In light of the shocking study revealing that 71% of agents didn’t sell a single home last year, a new report has surfaced with an even more disturbing statistic—only 5% of real estate agents actually live in a house.
That’s right. According to BAM, which surveyed over 400,000 licensed real estate agents, the majority of agents are living in conditions that don’t necessarily live up to the lifestyle that they sell.
So, Where Do Agents Actually Live?
The study found that real estate agents’ primary residences include:
- 5% – Their parents’ basement
- 7% – Their brokerage office
- 10% – Newly built podcast studios
- 30% – Leased apartment
- 12% – The lobby of the Hilton Hotel in Dallas
- 15% – Their car
- 5% – Their own house
- 1% – At the foot of Tom Ferry’s bed
- 15% – Crash in their own listings and sneak out in the morning
Agents React to the Findings
We asked some follow-up questions to those surveyed about their living situations:
“Have you seen home prices?” Mary Biniatti said. “They are ridiculous. I’m waiting for rates to get back in the 4’s, which apparently won’t happen unless there is some pandemic-like disaster. Hell, I’ll bite the head off a bat myself.”
Compass agent, Jim Gunder, shared a similar sentiment:
“I tell my clients that buying is better than renting, but I’ve leased six different apartments in four years. I’d buy myself, but last year I spent $40,000 on masterminds telling me to post more green screens.”
NAR Proposes “Agent Housing Initiative”
To address the crisis, NAR is rolling out a new program allowing agents to live in staged, absentee-owner homes listed on the MLS until there is an accepted offer.
“We believe this initiative will provide hardworking agents with a roof over their heads while simultaneously improving listing traffic,” an NAR spokesperson said. “There will always be an agent there to show it.”
This initiative is pending approval. We here at BAM will keep you updated on the story as it continues to unfold.
*Yes, this is satire.*
