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Relitix’s latest Agent Movement Index™ (AMI) through April 30, 2025, underscores continued caution in agent mobility within the real estate brokerage industry. While April showed an expected seasonal uptick from March, it fell significantly short of historical norms for this period, further extending the restrained movement observed over recent months.
KEY OBSERVATIONS FROM APRIL 2025
Continued Weakness in Agent Movement: Despite April traditionally signaling a strong month for agent transfers as brokerages gear up for the peak selling season, this year’s AMI registered at 114.1, notably lower than the 129.8 recorded in April 2024 – a 12% decline. The subdued metric emphasizes the ongoing cautious stance among agents regarding brokerage changes.
Seasonally Adjusted Figures Reflect Market Hesitation: April’s seasonally adjusted score was 94.5, maintaining the downward pressure observed consistently since late 2024. This figure reaffirms that, after accounting for typical seasonal fluctuations, underlying agent mobility remains notably weaker compared to previous years.
Modest Stability in Active Agent Count: The active agent pool—agents closing at least one transaction within the past year—experienced minor fluctuations, suggesting a potential plateauing effect after months of gradual declines. While this provides some stability, brokerage leaders must closely monitor these dynamics to determine if this indicates a durable leveling off or merely a temporary pause.
Relitix Founder Rob Keefe commented on these latest findings: “April typically offers a clear indicator of market confidence with heightened agent mobility. This year’s subdued performance, despite a modest seasonal increase, speaks volumes about the continuing uncertainty agents face in the current environment. Brokerages must remain strategically attuned to these cautious trends, emphasizing their value propositions and stability to successfully navigate this period of reduced agent movement.”
These observations build directly upon Relitix’s reports from recent months, which have consistently highlighted a pattern of restrained agent mobility, marked particularly by weak seasonal rebounds in traditionally active recruiting periods such as March and February.
STRATEGIC INSIGHTS FOR BROKERAGE LEADERS AND RECRUITERS:
Enhanced Retention Strategies Required: With fewer agents making moves, brokerage leaders should prioritize robust retention strategies, ensuring agents recognize the clear advantages of staying with their current firms, including technology integration, marketing support, and professional development opportunities.
Amplify Stability and Brokerage Value: Clearly articulating stability, internal support systems, and comprehensive resource availability can effectively attract and retain cautious agents contemplating their next career steps.
Vigilant Monitoring of Agent Activity Levels: Given the subtle stabilization in active agent counts, ongoing close monitoring remains essential. Understanding these dynamics will help determine future recruitment and retention strategies, particularly if the active agent count resumes its previous decline.
Relitix’s AMI is updated monthly using extensive national data from major MLS systems. It offers brokerage and franchise leaders invaluable insights into the trends shaping agent movement. By examining both monthly and seasonally adjusted metrics, the AMI provides a clear view of industry shifts that can guide more strategic decisions around recruitment and retention.
About the agent movement index: The agent movement reflects the relative mobility of experienced agents between brokerages. The score is computed by estimating the number of agents who changed brokerages in a given month. To be counted the agent must be a member of one of the analyzed MLS’s and change to a substantially different office name at a different address. M&A-driven activity and reflags are excluded as are new agents and agents who leave real estate. Efforts are made to exclude out of market agents and those which are MLS system artifacts. The number of agents changing offices is divided by the number of agents active in the past 12 months in the analyzed market areas. This percentage is normalized to reflect a value of 100 at the level of movement in January 2016 (0.7313%). The seasonally adjusted value divides the monthly result by the average of the same month in prior years.
Analyzed MLS’s represent over 800,000 members and include: ACTRIS, ARMLS, BAREIS, BeachesMLS, BrightMLS, Canopy, Charleston Trident, CRMLS, GAMLS, GlobalMLS, HAR, LVAR, Metrolist, MLSListings, MLSNow, MLSPIN, MRED, Northstar, NTREIS, NWMLS, OneKey, RealComp, REColorado, SEF, Stellar, Triad, Triangle, and UtahRealEstate.
About Relitix: Relitix provides data-driven decision support for brokerage leaders across the United States. A pioneer in applying AI and data science technology in brokerage management, Relitix profiles over 1.2 million agents in more than 130 markets nationwide to help brokers recruit, coach, and retain agents. Advanced data tools allow unprecedented visibility in agents, offices, and markets for strategic planning and M&A support. Learn more at www.relitix.com.
