Only 16% of real estate agents moved firms in 2025, net volume growth slow

A recent report from Courted’s State of Brokerage Recruiting and Retention found that about 16% of real estate agents, roughly 230,000, changed brokerages in 2025.

Despite significant recruiting activity, the top 100 brokerage brands saw only a 1.8% net growth in sales volume. These firms recruited 229,316 agents but lost 122,016, with departing agents averaging $2.11 million in production and their replacements averaging $1.44 million, according to HousingWire.

The data challenges the common belief that recruiting success depends on extensive relationship-building, often described as needing 'a thousand cups of coffee.' Instead, the problem lies in the lack of a disciplined recruiting process rather than insufficient outreach.

A survey of 600 real estate professionals found that nearly 40% ignore cold recruiting emails, but about 75% would respond to better compensation offers. This suggests agents prioritize financial incentives over personal outreach.

Effective recruiting requires understanding agents’ business economics and what would motivate or deter them from moving. For example, one firm increased an agent's predictable income by over $75,000 through partnerships, highlighting the value of strategic offers over casual interactions.