No, eXp did not buy Keller Williams. A 12-year KW and 7-year eXp DFW team leader explains the NextHome deal, the AGNT rename, and what it means for agents.
Did eXp buy Keller Williams? No. eXp Realty did not buy Keller Williams, and the two are still separate, competing brokerages. What happened in 2026 is that eXp's parent company bought NextHome, a different franchise brand, and renamed itself AGNT. Some Keller Williams offices then converted to NextHome, which is where most of the confusion comes from.
I spent 12 years at Keller Williams and have been at eXp Realty for seven. I lead The Good Home Team here in Dallas-Fort Worth. So when agents in McKinney, Plano and Frisco started asking me whether eXp bought KW, I understood why. Here is the plain version.
What Actually Happened: AGNT Bought NextHome
In May 2026, eXp World Holdings, the parent company of eXp Realty, acquired NextHome, a real estate franchise with more than 500 offices nationwide. At the same time, the parent company started trading on the Nasdaq under a new name and ticker: AGNT.
That gave the company two models under one roof. eXp Realty stays a cloud brokerage. NextHome stays a traditional franchise with local owners and physical offices. Keller Williams was not part of the deal.
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Why People Think eXp Bought Keller Williams
Three things happened close together, and from the outside they look like one story.
- The parent company changed its name. When eXp World Holdings became AGNT, a lot of agents saw headlines about a big acquisition and a new name without reading the details.
- Some Keller Williams offices switched to NextHome. AGNT's leadership has talked publicly about Keller Williams offices that converted to NextHome after the deal. An office owner choosing a new franchise is not the same as eXp buying Keller Williams, but it is easy to blur the two.
- Agents keep moving from KW to eXp. In DFW, I see Keller Williams agents and teams make the move every year. I made it myself in 2019. When enough people you know switch, it can feel like the companies merged.
Are eXp and Keller Williams Still Competitors?
Yes. They are separate companies with very different models. Here is how the costs compare, using my own former KW office as the example. Keller Williams splits and caps vary by office, so check yours.
| eXp Realty | Keller Williams (my former office) | |
|---|---|---|
| Commission split | 80/20, company-wide | 70/30 (varies by office) |
| Annual cap | $16,000 | $18,000 (varies by office) |
| Royalty | None | 6%, capped at $3,000 |
| Total paid before capping | $16,000 | $21,000 |
| Model | Cloud brokerage | Local franchise offices |
Want these numbers run on your business?
The Good Home Team: RealTrends Verified #1 in Plano, TX, based on 2025 data. 162 team sides in 2025. 220+ agents sponsored.
Book a 15-minute call with Nick →On $150,000 in gross commission income, that is about $134,000 kept at eXp versus about $129,000 under my old KW terms. Roughly $5,000 a year, before revenue share or stock. I break the full math down in my eXp vs Keller Williams commission split comparison.
What This Means If You Are a Keller Williams Agent in DFW
Nothing changes for you automatically. You were not moved to eXp, and your split did not change because of the NextHome deal. What did change is the number of real options in front of you.
- Stay at your KW office. If your office leader, training and culture are working for you, that is a fine answer.
- Move with your office if it converts to NextHome. You keep a local franchise model with a different brand and terms. Ask what the new split, cap and fees are before you assume they are better.
- Move to eXp Realty. You get the 80/20 split, the $16,000 cap, no royalty, revenue share and the chance to earn stock. You also choose a sponsor, and that choice matters more than most agents realize.
If you want to understand the eXp side first, start with how eXp Realty works.
My Take After 12 Years at KW and 7 at eXp
I built a real business at Keller Williams. I am not here to trash it. I moved my team to give my agents and myself a better opportunity to earn more. Two programs made the difference. The eXp agent stock purchase plan let me build up company stock, and that stock let me buy a rental property with all cash. Revenue share lets us build residual income beyond our own closings. Individual results vary, and neither stock value nor revenue share is guaranteed. I wrote the full story in why I left Keller Williams for eXp Realty.
Since the move, my team closed 162 sides and $65.6 million in volume in 2025 and was RealTrends Verified as the #1 team in Plano, Texas. I have sponsored more than 220 agents into eXp. I tell every one of them the same thing: do not switch brokerages because of a headline. Switch because the numbers, the support and the people fit the business you want to build.
So, did eXp buy Keller Williams? No. But if the question got you thinking about where your business should be, that is a conversation worth having.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Did eXp buy Keller Williams?+
No. eXp Realty did not buy Keller Williams. In May 2026, eXp's parent company acquired NextHome, a separate franchise brand, and began trading as AGNT.
Did eXp acquire KW in 2026?+
No. The only franchise brand AGNT acquired in 2026 was NextHome. Keller Williams remains an independent company and a competitor to eXp Realty.
Why are Keller Williams offices becoming NextHome?+
Some Keller Williams office owners chose to convert their offices to the NextHome franchise after AGNT acquired NextHome. That is an office owner's decision, not an acquisition of Keller Williams.
What is AGNT?+
AGNT is the new name and Nasdaq ticker of eXp World Holdings, the parent company of eXp Realty and, since 2026, NextHome.
Is eXp cheaper than Keller Williams?+
For most agents, yes. eXp is 80/20 with a $16,000 cap and no royalty. Keller Williams splits and caps vary by office, plus a 6% royalty capped at $3,000. Nick Good's former KW office totaled $21,000 a year.
About the Author
Nick Good
Nick Good is a 22-year Dallas-Fort Worth real estate operator, founder of The Good Home Team powered by PLACE at eXp Realty, and author of Six Figure Agent. His team is RealTrends Verified number 1 in Plano, Texas, and he has personally sponsored more than 220 agents at eXp.
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