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surge in real estate agents switching brokerages is transforming the industry's competitive landscape, prompting firms to revamp their recruitment and retention strategies. According to a recent report by Recruiting Insight and BoldTrail, 13% of active agents changed brokerages in 2024, representing over 129,000 home sales transactions.

    The study analyzed four major MLSs covering nearly one-third of U.S. agents and found that agent turnover has significant financial implications. Agents who switched brokerages completed an average of 4.83 transactions each, with top producers far exceeding this number.

    Leadership emerged as a key factor in the report, with every brokerage model represented among firms experiencing both gains and losses in agent counts. Tech-driven brokerages outperformed competitors by nearly doubling median sales volume due to their technological investments.

    The study identified several drivers of recruitment and turnover, including capped revenue share models, seasonal and regional differences, and motivators such as direction, de-risking, development, differentiation, dynamics, digital and data dominance, dollars, and dissatisfaction. Agents cited a lack of support, slow commission payouts, and outdated technology as top reasons for leaving.

    "Forget preconceived notions about agent movement," said Jay Teresi, vice president at Inside Real Estate. "Success boils down to leadership and a strong conviction in your value proposition." The report recommends brokerages reassess their strategies by refining recruitment messaging, targeting the right agent profiles, and addressing onboarding and retention challenges.

    The 26,363 agents who switched brokerages in 2024 faced significant financial implications, with top producers far exceeding the average number of transactions. Traditional firms remained competitive due to brand strength and agent loyalty, while tech-driven brokerages proved most successful in attracting high-performing agents.