Did you just pass your Realtor licensing exam? Congratulations - you've just taken the first step towards a thriving career in real estate.

We’re sure right after you’ve passed the test, you have had hundreds of brokerages knocking on your door for interviews. They must all claim that they're the best real estate brokerage for beginners and they can provide you everything to help you succeed in your career. However, you shouldn’t fall for the tall promises that these brokerages make. Many are just looking to hire agents to boost their profits without offering the support and resources you truly need.

In this guide, we’ll tell you how you can steer clear of these fraudulent brokerages and find the right brokerage that will truly help you thrive in your real estate career. For that, you’ll need to ask these points to potential brokerages you’re considering to join -

1. Training programs provided

The real estate industry sees new rules and regulations, market trends, and technologies emerging every day. Realtors need to stay on top of these latest changes so that they can bring their A-game in every deal. Without this, you’ll struggle to keep up with the needs and demands of your real estate clients or to navigate new challenges effectively. 

The best real estate brokerages for beginners realize this and offer comprehensive training and support to their new agents. You’ll find many reputed brokerages who assign experienced agents as mentors to new agents who join their team. Apart from this initial mentorship, agents also receive regular training from their brokerages on different topics such as marketing strategies, technology use, client relationship management, and housing market analysis.

1. Commission structure they have in place

The commission structure is how a brokerage pays its team of real estate agents. It involves a percentage of the total commission that you earn from a sale. This commission percentage typically varies from brokerage to brokerage, the experience level of the agent, and the type of property being sold. The best real estate brokerages for beginners will be those that have a transparent and fair commission plan for their Realtors.

1. Lead generation system

Most reputable brokerages employ a range of strategies to generate leads for their team of Realtors to pursue. They may use any or all of these for this lead-generation task -

• Online marketing strategies (Social Media Marketing, PPC, SEO)

• Offline marketing strategies (Networking, Community Involvement)

• Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tools and any other lead-generation software

• Client and Partner Referrals

You need to ask the brokerage you’re considering to join if they provide such lead generation support - you’ll need this to grow your client base and increase sales. Clarify with the brokerage how they generate leads and how they share them with their team of Realtors. Some brokerages may assign leads based on performance while others might distribute them equally. The best real estate brokerage for beginners will usually have a fair and transparent process that ensures everyone has a chance to succeed.

1. Marketing support provided

Top brokerages usually design a professional website for all their new Realtors or give them access to the brokerage website. You can take the help of this website to market your property listings and share your biography and client testimonials. Many brokerages also provide you the support to build your presence on different social media platforms.

1. Tools and tech offered

The best real estate brokerage for beginners gives their team access to the latest tools and tech in the industry. This is because they know having the right technology can make a big difference in how their team run the real estate business and serves their clients.

One of the basic tools that every brokerage must provide to Realtors is a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system. This tool can help you manage the conversations with your leads and clients, and engage with them easily. Other tools that modern brokerages typically offer to Realtors are Transaction Management Software, Data Analytics Tools, Social Media Management Tools, and others.

1. Expectations in terms of productivity and performance

The best real estate brokerages for beginner real estate agents usually have specific sales goals or targets for their team. This means they will expect you to close a certain number of transactions within a set time frame. You should ask about these numbers to the brokerage in the very first interview to understand what and how you will be expected to perform.

If the brokerage mentions that they regularly evaluate the performance of their Realtors, take that as a green flag. These reviews will help you understand how well you’re doing in your real estate career and where you can improve.

Red Flags That Show This Brokerage Is Not Best for Beginners

When interviewing a potential brokerage, you should watch out for these red flags that might indicate that the brokerage has a bad reputation or unsupportive work environment -

• If the brokerage gives you an unrealistic target on the first interview, take that as a red flag. Reputable brokerages know that it takes time and effort for a new Realtor to get clients and close deals.

• If the brokerage fails to provide you with specific details about what their training program includes, it’s a red flag.

• Stay away from brokerages that promise you that you can earn a huge income right away if you join them. A reputable brokerage helps new Realtors set realistic goals instead of making grand promises.

• If the brokerage has a history of high turnover or negative reviews, this is a sign you need to look elsewhere.

• If the brokerage mentions they do not have a solid CRM system and other essential tools, it’s a warning sign.

• If the brokerage charges high desk fees but doesn’t provide the required guidance, support, and tools, it’s a sign they’re not the best brokerage for beginners.

• If the brokerage team isn’t answering your questions clearly or is showing little to no interest during the interview, it’s a sign they might not be there for you later.

• If the brokerage speaks poorly about their competitors in the interview and advises you against joining them, it’s a sign you shouldn’t join them too.

The Brokerage You Begin Your Career With Can Either Help or Hinder Your Growth

The brokerage you’ll be choosing to kickstart your career with is not just a place to hang your license. It’s a place that can impact your earning potential, professional development, and overall satisfaction as a Realtor. This is why take enough time to research what support and resources each brokerages provide and how they can help you soar high in your career. Making a wise choice now can lead to a fulfilling and successful real estate journey ahead.