🧭 How Do You Know When It’s Time to Switch Brokerages?

A Personal Reflection from Someone Who’s Been There

Author: Samantha Hillery, Realtor® — Real Broker

When Comfort Starts Feeling Like Complacency

If you’re an agent wondering whether it’s time to switch brokerages, you’re probably not imagining it — you’re feeling it. That quiet tug that says you’ve outgrown something, even if you can’t quite name what.

I know that feeling. I’ve been there. Leaving my first team wasn’t a rash decision — it was a realization. What had once felt like support eventually felt like restraint. And what started as growth began to feel like just “getting by.”

Sometimes, change doesn’t show up as a bad experience — it shows up as the question you keep asking yourself: “Is this still where I’m meant to grow?”

1️⃣ You’ve Outgrown the Vision That Once Inspired You

Every brokerage has a season — a rhythm that fits until it doesn’t. Maybe you joined for mentorship and now you’re ready to lead. Maybe your goals have evolved beyond volume into building something with purpose.

When you start dreaming bigger than your brokerage’s ceiling, it’s a sign. You don’t have to burn bridges to grow — but you do have to walk through new doors.

2️⃣ The Culture Feels Transactional, Not Transformational

A healthy culture should feel like partnership, not permission. If every idea you share is met with “that’s not how we do it here,” it might be time to look for a place that encourages innovation.

You’ll know it’s time when your voice starts mattering less than your production. True alignment comes when who you are and how you serve can coexist freely.

3️⃣ Your Growth Feels Self-Funded, Not Supported

This one’s tricky — because success in real estate is always self-driven. But there’s a difference between working for your brokerage and working with them.

If your systems, leads, or training no longer reflect the way agents actually do business today — AI tools, automation, modern marketing — you’re not being positioned for the future. A brokerage should amplify your momentum, not stall it.

4️⃣ You Crave Collaboration, Not Competition

If every conversation feels like a scoreboard, it’s hard to build community. When I found a culture that valued sharing over showing off, it changed everything. At Real, collaboration isn’t a buzzword — it’s a behavior. Ideas flow freely, wins are celebrated collectively, and leadership feels accessible.

If you find yourself seeking that kind of environment — it’s a sign your next chapter might be calling.

5️⃣ You’re Not Excited Anymore — and That’s a Problem

This business demands energy, creativity, and resilience. If you wake up feeling uninspired, stuck, or like you’re repeating the same script each year — it’s time to ask what’s missing. Because real estate should still light you up. And if it doesn’t, a fresh start might reignite what made you love it in the first place.

My Takeaway

Switching brokerages isn’t about quitting — it’s about realigning. It’s giving yourself permission to evolve.

When I made my move, it wasn’t easy. But it was worth it. I didn’t leave because I was unhappy — I left because I believed there was a better way to serve my clients, my family, and my team.

Growth rarely happens in comfort.

✨ Ready for Your Next Chapter?

If you’re an agent quietly wondering whether it’s time for a change, let’s talk. No pressure. No pitch. Just perspective from someone who’s stood at that same crossroads.

Let’s Connect →

Written by: Samantha Hillery, Realtor® — Real Broker
Helping agents and families build a business — and a life — they love.