How to Choose the Right Real Estate Brokerage as a New Agent

Getting your real estate license is exciting, but choosing the brokerage where you’ll hang that license may be one of the most important decisions you make at the beginning of your career.

And here’s something I think every brand-new agent needs to hear:

A 100% commission split means nothing if nobody teaches you how to close a deal.

It’s incredibly easy to get distracted by commission splits, fancy offices, recognizable company names, promises of leads, technology packages and recruiting presentations.

Those things can matter.

But when you’re brand new, your biggest concern probably shouldn’t be, “How much of my commission do I get to keep?”

It should be:

“Who is going to help me learn how to actually be a good real estate agent?”

Because getting your license and knowing how to successfully represent a buyer or seller are two very different things.

Let’s start with how the licensing process works in Texas, and then we’ll get into what you should look for when interviewing brokerages.

How to Become a Real Estate Agent in Texas

The Texas Real Estate Commission, commonly called TREC, regulates real estate licensing in Texas.

As of 2026, prospective Texas sales agents must complete several requirements before they can actively practice real estate.

1. Complete 180 Hours of Qualifying Real Estate Education

Texas requires applicants to complete 180 classroom hours of qualifying education consisting of six 30-hour courses:

• Principles of Real Estate I
• Principles of Real Estate II
• Law of Agency
• Law of Contracts
• Promulgated Contract Forms
• Real Estate Finance

These courses must be completed through an approved provider.

TREC currently requires 180 hours of qualifying education for an original Texas sales agent license.

My advice here is not to focus solely on finding the fastest possible real estate school.

You obviously want to pass the licensing exam, but try to actually learn the material along the way.

At the same time, understand that real estate school cannot possibly prepare you for every situation you’ll encounter once you begin working with real clients.

Real estate school teaches you how to become licensed.

Your brokerage, mentors, continuing education and real-world experience are where much of the practical learning begins.

2. Submit Your Application to TREC

Once you’ve completed the required education, you’ll submit your sales agent application through TREC.

TREC now uses its REALM Portal for licensing and sponsorship management.

You’ll also submit the necessary documentation and fees as part of the licensing process.

3. Complete Fingerprinting and the Background Check

Texas sales agent applicants must satisfy TREC’s fingerprint and background-check requirements.

You’ll receive instructions regarding fingerprinting during the application process.

4. Pass the Texas Real Estate Licensing Exam

Once TREC determines that you’re eligible to test, you’ll be authorized to take the Texas real estate licensing examination.

The exam includes both national and Texas-specific material.

Take studying seriously.

Passing real estate school does not necessarily mean you’re ready to walk into the licensing exam without additional preparation.

5. Find a Sponsoring Broker

This is where choosing a brokerage becomes extremely important.

Even after you’ve satisfied the licensing requirements, a Texas sales agent cannot perform licensed real estate activities without being sponsored by an active Texas real estate broker. An inactive sales agent cannot practice until that sponsorship is in place.

That means every Texas sales agent ultimately has to answer the question:

Where am I going to hang my license?

And I recommend that you begin interviewing brokerages before you even finish the licensing process.

Don't Choose a Brokerage Based Only on Commission Split

Commission split is understandably one of the first things new agents want to know.

Suppose Brokerage A offers you a 90/10 split while Brokerage B offers you a 70/30 split.

Brokerage A looks better on paper.

But what if Brokerage B provides extensive contract training, mentorship, lead-generation education and easy access to your broker?

And Brokerage A essentially gives you your login information and sends you on your way?

That changes the equation considerably.

There’s a phrase I think new agents should remember:

100% of zero is still zero.

Keeping more of every transaction becomes increasingly important once you know how to consistently generate and close transactions.

Your first challenge is learning how to do that.

Large Brokerage vs. Small Brokerage: Which Is Better?

One of the most common questions prospective agents ask is whether they should join a large national brokerage or a smaller independent brokerage.

There isn't one correct answer.

Either can be fantastic.

Either can also be a terrible fit.

You need to evaluate the particular brokerage rather than simply choosing based on the name on the building.

Advantages of a Large Brokerage

Large brokerages often have significant infrastructure already in place.

You may have access to:

• Formal training programs
• Large agent networks
• Technology platforms
• Marketing resources
• CRM systems
• Multiple offices
• Continuing education
• Mentoring programs
• Established systems and procedures
• Greater brand recognition

For a new agent, structure can be extremely helpful.

Having classes, systems and resources available can make those first few months feel considerably less overwhelming.

But there can also be drawbacks.

In a brokerage with hundreds or even thousands of agents, you need to find out how much individual attention you'll actually receive.

That beautiful training center isn't going to help very much when you have an urgent contract question on Saturday night.

Which brings us to one of the most important questions you can ask during an interview:

“When I need help during an actual transaction, who do I call?”

Advantages of a Smaller Brokerage

Smaller brokerages can sometimes offer a much more personalized experience.

You may have:

• Direct access to the broker
• More individualized training
• Closer relationships with other agents
• A stronger sense of community
• More personal mentorship
• Greater flexibility

That can be incredibly valuable for a new agent.

However, small does not automatically mean supportive.

Smaller companies may have fewer formal training programs, less technology, fewer administrative resources or fewer lead-generation systems.

There is another distinction that new agents sometimes miss:

A great real estate agent isn't necessarily a great trainer.

A broker can personally sell millions of dollars in real estate and still not have a good system for teaching brand-new agents.

You aren't simply looking for a successful broker.

You're looking for a brokerage that can help YOU become successful.

Questions to Ask When Interviewing Real Estate Brokerages

Remember that you're interviewing the brokerage just as much as they're interviewing you.

Don't simply sit through a recruiting presentation and ask where to sign.

Bring questions.

Here are some of the questions I would ask.

What Does Training Look Like During My First 90 Days?

Don't settle for:

“We have great training.”

Ask for specifics.

Is there a training calendar?

Are classes live or recorded?

How frequently are they offered?

Who teaches them?

Does the training cover contracts?

Lead generation?

Listings?

Buyer consultations?

Negotiations?

Inspections?

Appraisals?

Getting through your first transaction?

Ask them to show you what the training actually looks like.

Who Helps Me With My First Buyer or Seller?

Imagine getting your first phone call tomorrow:

“We want you to sell our house.”

Now what?

Who helps you prepare for that listing appointment?

Who reviews your CMA?

Who makes sure you have the correct forms?

Who helps you understand how to structure your listing?

The same applies when you're working with your first buyer.

You want to know who will be beside you while you're still learning.

Who Reviews My Contracts?

Contract mistakes can have serious consequences.

Ask whether your contracts will be reviewed and by whom.

Will your broker review them?

A mentor?

A transaction coordinator?

Another experienced agent?

Also ask how quickly you can typically get help when something is time-sensitive.

Who Do I Call After Hours?

This question matters more than many new agents realize.

Real estate happens evenings and weekends.

Offers don't always arrive Monday through Friday from nine to five.

Neither do inspection issues, appraisal problems, financing concerns and negotiation questions.

Ask what support looks like outside normal business hours.

Is There a Mentor Program?

If the brokerage has a mentorship program, ask how it works.

Find out:

• How many transactions mentorship lasts
• What the mentor receives financially
• Whether you choose your mentor
• Whether mentors attend appointments
• Whether they help with contracts
• Whether they assist with negotiations
• What responsibilities they actually have

Don't automatically view a mentor fee as a negative.

Giving up part of the commission on your first few transactions may be one of the smartest investments you make if you're receiving excellent guidance.

What Are ALL of the Fees?

Notice that I didn't ask only about the commission split.

Ask for the complete financial picture.

That could include:

• Commission splits
• Monthly brokerage fees
• Desk fees
• Technology fees
• Transaction fees
• E&O insurance
• Franchise fees
• Mentoring fees
• CRM charges
• Marketing expenses
• Training fees
• Annual fees

If there's a commission cap, ask exactly how it works.

Ask what happens financially once you reach the cap.

You should understand how much it actually costs to operate your business at that brokerage.

Does the Brokerage Provide Leads?

If the answer is yes, don't stop there.

Ask:

How many?

Where do the leads come from?

How are they distributed?

Are they internet leads?

Sign calls?

Relocation leads?

Open-house opportunities?

Are there referral fees involved?

Do all agents receive leads or only certain agents?

“Leads provided” can mean dramatically different things from one brokerage to another.

How Will You Teach Me to Find My Own Clients?

This may be even more important than whether the brokerage hands you leads.

You need to learn how to generate your own business.

Ask what kind of prospecting the brokerage teaches.

Does it focus on:

• Your sphere of influence
• Referrals
• Open houses
• Social media
• Video marketing
• Geographic farming
• Networking
• Online lead generation
• Cold calling
• Community involvement

You don't necessarily need to use every strategy.

But you need to learn how to build a business that isn't entirely dependent on someone else sending you leads.

Who Owns My Database and Leads?

This is something many agents don't think about until they're considering changing brokerages.

Ask what happens to:

• Your client database
• Brokerage-generated leads
• Your personal leads
• Pending transactions
• Listings
• Marketing materials

if you ever leave the company.

Know the policies before you join.

Can I Build My Own Personal Brand?

If building a long-term business matters to you, ask how much freedom you'll have to develop your own brand.

Can you have your own website?

Create educational content?

Build a YouTube channel?

Market yourself on social media?

Develop your own logo or visual identity?

Obviously, your advertising must comply with your brokerage's policies and Texas regulations, but you should understand how much independence you're going to have.

What Technology Is Included?

Technology can be useful, but don't let a huge technology package distract you from the fundamentals.

Ask what's included:

• CRM
• Website
• Electronic signature tools
• Transaction-management software
• CMA software
• Marketing platforms
• Lead-generation systems
• AI tools

Then ask yourself a more important question:

Will I actually use these tools?

Fifty software programs won't create a real estate business for you.

Can I Talk to Some of Your Newer Agents?

This might be one of my favorite questions.

Ask to speak with two or three agents who joined within the last year.

Then ask them:

Did the brokerage deliver what you were promised?

How easy is it to get help?

How good is the training?

What do you wish you'd known before joining?

And my favorite:

If you were choosing a brokerage again today, would you still choose this one?

The answers can be incredibly revealing.

Don't Evaluate the Logo. Evaluate the People.

People often ask questions such as:

“Should I join this national brokerage or that national brokerage?”

But two offices operating underneath the exact same brand can provide completely different experiences.

Leadership matters.

Your broker matters.

Your mentor matters.

The agents around you matter.

The local office culture matters.

So don't simply research the company.

Research the people you'll actually be working with.

If possible, attend a sales meeting or training event before committing.

Watch how people interact.

Do experienced agents help newer agents?

Can people ask questions without feeling stupid?

Does leadership seem accessible?

Does the culture feel collaborative or cutthroat?

Those observations may tell you more than the recruiting brochure ever will.

Watch Out for Recruiting Hype

Remember something else:

Brokerages recruit agents.

You are potentially part of their business model.

That doesn't mean a recruiting presentation is dishonest.

It simply means you should evaluate marketing claims rather than automatically accepting them.

If someone says:

“We have amazing training.”

Ask to see the training calendar.

If they say:

“We provide leads.”

Ask how many and how they're distributed.

If they say:

“We offer incredible support.”

Ask who you call when something goes wrong Saturday night.

Specific questions produce much more useful answers than marketing slogans.

What Should a New Agent Prioritize?

If I were starting my real estate career today, my priorities would look something like this:

1. Access to knowledgeable people when I need help
2. Practical contract and transaction training
3. Training on how to generate clients
4. Strong mentorship
5. A collaborative, professional culture
6. A reasonable compensation structure
7. Useful technology and marketing resources

Notice what's not at the top of that list:

The commission split.

Your priorities may change dramatically as your business grows.

An agent doing 40 transactions a year should probably evaluate brokerage economics differently than someone trying to close transaction number one.

That's okay.

Your first brokerage doesn't necessarily have to be your forever brokerage.

Choose the environment that makes sense for the stage you're in now.

Don't Forget Your Education After You Get Licensed

Getting licensed also isn't the end of your formal education requirements.

For a Texas sales agent's first renewal, TREC currently requires additional Sales Agent Apprentice Education, including 90 hours of qualifying education—one of which is a 30-hour Real Estate Brokerage course—plus Legal Update I and Legal Update II requirements.

But even beyond required education, continue learning.

Take contract classes.

Attend inspection trainings.

Learn about lending.

Understand title.

Learn how appraisals work.

Shadow experienced agents.

Read contracts until you're comfortable explaining them.

The goal shouldn't simply be meeting the minimum requirements.

The goal should be becoming competent enough that your clients can confidently trust you to guide them.

Your License Is the Beginning, Not the Finish Line

I think this is one of the biggest misconceptions about entering real estate.

Getting your license gives you permission to practice real estate.

It doesn't automatically make you a good real estate agent.

That comes through training, mentorship, transactions, mistakes, continuing education and experience.

You're going to encounter situations you never discussed in real estate school.

You're going to ask questions that feel embarrassingly basic.

You're going to learn something during one transaction and encounter something completely different during the next one.

That's part of becoming experienced.

And it's exactly why choosing the right brokerage matters so much when you're starting out.

Don't choose the brokerage with the flashiest recruiting presentation.

Don't choose simply because your friend works there.

And don't automatically choose whoever gives you the highest commission split.

Choose the brokerage that gives you the best opportunity to become genuinely good at your job.

Because your clients are trusting you with what may be one of the largest financial transactions of their lives.

They deserve an agent who knows what they're doing.

And building that kind of career begins long before your first closing.

It starts with what you do beyond the license.

About Tracy Bassett

Tracy Bassett is a Texas REALTOR® serving the Dallas-Fort Worth area and creator of Tracy Bassett | Beyond the License, where she shares practical education for new real estate agents about the parts of the business real estate school doesn't always teach.

Texas licensing requirements can change. Prospective license holders should always verify current licensing and education requirements directly with the Texas Real Estate Commission.