The real estate industry is navigating a period of profound turbulence.
Since 2022, a “transactional recession” has gripped the market, leaving many professionals questioning the viability of their careers. The combination of spiked mortgage rates, high home prices and a shortage of inventory has created a bottleneck. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), membership fell from its all-time peak of 1.6 million in 2022 to 1.45 million by mid-2025, signaling an exodus from the industry. The agents who remain in the industry are poised to reap the benefits, so long as they can navigate the ever-changing landscape. We spoke with agents who have been able to thrive amidst the chaos with the help of RLTYco’s newest division, RLTY Blue.
The 1099 vulnerability
The last ten years have been a rollercoaster for the real estate industry.
“From 2017 through 2021, we had a huge increase of professionals,” says Mauricio Umansky, Founder and CEO of The Agency and Co-Founder of the American Real Estate Association (ARA). “During COVID, transaction volume skyrocketed and everyone made money. Then interest rates jumped, and now there’s just not enough for everybody.”
The struggle is particularly acute due to the industry’s reliance on the independent contractor model. Roughly 87% of NAR members are classified as 1099 workers, meaning they operate without the standard employee benefits like healthcare, 401k matching, or paid leave.
For agents, this often means performing months of “free work” on listings that may later be delisted or transactions that fall through due to price cuts.
“As a 1099 agent, you are an entrepreneur,” Umansky says. “But we’ve seen a failure in protection from traditional organizations. Between commission lawsuits and commission compression, it has become more and more difficult for professionals to exist. They just can’t survive.”
This unstable professional environment can impact agents’ relationships with their clients, an especially damaging side-effect in a field where the strength of interpersonal relationships makes or breaks every deal.
Stefani Berkin, President of The Berkin Team, described this lack of support creating a “trust crisis” between agents and the public.
“Trust is built through stability,” Berkin says. “When an agent is stretched thin, whether financially, operationally, or emotionally, it becomes harder to lead with professionalism.”
A corporate-grade lifeline
That’s why RLTYco created RLTY Blue, a platform that’s designed to bridge the gap between the 1099 reality and the benefits of a corporate career.
By aggregating a suite of personal and professional tools, ranging from tax prep to travel discounts to moving services, RLTY Blue is providing the infrastructure agents have long lacked.
The platform focuses on “career protection,” ensuring that agents have the resources to build a lasting business. Briggs Elwell, Co-Founder of RLTYco, emphasizes that the platform is more than a discount program.
“It’s an act of career protection,” Elwell says. “We are leveling the playing field, ensuring every agent—from industry veterans to new licensees—has the tools needed to not just survive, but to build a lasting, prosperous career.”
The view from the field
For newer agents like Gina Giles, an Agent at Douglas Elliman, the platform addresses the daily stressors of the job. Having joined the industry just as the slump began in 2022, Giles understands the daunting nature of relying solely on oneself.
“You’re on your phone 24/7. No PTO, no sick days, no 401k matching,” Giles shares. “You don’t realize what the expenses are until you’re out on your own. RLTY Blue helps prevent paying too much out of pocket when balancing my business expenses.”
Giles also highlights the “hidden work” of the industry, like the constant need to be a resource for clients on everything from movers to cleaners. RLTY Blue’s platform aggregates these trusted resources in one place, allowing agents to provide value to their clients while saving time.
“Having this platform brings everything together in one space,” says Giles. “It makes you feel like you’re part of something bigger than just your own business.”
A new standard for brokerages
Offering these tools is a major benefit for brokerages, especially for talent retention. As commission splits compress and firms struggle to provide full-service support, partnering with third-party ecosystems like RLTY Blue has become essential.
“Brokerages are having to give higher splits to agents to keep them,” Umansky says. “We are looking at creating more perks to give more value, and RLTY Blue allows us to do that better.”
Berkin agrees, noting that the industry is shifting toward a more strategic ecosystem.
“Brokerages focus on leadership and deal-making, while partners like RLTY Blue provide the broader support systems,” says Berkin. “When a brokerage aligns with a platform like RLTY Blue, it sends a clear message: we’re not just invested in your production, we’re invested in your future.”
RLTY Blue is also a godsend for brokerages looking to keep their talent in-house rather than lose them to the world of W2 employment. Whether it’s being offered by a large brokerage or used by independent agents, RLTY Blue provides benefits normally unavailable to agents.
“RLTY Blue fills a gap for hardworking agents that cannot access the slew of corporate benefits available to a salaried employee,” says Jason Haber, Co-Founder of the ARA. “We are enrolling all of our members from the start. It’s a no-brainer.”
Building for longevity
As the real estate landscape continues to evolve, the definition of success is shifting from short-term transaction volume to long-term sustainability.
By providing a corporate-grade benefits suite to the independent workforce, RLTY Blue is helping agents survive a down market while stabilizing the industry.
“At the end of the day, it’s all about money,” Umansky says. “If we can create savings and value, it allows agents to stay in the game.”
With RLTY Blue, agents finally have the enterprise support needed to turn a difficult job into a lifelong career. Learn more about RLTYco’s agent support tools here.