In 2026, real estate agents have more brokerage options than ever. Nice problem to have, but that doesn't make the decision less confusing. There are different split structures, flat fees, 100% commission models, rev share, teams, virtual brokerages, boutique brands, mergers, and acquisitions. So it's getting harder to answer the question: what brokerage should I grow my business in? Do you choose the best split, brand, leads, community, or training? The answer is…it depends. With so many brokerage options, the real deciding factor is if that model matches the season of business you are actually in. The wrong environment can make this business feel heavier than it already is. You can have the license, the ambition, and the work ethic, but still end up isolated, unsupported, or surrounded by a model that does not fit what you actually need right now. So what should you be looking for in your next brokerage? In this episode, we unpack this with real estate leader and president of HomeSmart, Stacey Onnen. Stacey has seen brokerages from almost every angle, so she understands how you can make the right choice. We talk about why the brokerage decision should really be about the season you're in, and how that can change the choice you make. Guest Bio Stacey Onnen is the President of HomeSmart and an experienced real estate executive known for driving growth, operational excellence, and innovation across startups, scaling companies, and mature organizations. She has led large-scale virtual teams and overseen operations for major real estate organizations, including eXp Realty LLC, one of the fastest-growing companies in the industry. Throughout her career, Stacey has built a reputation for helping companies scale in competitive markets while strengthening systems, team leadership, agent experience, and operational performance. Her work spans operations, sales, project management, public relations, employee development, and virtual workforce leadership, giving her a broad view of what brokerages need to grow and what agents need to succeed. With experience across national real estate brands and high-growth environments, Stacey brings a practical, behind-the-scenes perspective on brokerage models, agent support, leadership, culture, and the changing value proposition in real estate. Connect with Stacey on LinkedIn. About Your Hosts Lance Billingsley is a seasoned real estate professional with over a decade of experience in agent development and business coaching. Since January 2021, he has served as the Vice President of Agent Development at Navi Title Agency, where he leverages his extensive industry knowledge to mentor and support real estate agents. Before his tenure at Navi Title, Lance co-owned a top-performing real estate team at Realty ONE Group, achieving recognition as one of the company's top five teams. He also served as a business coach for Tom Ferry. Dave Richards is a well-respected business coach working with CEOs, entrepreneurs, mortgage and real estate professionals, and others. With over 25+ years of executive leadership experience, he coaches and consults with the top professionals and organizations in their respective industries. Capitalizing on his certifications in Human Behavior, he specializes in building and optimizing high-performance teams and tackling difficult decisions that hold his clients back. He easily connects with entrepreneurs to help identify and communicate their vision, define their culture, and increase their profits and growth in today's dynamic marketplace. Check out this episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and don't forget to leave a review if you like what you heard. Your review feeds the algorithm, so our show reaches more people. Thank you!
