Team vs Solo in DFW, I Ran the Numbers So You Don't Have To

I get this question constantly. From agents who are new and trying to figure out where to start. From producing agents who are six years in and wondering if they've outgrown their current setup. From agents who have been solo and are finally honest with themselves about how much time they spend generating leads instead of serving clients.

The question is: does joining a team actually make you more money, or do you give up too much in the split?

Here's my honest answer, backed by actual numbers.

The Solo Agent Reality

The NAR 2025 Member Profile tells a story most brokerage recruiters won't show you: the median gross income for all real estate agents was $58,100 in 2024. After business expenses, marketing, leads, MLS fees, tech, E&O insurance, licensing, the median net income was approximately $36,600.

And that's the median. Which means half of all agents made less.

For agents with two years or less of experience, the median gross was $8,100. Roughly 62% of new agents made under $10,000 in their first year.

The solo model has a fundamental structural problem: you are simultaneously the business developer, the marketer, the lead generator, the showing agent, the listing agent, the transaction coordinator, and the closer. Every one of those roles takes time you're not spending in front of buyers and sellers.

What Teams Actually Do for Income

Agents on teams closed more transactions in their first two years than comparable solo agents. More transactions means more income, even at a lower per-transaction split.

Solo agent, year two. Generating their own leads. Closes 8 transactions at $450,000 average in the Plano market. Gross commission at 2.5%: $90,000. After expenses: net closer to $60,000.

Team agent, year two. Leads provided, systems in place. Closes 15 transactions at the same average price. At a 60/40 team split: $101,250 gross. After expenses (significantly lower because the team covers infrastructure): net closer to $80,000–$85,000.

More transactions. Better net. Because volume made up for the split difference and then some.

The Split Question People Get Wrong

The mistake I see constantly: agents focus on the split percentage and ignore the volume difference.

A 70% split on 8 deals is not better than a 60% split on 15 deals. What matters is how many transactions you're actually closing and what your net looks like after real expenses.

When I built The Good Home Team powered by PLACE at eXp Realty, I wasn't trying to build a traditional team. I was trying to build a system. PLACE provides the infrastructure. eXp provides the model. The agents who partner with us don't just get a team, they get a business model that compounds.

The goal isn't to stay on a team forever. The goal is to use the team to build volume, skills, and income fast, then make a fully informed decision about what the next chapter looks like.

For experienced agents specifically, read Why Experienced Agents Net More on a Team at nickgood.com/the-good-word/growing-a-real-estate-team-that-lasts

, Nick Good