M
auricio Umansky is keeping busy, juggling multiple projects as co-founder and CEO of The Agency. The brokerage has been expanding rapidly, opening around 30 offices annually, which translates to two-and-a-half new doors per month. This pace allows Umansky to provide personal attention to each office for about two weeks.

    Umansky's focus is on efficient market share growth, not just headcount expansion. He cites an example of 10 agents selling $2 million in business, growing to $5 million without increasing staff. The Agency has only taken outside capital once, a $35 million raise in 2022, and now operates over 130 offices in 12 countries.

    The brokerage is diversifying its services, positioning itself as a real estate advisor rather than just an agent. This includes fine art purchases and sales through The Agency Art House, launched this week, and the Mauricio Umansky Network, an EdTech platform for coaching and mentorship.

    Umansky has been outspoken on industry issues, including NAR's Clear Cooperation Policy, which he believes restricts sellers' freedom to choose how their properties are marketed. He also addresses the impact of commission settlements and transfer taxes on the business.

    Despite a challenging market, Umansky is optimistic about 2025, predicting it will be more like 2019. He attributes this to the release of new inventory and advises agents to forget the anomalies of 2020 and 2021.