9 Best Real Estate Companies to Work For
- Keller Williams
- eXp Realty
- Coldwell Banker
- Compass
- RE/MAX
- Century 21
- Douglas Elliman
- Weichert Realtors
- Redfin
1. Keller Williams
Keller Williams is the best real estate company to work for due to their fantastic support, marketing reach, and new agent training. Keller Willians is based in Austin, Texas, and has over 1000 offices worldwide. The company offers an innovative profit-sharing model that has helped them grow rapidly. Agents at Keller Williams can make money in two ways – through the traditional commission earned on a sale or by recruiting other agents through their profit-sharing system. When you recruit another agent to work for the brokerage, you can make a percentage of every sale they close. Their commission structure allows agents to keep 64% of their fees while kicking up 30% to the market center and 6% to the franchise. But after you hit a certain threshold known as the commission cap, you keep 100%.
2. eXp Realty
EXP Realty is the real estate company with the best commission split for its agents. Agents get an 80/20 commission split with an annual cap of $16,000, which means that after you hit that threshold, you earn 100% commission. For example, if you earn $300,000 in commissions, all you'd owe the firm for the year would be $16,000. EXP Realty is also the largest residential real estate brokerage in North America.
EXP is a cloud-based brokerage with no brick-and-mortar offices and high splits, so it's ideal for agents who can generate their own leads. Agents pay a $149 startup fee, including marketing material like business cards, a website, a business phone number, a contact management system, and more. EXP Realty is ideal for experienced agents who want to avoid the costs associated with a brick-and-mortar brokerage in favor of a flexible online platform with resources to help you grow.
3. Coldwell Banker
Founded in 1906, Coldwell Banker is the oldest real estate franchise in North America. With over 3000 offices in more than 49 countries, Coldwell Banker is a well-established brand with a global footprint. They offer a great onboarding program that supports new agents and hosts frequent community events and training programs to help agents network and sharpen their skills. Each brokerage is responsible for setting commission splits, caps, and desk fees, which will vary depending on where you work. But they are a fantastic brand for agents searching for a nationally recognized brand with excellent company culture.
4. Compass
Compass is the best luxury real estate brokerage to work for, but they're only in major metropolitan areas. Compass is the third-largest real estate brokerage in the country by sales volume. It offers a variety of tools and products that help agents earn higher commissions and improve the buying or selling process for clients. Their innovative technology uses artificial intelligence to help agents and clients make smarter buying decisions. Commission splits vary depending on the agent's experience level and geographic location but typically start at 60/40 for less experienced agents. In contrast, top-producing agents can earn as much as an 85% split at Compass. This makes Compass the perfect company for agents searching for a tech-based real estate platform with high earning potential.
5. RE/MAX
Real estate maximums, aka RE/MAX, is an international real estate franchise system designed to give agents the highest potential to run their own business under the umbrella of an established brand. They offer a unique training program and suite of tools to help agents succeed but allow them the space they need to grow independently. They don't have a company-wide policy regarding commission splits and desk fees, so it varies from brokerage to brokerage. But experienced agents can often negotiate splits as high as 95/5. As a result, RE/MAX is great for established agents who want a nationally recognized brand that can help take their business to the next level.
6. Century 21
Century 21 is an international real estate brokerage headquartered in Madison, New Jersey. It's an excellent brand for new agents with no desk fees or costs to get started. They offer extensive training programs, tools for staff use, and a supportive atmosphere that encourages collaboration among agents in the office. Plus, they've recently rebranded to appeal to a younger demographic and have been working hard to establish their presence on social media. Commission splits are determined at the brokerage level, although they tend to be competitive. So, Century 21 is excellent for younger agents looking for a brokerage with a supportive atmosphere and great brand recognition.
7. Douglas Elliman
Douglas Elliman is a luxury real estate company with offices all over the country. In addition to running a real estate brokerage, they also operate several subsidiary companies, including DE Development Marketing, DE Property Management, and DE Commercial and DE Title Company, providing more career opportunities outside of being an agent. The luxury brand offers competitive pay and benefits and an average commission split of 60/30. Douglas Elliman is great for agents looking to enter the luxury market who want a supportive environment with great growth potential.
8. Weichert Realtors
Weichert Realtors is a residential and commercial real estate franchise with a headquarters in Morris Plains, New Jersey. The family-owned business is run by co-presidents Jim and James Weichert and operates in over 500 markets across 40 states. The company offers comprehensive sales training, development and mentorship programs, and technologically advanced tools and resources to help agents succeed. Past employees report a supportive atmosphere and an excellent work-life balance, making Weichert Realtors great for anyone interested in real estate.
9. Redfin
Redfin is a full-service real estate brokerage based in Seattle. The company has a different model than most real estate brokerages and pays their agents a salary instead of just a commission. They also offer attractive benefits like 401K plans, employee stock purchase plans, paid time off, healthcare, and more. Plus, they also cover certain expenses most agents pay out of pocket, such as phone minutes and data, state licensing dues, MLS dues, and more. In addition to their base salary, Redfin agents are paid bonuses for every sale they close. This makes Redfin one of the best real estate companies for agents in search of the stability of a 9 to 5 job.
Best Real Estate Companies to Work For Bottom Line
Deciding on which real estate company is best for you will depend on how much experience you have. If you're a new agent, a company like Keller Williams will be the best as they provide excellent training. Meanwhile, experienced agents would be better off with eXp Realty due to their higher splits, while the best company to work for if you're a luxury agent is Compass.