The best brokerage for new real estate agents in Florida.
The first brokerage you join shapes the next 5-10 years of your career. Here's what actually matters for new agents anywhere in Florida, from Jacksonville and St. Augustine (our hub) to Tampa, Orlando and the Panhandle, and the honest case for and against joining Momentum as your first stop.
What new agents actually need.
The single most-cited statistic in real estate is also the most damning: 71% of newly-licensed agents don't sell a house in their first year. That's not a failure of agents — it's a failure of the industry's training and onboarding model.
Most new agents join the largest local franchise they can find. The pitch sounds right: "You'll have training, mentorship, leads, and a recognizable brand." In practice, large-franchise training is often a recorded video library, mentorship is competitive (the mentor is also your competitor), leads go to top producers first, and the brand belongs to the company, not to you.
What new agents actually need: a real business model, real training they can apply, the financial structure to survive while building a pipeline, and the freedom to build their personal brand rather than promoting someone else's.
| What You Need | Most Brokerages Provide | What Actually Helps |
|---|---|---|
| Real training | Pre-recorded video library | Live cohort + accountability |
| Lead generation | Floor time + company leads (rarely come) | Systems to generate your own |
| Mentorship | "Assigned mentor" (often inactive) | Active broker access + peer support |
| Affordable cost structure | Splits + fees + monthly | Low or no overhead until you produce |
| Brand-building support | Use the company brand | Build YOUR personal brand |
| Tech that works | Proprietary platforms (you'll abandon) | Industry-standard tools |
| Honest expectations | "You'll make $80K your first year" | "Most agents fail. Here's why and how to survive." |
These differences typically determine whether a new agent makes it past year two.
Why Momentum works for new agents (and when it doesn't).
Momentum's cost structure was designed for the reality of new-agent income: low overhead, no monthly fees, no monthly minimum production requirements. A new agent producing $30K GCI in their first year keeps almost all of it after the $12K cap — and many newer agents won't even hit cap their first year, so they pay nothing on the split structure.
Onboarding is a 30-email systematic campaign, not a single overwhelming first week. New agents get a 15-minute strategy session with us before they sign — we'd rather lose a bad-fit agent before they join than have them fail after.
Tech is Dotloop and BrokerSumo — industry-standard, what every other professional uses, no proprietary lock-in. You learn tools you can use anywhere, not just here.
Where Momentum is NOT the right fit for new agents: If you need hand-holding through every transaction, you'd be better at a large franchise with a designated newbie program. If you need company-generated leads handed to you, we're not that — we teach you to generate leads, we don't give them out. If you're not willing to actually do the work of building a business (cold outreach, sphere marketing, content creation), no brokerage will save you.
| Scenario | Momentum | Typical KW Market Center | eXp |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0 production year 1 | $0 paid | ~$1,200-$3,600 in monthly fees | ~$1,020 in monthly fees ($85/mo) |
| $50K GCI year 1 | ~$38K net (below cap) | ~$33K (split + fees) | ~$36K |
| $100K GCI year 1 | $88K net (cap hit at $12K) | ~$70K-$76K | ~$80K |
| $200K GCI year 1 (rare) | $188K net | ~$160K-$172K | ~$175K |
Estimated first-year economics assuming the production levels noted. Real numbers vary by individual contract and any incentive structures.
If you're a new agent in NE Florida, the conversation we want to have isn't "come join us." It's "here's what actually has to happen for you to succeed in this business, with brutal honesty about your odds." If after that conversation Momentum is the right fit, great. If you'd be better served elsewhere, we'll tell you. Start with a 15-minute call or read the book Jon wrote specifically for agents figuring out their career path.
Statistics on first-year agent attrition drawn from NAR, Florida DBPR licensing data, and industry research. Cost comparisons drawn from public franchise filings, recent Momentum new-agent transition interviews, and competitor public materials. Always verify current costs with any brokerage you're considering before signing.
Primary sources: Florida DBPR new license data · Momentum Realty new-agent transitions · Industry attrition research. Data accuracy reflects Momentum Realty's best available information as of the last update date.
Important: Information on this page is for general informational purposes only and is not financial, legal, tax, or insurance advice. Always consult a licensed professional for guidance specific to your situation.
Affiliated Business Arrangement: The principal owners of Momentum Realty, Jon Brooks and Brittany Brooks, have a 50% ownership interest in Titan Title Services LLC. You are not required to use Titan Title Services LLC. There are frequently other settlement service providers available with similar services; you are free to shop around to determine that you are receiving the best services and rate. See full disclosures →
Last updated: October 2026. Next refresh: January 2027.
The best brokerage for new agents, market by market.
Florida is not one market. A new agent in Jacksonville competes against 320+ Momentum colleagues who already know the beaches, St. Johns and Clay; a new agent in Tampa or Orlando joins a referral network that sends inbound buyers from our statewide housing data pages. The terms are the same everywhere: 100% commission, one $12,000 annual cap, no desk fees, no franchise fee, a 30-email onboarding sequence and a broker who answers the phone. What changes is the local price point, the volume, and the number of Momentum agents already closing deals there. Each market page below shows the live listing count, median price, Google demand for our pages in that city, and the Momentum agents based there.
All 150 Florida markets where you can join Momentum → · Jacksonville-specific: the $12K cap explained, 100% commission in Jacksonville.
How a new agent should compare Florida brokerages
- Total cost at 6 and 12 closings. Model your first-year income at a realistic 6 deals and a strong 12. A 70/30 split with a $20K cap costs a new agent far more than a flat $12K cap once you pass about four average-priced closings; below that, the split can be cheaper, so ask what happens if you only close three.
- Who actually trains you. Ask to sit in on one live training session before you sign, and ask who answers the phone at 7 p.m. on a Saturday when a contract question comes up.
- Where the leads come from. Franchise lead programs usually route to top producers. Ask how a brand-new agent receives a lead in month one, and whether the brokerage owns its own traffic. Momentum's housing-data pages generate inbound inquiries that are routed to agents by market.
- Exit terms. Read the independent-contractor agreement for pending-deal treatment, listing ownership and any fee to leave. A brokerage that is confident you will stay does not need to charge you to go.
- Local proof. Pull the brokerage's sold-to-list ratio and days on market in your county from the MLS, not the recruiting brochure. Momentum publishes its numbers on every market page.
Looking at a specific brokerage?
Direct head-to-head comparisons with the major options in Florida.