FAQ
Every question, answered.
The short answers, pulled from each article. Each one links to the full explanation and the sources it rests on. If yours isn't here, ask me on a call.
Real Broker, explained: the whole model in one page (2026)
- Is Real a franchise?
- No. One company, one fee schedule, state brokers employed by Real. RE/MAX, which Real now owns, is a franchise system and runs separately.
- Is there a monthly fee?
- No.
- Can I keep my brand?
- Individual agents market under their own name with Real's disclosure. Brokerages can keep their brand through Private Label where the state allows.
- How is Real different from eXp?
- Side by side here, from both companies' pages.
- What's the catch?
- The fee schedule changed twice this year, the stock awards are "subject to change," support is a queue, and revenue share ends the day you leave. All of it's in the sections above, with sources.
- What happens on the call?
- Thirty minutes, your numbers next to Real's, the tools, the AI, and the programs above with the published terms. If the answer is stay where you are, that's what I'll tell you. Book it here.
Full article, with figures checked 7 November 2026: Real Broker, explained: the whole model in one page (2026)
Every way to earn stock at Real Broker, and the one number Real just took off its page
- Do I have to buy stock to be at Real?
- No. The purchase plan is optional. The awards don't require it.
- Can my awards go to my LLC?
- No. Real issues all stock to the licensed individual on the reZEN account.
- Where do I see my shares?
- In Shareworks, which Real uses to hold agent equity. Awards land there around the 15th of the month after they're earned.
- Is this a reason to join Real?
- On its own, no. A stock award is worth whatever the stock is worth when it vests, three years from now, and you have to still be here. Join for the economics and the tools. Treat the stock as upside.
Full article, with figures checked 7 November 2026: Every way to earn stock at Real Broker, and the one number Real just took off its page
Real Broker's technology: reZEN, Leo Pro and Real Wallet, from an agent who uses them daily
- Do I have to use reZEN?
- Yes. It's where transactions, broker review and commission happen. There's no alternative workflow.
- Is Leo free?
- Leo Basic in reZEN is free. Leo Pro is $19.99 a month plus tokens.
- Does Real give me a CRM?
- Not one of its own. Leo Pro connects to several, including Lofty, and you can import contacts by CSV. Your CRM is still your choice and your cost.
- Do I have to bank with Real Wallet?
- For your commission, you can still be paid out to an outside account. For revenue share, since September 2026, you need the Real Wallet business checking account.
- Is the technology a reason to join?
- It's a reason not to rule Real out. Whether the economics work for you is the bigger question.
Full article, with figures checked 7 November 2026: Real Broker's technology: reZEN, Leo Pro and Real Wallet, from an agent who uses them daily
Real Broker vs eXp Realty: the published terms side by side
- Which is cheaper?
- On published terms at twenty sales, Real by at least $1,270. At very low volumes it's closer, and depends on whether you'd rather pay a monthly fee or an annual one.
- Which pays more revenue share?
- Neither company publishes what a typical agent earns, except eXp, which says the median is $0. Decide on the brokerage, not the program.
- Which has better technology?
- I use Real's every day and wrote about it. I don't use eXp's, so I'm not going to rate it.
- Can I take revenue share with me if I switch?
- No, at either brokerage. Both end it when you leave.
Full article, with figures checked 7 November 2026: Real Broker vs eXp Realty: the published terms side by side
Real Originate explained (2026): get paid on your buyer's loan through One Real Mortgage
- What is Real Originate?
- A One Real Mortgage program in which a licensed real estate agent gets a mortgage loan originator license, becomes a part-time W-2 employee of One Real Mortgage, and is paired with an internal loan officer. The agent sends the buyer the application and stays in contact; the partner processes, locks and closes.
- How much does Real Originate pay?
- 0.5% of the loan amount to the originating agent, on purchases and refinances, on top of the buyer-agent commission, per Malcolm Lawson's account updated November 6, 2026. On a $500,000 loan that is $2,500.
- Do I have to be a Real agent to join Real Originate?
- No. Real said on its November 5, 2026 earnings call that the program is open to agents from any brokerage.
- Which states is Real Originate available in?
- One Real Mortgage's license page listed 32 states and Washington, D.C. on October 9, 2026. The stated goal is all 50.
- What does my buyer get out of it?
- A $1,500 closing-cost credit for using a Real agent with One Real Mortgage, rates shopped across a panel of lenders, and one platform for agent and lender.
Full article, with figures checked 8 November 2026: Real Originate explained (2026): get paid on your buyer's loan through One Real Mortgage
Real Originate FAQ: states, requirements, how it's structured, and choosing a sponsor
- Is Real Originate available in my state?
- It's open in 32 states and Washington, D.C. as of October 9, 2026, per One Real Mortgage's license page. The goal is all 50.
- Can agents from other brokerages join Real Originate?
- Yes. Real confirmed on its November 5, 2026 earnings call that the program is open to agents from any brokerage.
- Is Real Originate RESPA-compliant?
- Yes. Agents are licensed loan originators employed as part-time W-2 employees of One Real Mortgage and paid for the origination work on each loan, not for referrals.
- Can I be the agent and the loan originator on the same purchase?
- In most states, yes, with a dual-capacity disclosure uploaded to the transaction. Connecticut, Louisiana, Maryland and Utah don't allow both roles on one transaction.
- What does a Real Originate sponsor do?
- Helps you through licensing and onboarding, supports you once you're originating, and is paid a Level Up override on your loans. Naming one is optional and doesn't change your own pay.
Full article, with figures checked 8 November 2026: Real Originate FAQ: states, requirements, how it's structured, and choosing a sponsor
How to join Real Originate: getting your loan originator license, step by step
- How long does it take to get licensed for Real Originate?
- Under a month in Malcolm Lawson's case; One Real Mortgage's roadmap says four to eight weeks. The course has a two-week minimum, and exam slots and state processing make up the rest.
- How many hours of education does the loan originator license require?
- 20 hours of NMLS-approved pre-licensing education, plus two to five state-specific hours in most states.
- What score do I need on the SAFE exam?
- 75%. The exam has 120 questions and results are immediate. Retake waits are 30 days, 30 days, then six months.
- What does the loan originator license cost?
- Roughly $300 to $500 for the course package, per One Real Mortgage's roadmap, plus the NMLS test, state application and background check fees.
- Do I need a sponsor to join Real Originate?
- Your license has to be sponsored by One Real Mortgage, which happens at onboarding. Separately, you can name an Originate sponsor, an agent who helps you through the process; that's covered in the FAQ.
Full article, with figures checked 8 November 2026: How to join Real Originate: getting your loan originator license, step by step
The three ways Real Originate pays: 0.5% per loan, Level Up overrides, and stock
- What percentage does Real Originate pay per loan?
- 0.5% of the loan amount to the originating agent, on purchases and refinances, on top of the buyer-agent commission. $2,500 on a $500,000 loan.
- What is Level Up?
- Real Originate's override program. You're paid on loans originated by agents and loan officers you sponsor, five tiers deep, at 12, 8, 3, 2 and 1.5 basis points. Tiers two to five unlock at 5, 10, 15 and 20 producing originators in your first tier.
- Is Level Up capped?
- No. It's paid per loan with no annual limit, unlike Real's revenue share, which pauses once an agent caps for the year.
- What stock can a Real Originate agent earn?
- $15,000 in restricted stock units at $20 million of annual loan volume through One Real Mortgage, and $500 per sponsored originator or loan officer who closes within 90 days. Three-year vesting.
- Does my loan officer partner take part of my 0.5%?
- No. One Real Mortgage pays the partner 50 basis points on an Originate agent's file under its own loan officer schedule.
Full article, with figures checked 8 November 2026: The three ways Real Originate pays: 0.5% per loan, Level Up overrides, and stock
What Real Broker costs in 2026: every fee, and the math at three volumes
- Is there a monthly fee at Real?
- No. There's no desk fee, office fee or technology fee. The recurring costs are the brokerage fee (three installments a year) and the per-transaction fees.
- Does the cap reset on January 1?
- No, on your anniversary date, which is the date you joined.
- Do I pay the CBR fee after I cap?
- Yes. The cap only stops the 15% split.
- Does the $285 drop automatically?
- Yes, once you've paid $6,000 in post-cap fees in a single anniversary year, Real applies the $100 Elite fee going forward in that year.
- Where do these numbers come from?
- Real's help center, with the page and its last-updated date listed under Sources below. If you find something there that disagrees with this page, the help center wins and I'd like to know.
Full article, with figures checked 7 November 2026: What Real Broker costs in 2026: every fee, and the math at three volumes
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