Why Real Estate Brokerages Struggle to Keep Top Agents Amidst High Churn

Real estate brokerages are grappling with a persistent challenge: retaining their most productive agents. Despite a competitive market, experienced professionals are consistently seeking new firms, a trend that underscores fundamental issues within the industry's retention strategies. A recent article in HousingWire by Lance Pendleton, published August 27, 2026, delves into the core reasons why brokerages are seeing a revolving door of talent.

According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR) 2026 Member Profile, released June 25, 2026, the median tenure for agents with their current firm is just six years. This figure, consistent with the NAR 2025 Member Profile (based on 2024 data), highlights a long-standing pattern of agent movement that impacts firms nationwide. Multiple industry reports, including those from Jamil Academy, Agent for the Future, and Brokurz, independently verify these concerns about agent churn and retention.

Why are experienced agents leaving their firms?

Experienced agents are often leaving their current brokerages due to a perceived lack of systematic support and development. Lance Pendleton, Founder of PreTSD Consulting and former National Head of Agent Development at Compass, argues in his HousingWire piece that the problem often stems from failures in follow-up systems and agent development programs. Pendleton, also the creator of Reframe Lab, suggests that many brokerages fail to provide the consistent guidance and robust systems agents need to scale their business and prevent valuable leads from falling through the cracks.

Pendleton specifically points to a lack of routine performance analysis. He advocates for weekly reviews of "dropped tasks" as a critical tool to reveal where an agent's follow-up and the brokerage's underlying systems are failing. Without this proactive identification and correction, agents may feel unsupported, leading them to seek environments that offer more structure and growth opportunities.

What does agent tenure tell us about the industry?

The consistent six-year median tenure for agents with their current firm, as reported by NAR Deputy Chief Economist Jessica Lautz, reveals a market where loyalty is not guaranteed. This stability in the tenure statistic, despite market fluctuations, suggests that underlying structural issues, rather than cyclical market conditions alone, are driving agents to reconsider their brokerage affiliations every few years. For brokerages, this means a continuous investment in recruiting and training, rather than benefiting from long-term agent growth.

What can brokerages do to improve retention?

To combat agent churn, brokerages must prioritize robust agent development and implement systematic performance tracking. Pancho Mehrotra, a sales mindset expert, emphasizes the importance of fostering a growth mindset among agents, which can be supported by structured development programs. Sean Soderstrom, Co-founder and CEO of Courted, adds that leveraging data-driven insights into agent performance can help brokerages identify areas for improvement and tailor support more effectively.

The insights from Pendleton suggest that establishing clear protocols for lead follow-up, ongoing skill development, and regular performance evaluations are key. By adopting a more proactive and analytical approach to agent support, brokerages can create an environment where agents feel valued, equipped, and more likely to build long-term careers within the firm. This strategic shift from simply recruiting to actively retaining talent is becoming crucial for sustained success in the real estate sector.