingle in referral channels that move clients coast to coast.

Yet each state retains a managing broker and document review team, so compliance guidance remains tailored to local statutes.

Personal Brand Friendly

Real encourages agents to lead with their own logos as long as brokerage identification remains visible.

Luxury real estate pros can lean into minimalist black yard signs, while first-time-buyer specialists can splash cheerful colors across postcards.

Marketing materials inside the Real app are suggestions, not shackles—meaning agents keep creative control.

No Extra Fees

Real charges no desk rent and no monthly technology subscription. After capping, agents pay a reduced transaction fee and nothing more.

Those savings can fuel Facebook ads, open-house staging, or the next lead-generation tool—investments that help agents thrive rather than nickel-and-diming them into stagnation.

So, What is the Best Real Estate Brokerage for New Agents?

Your First Brokerage Shapes Your Career—Choose Wisely

A real estate career resembles a marathon run on commission checks. The first brokerage sets your stride. Mentorship depth, cultural fit, and technology stack affect how quickly you advance from new real estate agent to top-producing agent.

Choose a broker that offers the resources you need to succeed, not just a shiny lobby or the loudest marketing slogan.

Real Is Built for You

Real Broker combines one of the best commission splits in the industry with a cloud-based work environment designed to help new agents. Stock incentives, revenue share, and nationwide masterminds give every agent a path to long-term wealth, while transparent fees let agents keep more money today.

For newer agents evaluating brokerages in the U.S., Real delivers the infrastructure and support to accelerate both income and expertise.

Next Steps

Line up conversations with at least three different brokerages so you can weigh their splits, coaching approach, and overall vibe side by side.

If Real makes your shortlist, ask for a live demo of the mobile app, chat with the state broker, and grab a quick call with someone who signed on in the past few months. Hearing how the platform performs in real deals will tell you whether Real aligns with your 2025 game plan.

FAQ’s About Choosing a Brokerage as a New Agent

What commission split is reasonable for a brand-new agent?

Many brokerages charge around a 70 / 30 split for rookies, but cloud-based firms like Real offer an 85 / 15 split with a cap. A lower split can still make sense if training, referrals, or team leads offset the difference, yet high desk fees may erase those advantages.

Do virtual brokerages really offer hands-on mentorship?

Yes. Real schedules live contract clinics, peer masterminds, and one-on-one broker calls.

Because everything happens online, new real estate agents connect with specialists from across the real estate industry rather than being limited to those who sit two cubicles away.

How much should technology factor into my decision?

Transaction-room software, CRM integrations, and marketing templates save hours each week.

A brokerage that equips agents with an all-in-one cloud platform eliminates tech confusion and lowers out-of-pocket costs, making it especially valuable for agents looking to streamline workflows quickly.

Is brand recognition still critical in 2025?

A famous logo can impress relocation clients, but reviews, response times, and hyper-local expertise often sway buyers more than the brokerage name.

Choose a brokerage that allows agents to develop a personal brand that resonates with target neighborhoods.

Can I change companies if my first choice isn’t working?

You can transfer your license, but switching disrupts marketing, referral relationships, and sometimes revenue share. Doing thorough research—reading the independent contractor agreement, shadowing team meetings, and testing the tech—reduces the odds you will need to make a mid-career jump.

Interested in the Real Brand?

Thinking about joining Real? Connect with Chris Speicher to learn more today