Market Pulse
The latest Courted study surveys the nation’s top 100 residential brokerage brands by volume, covering roughly 90% of on-market agents. The year 2025 yielded a pivotal figure: 16% of agents changed brokerages, translating to about 230,000 people who moved brands. The rate echoes 2024 and places brokerage churn in a long-running band that has persisted since 2020.
The courted: agents changed brokerages statistic sits at 16% for 2025, a pace that mirrors recent years and keeps turnover at the center of brokerage planning. Industry executives say the stability of the percentage hides a more dynamic talent landscape beneath the surface.
Key Takeaways
- Churn pace: 16% of agents changed brokerages in 2025, about 230,000 movers.
- Sales share: Movers accounted for 15% of total annual volume, roughly $590 billion.
- Sales bands among movers: 31% reported $1 million to $5 million in sales, while 76% fell in the $1 million to $25 million range.
- Workforce dynamics: Approximately 46% of the agent corps are new, in transition, or leaving in any given year.
Why this matters for lending
Brokerage churn reverberates through the mortgage market. When agents switch firms, borrower access points and lender relationships can shift quickly, altering referral patterns and the pace of loan originations. For loan officers, the turnover translates into a moving target for pipeline forecasts and pricing strategies.
The phrase courted: agents changed brokerages is more than a staffing headline; it signals refashioned referral networks and the ongoing renegotiation of trusted lender partnerships as borrowers come under new advisory relationships.
Data snapshot
- Coverage: Top brands analyzed by Courted represent roughly 90% of on-market residential agents by volume.
- Annual flow: In any given year, roughly 15% of agents join the industry, 15% depart, and 16% swap brokerages.
- Impact scale: Despite turnover, the overall market remains resilient, with sales volumes and unit transactions continuing to grow in many regions.
Regional and brand dynamics
The concentration of movers skews toward mid-market brands with annual sales in the $1 million to $5 million range, presenting both opportunities and risks for lenders who rely on regional networks and local knowledge. High-earning agents, defined as those with more than $1 million in annual sales, accounted for a majority of movers, underscoring how top producers influence both brokerage and lending ecosystems.
Of the movers, 76% report sales between $1 million and $25 million, highlighting the weight that this tier carries in overall market activity. Lenders should watch how these agents’ transitions affect referral patterns, product mix, and service expectations as the market evolves.
Industry voices
Sean Soderstrom, Courted co-founder and CEO, framed the numbers as a reminder that turnover is a built-in feature of the brokerage market. “Turnover is a built-in feature of the brokerage market, making retention as critical as recruiting,” he said in a recent briefing. “The best firms invest in signals that keep agents engaged and productive across departures, transitions, and arrivals.”
Implications for the road ahead
For lenders, the churn trend translates into a more complex originations landscape. When agents swap brokerages, borrowers may encounter different loan products, underwriting approaches, and service expectations. Mortgage teams must adapt by strengthening onboarding with new agents, clarifying product choices early, and maintaining flexible timelines to accommodate shifting referral networks.
In practice, this means lenders keep a close watch on broker-relationship health, with an emphasis on consistency in pricing, service levels, and communication. The market’s resilience hinges on how well originators can adapt to the changing face of brokerages while protecting the borrower experience.
What courted: agents changed brokerages signals mean for 2026
As 2026 unfolds, lenders should expect continued churn pressure, even as overall housing demand remains robust in many markets. Banks and nonbank lenders that invest early in agent integration—through training, tooling, and streamlined referral processes—stand to gain more predictable volume than those relying on traditional, slower channels.
Executives say the takeaway is clear: recruitment and retention are two sides of the same coin. A strong strategy blends onboarding, ongoing education, and competitive incentives to help agents weather store-brand shifts without sacrificing client outcomes.
Data in context
Ultimately, courted: agents changed brokerages data illuminate how talent mobility shapes lending dynamics, borrower behavior, and market share. In a year where 16% of agents changed brokerages and $590 billion in volume rode on those moves, lenders have both a risk and an opportunity—maintain steady service while welcoming new partnerships that can unlock value for borrowers and communities alike.
Discussion