Real: A Tech-Centric Real Estate Brokerage Revolutionizing the Industry

Real has set out to recognize the real estate industry by offering a modern, tech-forward approach appealing to today’s increasingly mobile and tech-savvy agents. Unlike traditional brokerages operating out of physical office spaces with high overhead costs, Real takes a fully virtual approach, giving agents the flexibility to work where they want, when they want.

For real estate professionals craving a better work-life balance, Real’s platform offers the freedom to build a thriving career without being tethered to a brick-and-mortar office.

Key Takeaways

• Real is a fully mobile-based real estate brokerage, offering flexibility and financial opportunities to agents.
• The brokerage minimizes physical office spaces, lowering overhead costs and passing savings to agents.
• Real’s revenue-sharing model provides agents with opportunities for passive income through referrals.
• Innovative tech tools like the Real mobile app and third-party integrations such as Chime CRM and Skyslope benefit agents.

The Real Advantage

At its core, Real is designed for agents who value independence and flexibility but still want access to tools and support. Real provides the technology to make each part of the process seamless. It’s a mobile-first brokerage that allows agents to manage leads, marketing efforts and transactions entirely through the app. The power of a fully equipped office is in the palm of your hand.

The focus on technology to streamline the entire real estate process really sets Real apart.

As an agent, you have everything you need to succeed, with tools like Skyslope for paperless transactions, Chime CRM for managing clients and leads, and the Real mobile app for day-to-day options.

By eliminating the costs associated with maintaining a traditional office space, Real can pass the savings directly to agents, letting them keep more of their hard-earned commissions while also offering financial incentives like revenue-sharing opportunities.

Overall, Real isn’t just a brokerage—it’s a platform for real estate professionals to take control of their careers. By leveraging the latest technology, agents can spend less time on administrative tasks and more on selling properties and building relationships.

Beginnings & History of Real

Founded in 2014 by a group of forward-thinking real estate and technology innovators, Real was built with a vision to empower real estate agents through technology and provide a more flexible, efficient way to manage their careers.

Real rapidly expanded and gained traction in markets across the United States.

Through multiple rounds of venture funding, the company has raised millions, enabling further technology development. With solid financial backing, Real has solidified its position as one of the top virtual brokerages in the country.

Key Features of Real

Some of the main features of Real include:

Virtual Brokerage with Lower Overhead

Real operates primarily as a virtual brokerage, significantly reducing overhead costs associated with maintaining physical office spaces. 

Unlike traditional brokerages that rely on large and often expensive offices, Real keeps its physical presence to a minimum. They only establish offices where they’re required by law, with a virtual model that gives agents the flexibility to work from any location they choose.

By cutting down on office costs, Real passes these savings directly to agents so they can keep a larger portion of their commissions. Agents enjoy the benefits of higher earnings but still have access to top-tier broker support when needed.

The on-demand support system ensures agents have access to expert advice and guidance regardless of where they’re located, creating a seamless work environment without the need for a traditional office.

Mobile Technology

At the core of Real’s operations is the innovative mobile app, which acts as a central hub for everything agents need to manage their business. 

The Real mobile app lets agents manage their leads from their phones, handle transactions, communicate with clients, access marketing tools, and more.

The all-in-one app ensures agents can stay productive and responsive while they’re on the go without being tied to a desktop or physical office.

Real’s Tech Stack

Real is built on a robust tech stack designed to make agents work more efficiently and effectively. 

Tools available to agents at Real include:

• Marketing suite: Real offers a comprehensive set of productivity and collaboration tools that help agents promote services and elevate their brand. The suite includes customizable marketing materials, branding assets and templates that are easy to use. Agents can create polished marketing campaigns quickly.
• Skyslope: This is a paperless transaction management platform that allows you to manage deals from start to finish while staying compliant with legal and industry standards. The platform eliminates the need for paper documents, enabling agents to track deal status, get electronic signatures and submit files for review in a secure digital space.
• Chime CRM: Real integrates Chime, a third-party CRM system. As you grow your business, you can streamline client communications. Chime includes tools for lead generation, IDX listings, team management and more. Through the CRM platform, you can track interactions with clients, nurture leads, and efficiently manage your pipeline.

Passive Income Through Referrals

A standout feature of Real is the lucrative referral program, which provides agents with the chance to earn passive income when they recruit other agents to join the brokerage.

Every agent an existing agent refers to can earn up to $4,000 annually as a capping agent. These agents hit a set sales volume threshold.

The referral income comes from 5% of the total sales generated by the referred agent until they reach their cap.

Once an agent refers ten producing agents, they join Real’s elite revenue-sharing plan, unlocking even more opportunities for passive income. With this plan, the agent can earn a revenue share from up to five tiers of referred agents, creating a residual income stream.

The system rewards agents for growing the Real network and also incentivizes them to support and mentor their recruits for long-term success.

Pricing & Compensation

As mentioned, one of the biggest perks of working with Real is the commission structure, which is designed to let you keep more of your earned money. Since the overhead costs are minimal, you pocket a larger chunk of your commission compared to traditional brokerages, and the savings are passed directly to agents.

It doesn’t stop there.

The revenue-sharing program sweetens the deal as well.

You get to keep more of what you make, but you can also build a passive income stream when you help grow the real community.

Pros and Cons of Working at Real

The pros of working at Real include:

• Lower costs and higher earnings: You aren’t paying for unnecessary office expenses or random fees, meaning more commission in your pocket.
• Leading-edge technology: Real makes life easier for agents, giving you access to a full suite of tools to help with everything from managing leads to closing deals. With their mobile app and integrations, you’re set up to work smarter instead of harder.
• Referral-based passive income: Who doesn’t want to make extra money without putting in extra hours? That’s what the referral program facilitates. Once the agents you bring into the fold start producing, you keep earning.
• Strong virtual community: Despite being a virtual brokerage, Real has done a solid job of building a community. Between networking events, online training and support channels, there’s always a way to connect and get help when you need it.

Cons

The downsides of Real can include:

• Less face-to-face interaction: If you love popping into the office and chatting with colleagues, the virtual setup could be tough for you. It’s great for flexibility, but if you like the in-person vibe, it’s something to consider.
• Requires tech savvy: Real leans heavily into tech, so if you’re not comfortable with digital tools, CRMs and apps, it could take some time to learn. If tech isn’t your thing, it can feel like a stretch initially.
• Initial learning curve: Getting used to the virtual model and all the tools offered by Real can take time. It’s not necessarily difficult, but there’s a period of adjustment where you need to get familiar with how things work.

Who Would Benefit from Real

You might benefit from Real if you’re one of the following:

• A tech-savvy agent: If you love digital tools and apps and are leveraging the latest tech to make your life easy, Real might be right up your alley. You’ll thrive in an environment built around a mobile-first platform. You’re always ready to work no matter where you are.
• An agent seeking flexibility: If you want total freedom, Real lets you work from anywhere, so you have the utmost flexibility in how, when and where you work.
• An experienced agent with a strong client base: If you’ve been in real estate for a while and you have an established client base, Real’s commission structure can help you keep more of your earnings. If you’re already killing it and want to cut down on fees and keep more of what you earn, you might find Real is a perfect fit.

Who Might Not Be a Good Fit

In a couple of situations, Real might not be the best fit for you:

• You’re a new agent: If you’re starting and need hands-on mentorship or in-office training, something other than Real might work for your needs. The virtual model is great from a flexibility standpoint, but it comes with a different level of in-person guidance than you might get from a traditional brokerage. Real does offer extensive online training and support, but if you thrive on face-to-face coaching, it’s easy to feel lost in the beginning.
• You’re seeking face-to-face interaction: Everyone’s different, and you might love the energy of a bustling office or thrive on chatting with colleagues in person. If that’s you, you could find the virtual setup isolating.

Comparison to Other Virtual Brokerage

When comparing Real to other virtual brokerages, there are a few key differences that could make it a good option for agents.

Real vs. eXp Realty

• Technology and tools: Both Real and eXp Realty emphasize technology, but Real takes a mobile-first approach, offering all agents tools in a single app, making it easy to manage your business from anywhere. eXp Realty provides a virtual platform where agents can attend training meetings and collaborate in a 3D virtual environment that may feel less intuitive if you prefer simplicity on your mobile device.
• Commission structure: Both Real and eXp offer generous commission splits, but Real’s lower overhead costs do give it an edge in terms of passing savings on to agents. eXp Realty has an 80/20 commission split with a $16,000 annual cape, while Real offers an 85/15 split with a cap varying by market but is generally lower, so agents keep more of their earnings.
• Revenue sharing: Both companies offer revenue-sharing programs, but Real’s structure may appeal more to agents focused on building passive income. Real’s 5-tier revenue-sharing model lets agents earn up to $4,000 annually for each agent they prefer. The eXp revenue-sharing model also offers passive income but requires more complexity and larger teams to maximize earning potential.

Real vs. Fathom Realty

• Technology and tools: Fathom Realty also promotes a virtual model, but its tech stack is less robust than Real’s. Fathom offers basic marketing tools and transaction management, but Real goes well beyond these.
• Commission structure: Fathom Realty charges a flat fee per transaction rather than a traditional commission split. This could appeal to agents closing fewer but high-value deals. Real, on the other hand, operates with an 85/15 split and a lower cap, which is ideal for agents consistently closing deals who want the flexibility to earn more after they hit their cap.
• Revenue sharing: Fathom doesn’t have a revenue-sharing program.

Real vs. Compass

• Technology and tools: Compass positions itself as a tech-driven brokerage, but it leans more toward high-end markets and often focuses on offering agents proprietary technology like CRM. Real’s mobile-first platform provides similar tools and offers the added convenience of managing everything on the go. Compass tends to cater to agents in luxury markets, while Real’s tools are accessible to agents in any market.
• Commission structure: Compass operates more like a traditional brokerage with high commission splits and agent fees. Real tends to offer more financial flexibility and higher income potential, especially for agents not in luxury markets.
• Revenue sharing: Compass doesn’t offer a revenue-sharing program.

Conclusion

Real offers a modern, tech-driven real estate experience perfect for agents craving flexibility, efficiency and financial growth. You can keep more of your earnings and get access to cutting-edge tools. Plus, the platform creates opportunities for passive income through the referral program.

It might not be the best fit for agents preferring hands-on or in-person interactions, but it can be a game-changer if you’re tech-savvy, experienced and ready to embrace a fully mobile, virtual work environment.