When I first looked at eXp Realty, I wasn’t convinced.

A real estate brokerage without a traditional office? A company operating in the cloud? Not for me. I liked going to the office when I felt like it and hanging with other agents there. At the time, eXp felt a little too unconventional for me. I liked having a physical place where agents could meet, learn, collaborate, and occasionally enjoy a party that had absolutely nothing to do with contracts or commission statements.

But a year or two later, I took another look. This time, I saw freedom, opportunity, collaboration, ownership, and a business model that aligned with the kind of real estate company I wanted to build.

How it Started

I originally hung my real estate license with Coldwell Banker in Hendersonville, and then moved to Premier Sotheby’s International Realty in Asheville a couple of years later. It was a respected luxury brand, and I’m grateful for what I learned there, and at Coldwell Banker too. Still, I found myself wanting more from a brokerage in leadership, training, mindset and culture. 

And, if I’m being completely honest, I was bored and really wanted to do my own thing in real estate here in Arden. I like building things.  I had learned to create my own opportunities, nurture relationships, and generate my own leads. What I really needed was a brokerage that would support my entrepreneurial spirit - not define it for me!

Every brokerage has something valuable to offer, and no single model is right for every agent. The key is finding the place that fits your goals, values, personality, and vision for the future.  For me, that place turned out to be eXp Realty.

How it's Going

Exp gives me the freedom to use my own logo and create a brand that is personal and authentic to me.

At the same time, I didn’t necessarily want to carry every responsibility of operating a completely independent brokerage forever. I wanted the best of both worlds: the freedom of an independent brand paired with the support, resources, training, technology, and reach of a larger organization.

That was one of the biggest reasons I joined eXp Realty in 2019.

eXp allowed me to continue building Journey Realty Group as my own while operating under the eXp brokerage. I can express my personality, pursue my vision, and grow the business in a way that feels true to me, as long as I remain compliant with brokerage and professional standards, of course.

In other words, I got freedom with a framework. That was exactly what I wanted.

More Than One Way to Build Income

Another major attraction for me is the multiple ways to generate income.

Traditional real estate often places nearly all the financial pressure on the next transaction. If you aren’t closing, you aren’t earning. eXp offers agents additional income opportunities through its stock programs, revenue share, mentorship and others. You can learn more about that here. 

EXP offers an 80/20 split to all solo agents, new or seasoned, with a $16,000 annual cap. Once you reach that cap, you earn 100% commission for the remainder of the anniversary year! Teams and independent brokerages have even lower caps!

I also value eXp’s stock opportunities. Because the brokerage is a publicly traded company, agents earn equity.  We aren’t simply agents working beneath a corporate brand - we are actually agent owners.

Then there is revenue share, which is different than Profit Share, and I'll let you research that difference yourself. For every agent you bring to eXp, the company pays you revenue share on each of their transactions. It doesn't come out of the agent's portion, but out of the company's revenue. 

Training on Demand

The training at eXp has been another major draw for me, because I am an educational junkie. Is that a thing? Lol

To say that agents can access live and on-demand education covering a wide variety of subjects is an understatement. There are opportunities to learn from top producing agents and  team leaders from around the world who are actively building businesses in today’s market. 

The collaborative culture is one of my favorite parts of the company. eXp attracts highly successful agents from all over, and many of them openly share their knowledge, systems, strategies, and experience with the rest of us.

Real estate can sometimes feel like an industry where everyone guards their best ideas. At eXp, I’ve experienced a culture in which successful agents understand that helping other agents improve makes the entire organization stronger, and therefore affects everyone's bottom line in a positive way.

Leadership With a Standard of Excellence

The quality of eXp’s leadership was another deciding factor for me.

I wanted to be part of a company whose leaders understood what was happening in local, national, and international markets. I wanted leadership that delivered value, encouraged innovation, and recognized that the company succeeds when its agents succeed.

What has impressed me most is the standard of excellence. The training, leadership, technology, and worldwide conferences are energetic, polished, and high quality. The events are informative, inspiring, and a ton of fun.

eXp has also developed a significant international presence, giving agents access to a truly global community of real estate professionals.

But What About the Office?

My original hesitation about eXp was legitimate: I like having a physical office.

I enjoy meeting with other agents in person. I like live training, conversations that happen naturally, and opportunities to celebrate together. A cloud-based brokerage offers tremendous flexibility, but I still wanted a local gathering place.

So, I secured my own office space right here in Arden, positioned between Asheville and Hendersonville. Now I have the global resources and flexibility of eXp along with a physical space where our local agents can meet, learn, collaborate, and celebrate!

Sometimes the answer isn’t choosing between two options. Sometimes you build the combination that works for you.  For me, that means a cloud-based brokerage AND a real office. 

Is eXp Realty Right for Every Agent?

No brokerage is the perfect fit for every person.

I learned something valuable at each brokerage I joined, and those experiences helped shape the agent and business owner I am today. I don’t believe agents should make a move simply because someone else tells them to. They should understand the model, ask thoughtful questions, compare it with their goals, and decide whether it supports the business and life they want to create.

For me, joining eXp Realty provided the freedom to work the way I want to work, the training to continue growing, the opportunity to develop additional income streams, and a collaborative community backed by strong leadership.

Curious About eXp? Let’s Have an Honest Conversation

If you’re interested in learning more about eXp Realty, I would be happy to share my experience-the benefits, the practical details, and the questions you should ask before making a decision. 

This doesn’t have to be a sales pitch or a high-pressure recruiting conversation. Sometimes it simply helps to talk with someone who has worked under several brokerage models and understands that the right choice depends on the individual agent.

To learn more about eXp Realty and the opportunities available, click HERE.

You may also contact me directly for a confidential, no-pressure conversation.

Your brokerage should do more than hold your license. It should support you in building the business you envision for yourself.