WELCOME

Once again the numbers prove it—real estate is a long game. According to NAR’s latest Member Profile, the typical agent earned $58K last year—up slightly from 2023—and those with 16+ years in the game cleared nearly $80K. But the average agent in their first two years of real estate made just $8,100. 

This isn’t a market for a faint of heart. But agents who’ve stuck it out through better and worse are more than seeing the payoff.

SHARPEN YOUR SKILLS: Today’s Top Podcast Rec 🔊

Most agents fail not because they lack the skills or focus, but because they fail to follow up. David Parnes has built a massively successful real estate career simply by being the one agent who continues to connect—with past buyers and sellers, his network, and other agents in his market. Watch this episode of Rise Above the Ranks for the exact process he uses to keep his network warm and new leads coming in.

TRACK THE MARKET: Year-low Rates Pull Buyers Off the Sidelines

Earlier this week, the average 30-year mortgage rate as reported by HousingWire’s Mortgage Rates Center dropped to its lowest point of the year, dipping below 6.9% for the first time in 2025—and that’s without any action from the Fed. Rates for FHA and jumbo loans dropped too, hinting that affordability might finally be turning a corner. Some Fed members are calling for immediate cuts, pointing to shaky job numbers and signs of a slowing economy. If those cuts happen soon, rates could fall even further—and buyers on the sidelines are already watching closely.

What’s at play:

• According to HousingWire, on Tuesday, the average 30-year fixed rate was down to 6.86%, while FHA loans dropped to 6.55% and jumbo loans hit 6.46%. That’s the lowest rate seen since last October.

• Two Fed officials voted for a rate cut now, saying it’s time to stop waiting and start acting before things slow down too much, but the Fed remains split.

• In past dips, even a small drop in rates led to a big jump in mortgage applications. If this trend holds, buyer demand could heat up fast.

DIVE IN

The Friday Five

📖 Share your success—and struggle. Why Glennda doesn’t try to make it look easy. 

👀 Cinematic history. Recognize this penthouse from Spike Lee’s new movie Highest 2 Lowest?

👀 High-rise heaven. See inside Biscayne Bay’s most exclusive penthouse: 20AB Park Grove.

💡 Hot stocks. Opendoor’s stock just tripled—and here’s what that means for your zip code. 

💡 Rocket’s revamp. Why Rocket is now sending all site visitors straight to Redfin (and Redfin’s agents).

Estate Media’s Agent Growth Program

Your face. Your voice. Your brand – elevated.

The Agent Growth Program is our signature content and strategy service designed to turn top agents into standout personal brands. We help you show up consistently with short-form video content that not only looks good, but drives attention, builds trust, and grows your real estate business.

This isn’t just content creation, its brand development, powered by the team behind real estate’s most influential voices.

WHAT’S NEW FROM ESTATE MEDIA

Early on in his real estate career, Carl Gambino lost a sale that would have been a $150,000+ commission. He believed every buyer would be as loyal to him as he was to them, so when his buyer went behind his back to find another agent—then used that agent to buy the very house he had just shown them—the lesson was gutting. But it showed him the importance of bouncing back from failures and keeping your mentors close. 

If you’re struggling with the early grind of getting new listings, going through the highs and lows of building your business, or still trying to figure out how to become a magnet for new opportunities, don’t miss this mini-episode of Glennda’s Guru.

FEATURED LUXURY LISTING

TIPS & TAKEAWAYS

Fighting for tax reform? Keep this in mind 👇

When it comes to taxes, not all cuts are created equal. In this week’s Let’s Get to the Point, Jeffrey St. Arromand breaks down why eliminating property taxes could mean bigger savings than capital gains relief. Property taxes hit every homeowner, every year—and as home values rise, so do those bills. Capital gains, on the other hand, only come into play when you sell. 

Watch the full video here to see Jeffrey’s take.

@estatemediaus

Capital gains or depreciation: which one’s actually making you money? 💰 In this week’s Let’s Get To The Point, @jsasellsnyc breaks down t… See more

HANGS & HAPPENINGS

Tom Ferry Success Summit | Dallas, TX | August 26 – 28. Join thousands of top-producing agents for Tom Ferry’s signature event, packed with actionable strategies, mindset shifts, and high-energy coaching.

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