🚫 The Biggest Drawback of eXp Realty (What Every Agent Should Know)
If you’re a real estate agent exploring brokerage options, chances are you’ve come across eXp Realty. It’s one of the fastest-growing brokerages in the world, with over 85,000 agents and counting.
There’s a lot to like about eXp Realty — a lucrative rev share model, stock awards, cloud-based systems, no franchise fees, and more. But behind the hype, there’s one major drawback that every agent must understand before signing on the dotted line.
So, what’s eXp Realty’s biggest negative?
👉 It’s the lack of local support, real-world culture, and in-person mentorship.
📉 The Cloud Brokerage Advantage (and Pitfall)
On paper, eXp’s cloud brokerage model is brilliant:
- No costly brick-and-mortar offices
- No franchise fees eating away at your split
- Everything you need is online — training, broker support, team meetings, marketing tools
But here’s the catch: Real estate is still a local, people-first business. Many new and mid-level agents thrive on in-person learning, local camaraderie, and face-to-face mentorship.
When you join eXp, you don’t get the daily office environment that traditional brokerages provide. You won’t have a physical place to drop by and collaborate, or a local manager whose door is always open. Everything happens virtually — from team huddles to broker support to training sessions.
🗣️ Why Some Agents Struggle
Here’s the reality:
- New agents often flounder without hands-on guidance. It’s tough to build confidence and skills if your only connection to help is a Slack channel or a Zoom call.
- Solo agents can feel isolated without a local office community.
- Mid-career agents sometimes miss the culture, recognition, and energy that an in-person brokerage office offers.
If you’re highly self-motivated and love working independently from your home office, this may be no problem. In fact, many top producers love the flexibility and global network.
But if you need local accountability, thrive on hallway brainstorming, or love face-to-face collaboration, the eXp structure can feel cold and disconnected.
📊 The Numbers Don’t Lie
Plenty of agents join eXp for the stock and revenue share — and leave within a year because they feel isolated and unsupported.
Retention is strong among experienced agents and team leaders who bring their own systems, but single agents without a local network often bounce back to a traditional brokerage.
✅ How to Beat the Downside
Does this mean you should never join eXp Realty? Not necessarily! It just means you should go in eyes wide open. Here’s how to work around this drawback:
1️⃣ Find a strong sponsor or local team.
At eXp, your sponsor matters. The right sponsor can plug you into masterminds, local meet-ups, accountability groups, and a plug-and-play training system.
2️⃣ Get clear on your self-discipline.
If you work best with daily, face-to-face accountability, eXp may not be ideal unless you join an active local group within eXp that meets up in person.
3️⃣ Plan for your social needs.
Many eXp agents stay connected through local agent meet-ups, real estate investor groups, and co-working spaces.
🏷️ Final Verdict
The biggest negative of eXp Realty is simple: No local office = less in-person community.
If you thrive in a collaborative physical office, want daily desk-side mentorship, or crave that local culture, this can be a real downside.
But for independent-minded agents, seasoned pros with a network, or team leaders ready to build a downline — the benefits can easily outweigh this drawback.
👉 Key Takeaway
Don’t sign with eXp just for the revenue share and stock.
Join for the right reasons, with the right support, and you’ll be positioned to succeed.
Want a clear look at whether eXp Realty is the right fit for you?
I can help you compare your options honestly — drop your questions below or reach out for an agent-to-agent chat.