The talent playing field in the real estate industry has undergone a generational reset over the last four years.

Three consecutive years of the fewest existing home sales since 1995, a 34% decline in transactions, and a resale turnover rate at a 40-year low have permanently altered the talent landscape. Brokerages still operating with a 2021 recruiting strategy are actively donating production to the competitors who have adapted.

These changes are the topic of a new, must-read whitepaper we’re releasing today.

Here’s a small sample of what the whitepaper reveals:

• More than one-third of productive agents are now working a second job to make ends meet.
• 73% of newer agents do not rely on real estate as their primary source of income, making the dual-career agent the primary talent pool, not an edge case.
• 47% of the mortgage loan officer workforce has permanently exited the industry since 2021.
• Four flat-fee brokerages in the same markets with the same fee structure showed a 3X performance spread driven entirely by recruiting and retention execution, not model.
• Agent mobility surged +35% in Q1 2026, with $16 billion in annualized production changing brands in a single quarter, a six-quarter high.

The  report draws on proprietary migration data from 97,642 agent records across six quarters and four market corridors.

In addition to the data insights, the report provides a 90-day action plan for implementing changes in your organization based on the findings.

Download your copy now to make the adjustments needed to compete effectively in the months ahead.