Real Estate Agent Not Making Money? Here Is What to Change
If you are working hard and still not getting paid, it is usually one of five fixable problems.
Many real estate agents not making money are working hard. The problem is usually the system, not the effort. Here are the five issues we see most often, and how to fix them. Talk to Tanya about real estate agents not making money.
Why Are Real Estate Agents Not Making Money? Quick Answer
The most common causes are no consistent prospecting pipeline, weak follow-up, too much of each commission going to splits and fees, no clear niche, and no coaching or accountability. New agents can make money faster by working their sphere daily, hosting open houses, following up systematically, choosing a niche, and joining a brokerage with low fixed costs and real coaching.
Five Reasons Agents Struggle, and the Fix
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| No pipeline | Daily prospecting block and a CRM |
| No follow-up | A written follow-up plan for every lead |
| Paying too much to the brokerage | Compare your total annual cost, not just the split |
| No niche | Pick a neighborhood, buyer type or property type |
| No accountability | Weekly coaching and numbers review |
How to Make Money as a New Real Estate Agent
Talk to your sphere, host open houses, follow up every week, and get help on your first deals. Elevate’s new-agent roadmap is built around reaching your first three closings. See the best brokerage for new agents.
Watch: Agents Who Made the Move
Realty ONE Group Elevate Fees at a Glance
| Commission split | None |
|---|---|
| Broker fee | $399 per closing, charged to the buyer or seller |
| Transaction fee | $0 to $2,200 per closing, based on sale price |
| Annual cap | $11,111; both fees count toward it, then you keep 100% for the rest of the year |
| Desk and royalty fees | None |
| Technology | Bring your own tech for $0, or the optional ONE Toolchest suite for $99/month |
| Revenue share | $75 per closing by each agent you refer, until that agent caps |
See the full transaction fee table and the Top Producer Cap Transfer Program for agents switching mid-year.
Why Realtors Choose Realty ONE Group Elevate
Realty ONE Group Elevate is a Realty ONE Group brokerage serving Northeast Florida from Fernandina Beach to Daytona Beach, with offices in Jacksonville and St. Augustine. Broker/Owner Tanya Cosmini has 20 years of real estate experience and nearly $200 million in career sales, and she works on a referral-only basis, so she does not compete with her own agents for listings and buyers. On Homes.com she shows 83 closed sales totaling $41.8 million over the prior five years and a 5.0-star rating from 22 reviews.
Behind the local office is Realty ONE Group International, named the No. 1 real estate franchise in Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 for the fifth year in a row in January 2026, with more than 20,000 real estate professionals in over 450 offices across about 30 countries.
Talk to Tanya About Your Next Move
Send a quick note and Tanya will reach out to set up a confidential, no-pressure conversation. Or pick a time on her calendar.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is it hard to make money as a real estate agent?
It takes time to build a pipeline. Many agents take six months or more to close their first deals.
How long until a new agent makes money?
Often three to six months from first conversation to first commission, depending on effort and market.
Should I quit real estate if I am not making money?
Look at your systems and costs first. Many agents turn things around with a plan, coaching and lower fees.
Keep Exploring
- What Realtors look for in a brokerage
- Brokerage for Realtors who invest
- Brokerage for house flippers
- Brokerage with real broker support
- Best brokerage for new agents
- Brokerage culture
- Questions to ask a brokerage
- Brokerage with office space
- Our fees
- Mentorship program
- Tech options
Realty ONE Group Elevate is a licensed real estate brokerage in Florida. Fees and programs described here are current as of November 2026 and may change; ask for the current independent contractor agreement before joining. This page is for informational and recruiting purposes only and is not legal, tax or investment advice. Equal Housing Opportunity.
Our Family of Companies
- Homes for sale in St. Augustine and Nocatee with Tanya Cosmini, Broker/Owner
- Title Company of Florida, title insurance, escrow, and closings statewide, including investor double closings
- Rental Property Partners, property management in Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and Ponte Vedra
Affiliated business disclosure: Realty ONE Group Elevate is owned by Tanya Cosmini. Title Company of Florida is owned by her husband, Sam Gorniak, and Rental Property Partners is owned within the same family. Because of these family relationships, the owners may benefit when you use more than one of these companies. You are not required to use any of them and are free to choose other providers.