Why Real Brokerage Caught My Attention After Years in Real Estate

After nearly 20 years in real estate, it takes more than a good presentation to get my attention.

I want to know what a brokerage looks like in real life.

Can I get what I need when I’m in the middle of a transaction? Can I work from anywhere? Can I get support when something comes up? And does the model actually fit the way I run my business?

Those were some of the questions I had when I started looking at Real Brokerage.

What first caught my attention was pretty simple: the technology and the flexibility.

I work in both California and Texas, so my business doesn’t happen inside one office. I needed a brokerage that could work wherever I happened to be.

My Business Doesn’t Live in One Building

I’m licensed in California and Texas.

My home base is in the Lake Travis area, but I also travel back to Southern California to work with clients throughout the Inland Empire and High Desert.

That changes what I need from a brokerage.

A traditional office can be great when most of your business is centered around one area. You have a place to meet clients, talk with other agents, ask questions, and stop by when you need help.

But my business is spread across two states.

One week I may be helping a seller in Victorville. At the same time, I could be talking with a buyer looking in Lakeway or helping someone figure out a move between California and Texas.

An office in one city only solves part of that.

So one of my biggest questions became:

Can I run my business wherever I am?

With Real, the answer was much closer to yes.

The Technology Was What Got My Attention

Technology is not exciting to me just because it’s technology.

It has to make my job easier.

Real was built around its own platform, reZEN, which agents use to manage transactions, documents, commissions, and other parts of the business.

That stood out to me because I didn’t want another system that only worked when I was sitting at a desk.

I wanted something I could use while traveling, between appointments, or while working from another state.

What That Looks Like in Real Life

Let’s say I’m in California for a listing appointment and something comes up with one of my Texas transactions.

I don’t want to wait until I get back to an office.

I want to pull out my phone, see what’s happening, handle what I need to handle, and keep moving.

That’s where the technology started to make sense for me.

Real also has Leo, its AI assistant, which is built into its technology platform to help agents find information and handle different tasks.

And while I use AI in my business, I don’t believe AI replaces experience or makes someone a better real estate agent.

It’s a tool.

For me, good technology should save time and make the behind-the-scenes part of the business easier. That matters when you’re managing clients, transactions, marketing, travel, and two different markets.

But I Did Worry About Giving Up an Office

This was probably my biggest hesitation.

I had worked around traditional offices for years, and there are things about having an office that are genuinely useful.

You can walk down the hall and ask someone a question.

You hear other agents talking through problems.

You have people around you.

There’s built-in structure and a place to meet clients.

Those things matter.

And I think this is something agents should really think about before moving to a cloud-based brokerage.

If you need someone physically around you every day to keep you accountable, a remote model can feel very different.

Nobody is going to walk past your desk and ask how many calls you made today.

You have to be willing to run your own business.

What I Found Instead

Over time, I realized I wasn’t using an office the way I once did anyway.

Most client meetings happen at the property, over coffee, by phone, or on Zoom.

That is especially true with relocation clients.

When someone in California is thinking about moving to Texas, we may start talking long before they ever get on a plane. A conference room isn’t what they need from me.

They need someone who can answer questions, explain the process, understand both markets, and be available even when we aren’t in the same place.

The same goes for community.

At a cloud-based brokerage, connection doesn’t automatically happen because everyone shares the same building.

You have to participate.

You have to reach out, join conversations, attend events, build relationships, and actually use the community around you.

That takes a little more intention.

For me, the flexibility ended up being more valuable than having a physical office.

Who I Think This Model Fits

I don’t think every brokerage is right for every agent.

And I don’t think Real is automatically the right choice just because the technology works for me.

A remote, technology-based brokerage may make sense if you already generate your own business, travel often, work in more than one market, or prefer running your business from your phone and laptop.

It can also make sense for agents who value flexibility and don’t need an office to stay productive.

But it may be a harder adjustment if you rely heavily on office floor time, brokerage-provided leads, daily face-to-face accountability, or learning by sitting around experienced agents every day.

There’s nothing wrong with either style.

It comes down to how you work best.

That’s why I always tell agents to look beyond the commission split when comparing brokerages.

The real question is:

Does the brokerage support the business you’re trying to build?

What About Real and RE/MAX?

Real and RE/MAX Holdings completed their business combination in August 2026, creating Real REMAX Group Inc.

Naturally, that has raised questions from agents about what changes and what stays the same.

So far, the company has said RE/MAX agents will not simply be required to move onto Real’s platform, while Real’s technology and AI tools are expected to become available more broadly across the organization.

For me, it’s still too early to know exactly what that will mean for agents day to day.

And I’m okay saying that.

The technology was one of the main things that originally caught my attention about Real, so that’s one of the things I’ll continue watching as the company grows.

If you’re considering Real today, I think it’s fair to ask what has changed since the combination and what hasn’t.

Questions I Would Ask Before Choosing Any Brokerage

If you’re looking at Real or comparing several brokerages, don’t only ask about the split and cap.

Ask yourself:

1. Can I run my business from wherever I need to be?

2. What kind of support will I have when I need help?

3. How easy is it to manage a transaction when I’m away from an office?

4. Where will my business be three years from now?

5. Does this brokerage help me build that business?

6. What would I lose by leaving my current brokerage?

7. How would I replace those things?

That last question is especially important.

Every brokerage has trade-offs.

Know what yours are before you move.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Real Brokerage a remote brokerage?

Real operates primarily through a cloud-based model rather than relying on a traditional office setup. Agents use technology such as reZEN to manage transactions and other parts of their business from a phone or computer.

Can you work in two states with Real Brokerage?

I do.

I’m licensed in both California and Texas and work in both states through Real. Licensing and brokerage requirements can vary by state, so an agent considering the same setup should check the requirements for each state before making a change.

Did the RE/MAX combination change Real Brokerage?

Real and RE/MAX Holdings completed their business combination in August 2026.

Because the combination is still relatively new, some changes are still developing. If you’re considering joining Real, I would ask specifically what has changed for agents in your state and what has stayed the same.

Considering Real Brokerage?

If you’re researching brokerages, I’m happy to share what my experience has actually been like.

Not just the good parts.

I can also tell you what I had concerns about, what has worked for my two-state business, and what I think agents should consider before making a move.

No pressure and no pitch deck.

Just bring your questions.

Amanda Zito
REALTOR® | California & Texas
CA DRE #01740063 | TX TREC #840088
SoldByZito.com