Here's what's actually happening at a lot of these brokerages. They're growing agent count, which logically should mean more transactions — but here's the part nobody talks about. Every agent you bring on has a cost. Onboarding, training, the tech stack you're providing, the splits you're offering to stay competitive. If you're not careful, by the time you add all that up, you're basically breaking even on that agent — or worse, you're in t ...

 How to Grow a Commercial Real Estate Brokerage in Today's MarketThe commercial real estate market is more competitive than ever, but it's also full of opportunity for firms that operate with focus and strategy. Rising interest rates, shifting office demand, and continued strength in industrial assets have reshaped the landscape.The firms winning today are not necessarily the largest. They are the most intentional, the most disciplined, and ...

 In today's hyper-connected, always-on business environment, focus has become one of the most valuable skills for success—especially in industries like commercial real estate. Many professionals confuse motion with progress, activity with achievement, and busyness with results. As a result, they lose sight of high-impact priorities that actually drive revenue and long-term growth.The reality is simple: focus is difficult, but it is a skill t ...

 I speak with brokerage owners every day who are trying to figure out why their firm isn't growing in size or revenue. More often than not, the issue is simple—the founder has unknowingly created the ceiling.In the early days, being involved in everything is necessary. You're hiring, closing deals, solving problems, and shaping the culture all at once. That hustle is what gets the business off the ground.But what builds a brokerage is not wh ...

 If you're chasing flawless real estate deals, you're probably leaving the best opportunities on the table. The most successful multifamily investors don't look for perfection—they look for potential. In this business, the real money isn't made buying pretty properties, it's made by creating value where others don't see it.Why the Best Deals Don't Look Good at FirstA common mistake new investors make is chasing turnkey, fully renovated prope ...

The short answer is yes. The longer answer is that it may actually be one of the best times to enter the industry—if you're willing to specialize, compete, and outwork the competition.Recently, I sat down with one of the most accomplished investment sales brokers in the country, Bob Knakal. Over the course of his career, he has closed more than 2,300 properties totaling roughly $22 billion in transaction value. He began his career in 1984, launch ...

When it comes to real estate marketing, the agents who win aren't always the ones with the biggest ad budgets. More often, they're the ones who are willing to get scrappy, stay creative, and show up in unexpected ways. Over the years, our team has experimented with a wide variety of guerrilla and alternative marketing strategies in retail commercial real estate — some low-cost, some labor-intensive, but many delivering outsized returns in both le ...

 If you've been in real estate for more than five minutes, you've heard the phrase "your network is your net worth." It sounds good. It looks great on Instagram. And yet, if we're being honest, most agents don't actually know how to network in a way that produces real results.You'll almost never hear someone say, "I don't know how to network." But I'd argue nearly 90% of agents struggle with it.Why?Because networking has been reduced to coll ...

 (Notes from 20+ years in the trenches)I've been in commercial real estate brokerage for over twenty years… and in that time, I've seen just about everything. I've watched excited new agents jump in, get overwhelmed, and quit within a few months. I've watched others hang on for a couple of years but never really build the business—or the life—they imagined CRE would give them.So I put together some simple notes that show the path most people ...

 In our current real estate market the property owners have become cautious, capital is still a bit expensive, and every broker that calls claims to "have buyers" so prospecting has shifted from a numbers game to a precision art form. The brokers that will win listings in 2026 aren't relying on just the old-school cold calls alone—they're combining data, positioning, and personalized outreach to earn trust faster and demonstrate value earlie ...

In commercial real estate, talent is everything—but talent without direction is just potential waiting to be wasted. More brokerage leaders are beginning to recognize that structured training programs aren't just a luxury—they're one of the smartest investments a firm can make. A well-developed training program has far-reaching benefits that affect agent productivity, firm reputation, retention rates, consistency, company culture, and long-term g ...

 If you've been in commercial real estate (CRE) brokerage for any amount of time, you already know this truth: finding good people is harder than finding good deals. And it's not just you — nearly every brokerage leader will tell you that recruiting in this business feels like an endless uphill battle. Let's unpack why.1. The Business Model Is a Double-Edged SwordCRE brokerage is often a commission-only environment. That's great for top perf ...

 Nearly 70% of buyers and sellers work with the first real estate agent they contact. A recognizable and trusted brand increases the chance that you will be the first person they reach out to.So many agents I speak with do not believe that creating a brand is important to their career, even after we discuss the stats they dismiss the opportunity with a simple rationalization that they tried it and it doesn't work. They then say that they pre ...

 "Work-life balance" has gained popularity in recent years, and with good cause. Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is essential for both long-term career viability and emotional well-being. In fact, it is now frequently brought up in recruiting meetings with agents who are new to the commercial real estate industry.But can you really have work-life balance in such a competitive, commission-based industry?The answer: it depends on you.I ...

The commercial real estate brokerage business is an amazing career—but can it be even better? Absolutely. The path isn't complicated, but it does require an investment of time and money.The estimated percentage of commercial real estate agents who leave the industry within five years is approximately 87%. This figure is widely cited by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), which identifies four main factors that are driving this high turnov ...