12/03/2024
A few months ago, I obtained my Broker's license & opened California Real Estate Advisors, Inc. For those who know me, you’ll recall I've always charted my own course in every industry I've entered. I'm not one to follow; I prefer leading the way, even if it means going solo. It’s better to have a whole dollar than a 100 pennies.
I didn't establish this brokerage to become the next big name, I recognized the shortcomings of many existing firms. So, for new or experienced agents who are like-minded, hardworking, & not liabilities, the door is open—feel free to reach out.
I began my real estate career with Keller Williams but quickly found their fees excessive & unnecessary. Traditional brick-&-mortar offices seemed pointless. Within a year, I moved to eXp, due to their cloud-based model that made financial sense, where I became one of the top-producing agents for consecutive years.
However, when I encountered issues with a fraud investor, the brokerage offered no support, despite me being in the right. This experience revealed that brokerages prioritize self-protection over supporting their agents. Disillusioned, I left eXp & pursued my Broker's license. I temporarily joined REAL but found them equally lacking—poor support, accountability issues, & misleading info about their stock incentives. This only reinforced my decision to open my own firm.
Over the years, I've spoken to countless brokerages in CA, & they all pitch the same lines: "Our tech is the best," "We have an awesome office," "Our agents have exclusive networks"—the usual spiel. Worse yet, many operate w/o an annual cap, which makes no sense. Why continuously hand over a percentage of your deals with no limit? Everything these brokerages offer can be sourced individually at a fraction of the cost.
Don't be misled into thinking a brokerage's name dictates success. It doesn't. Success hinges on the agent's effort & expertise. If you're lazy or uninformed, no prestigious name will make you successful. Conversely, a hardworking agent will thrive regardless of the brokerage. Across every major region, agents succeed under various names, big & small. Ultimately, it's about the individual.
