What Are the Real Benefits of Joining a Real Estate Team in Los Angeles?
The biggest benefit of joining a real estate team is collapsing your learning curve from years to months. While solo agents spend 3+ years figuring out what works through expensive trial and error, team agents get proven systems, daily mentorship, and accountability that accelerate growth from day one.
Following recent NAR settlement changes and evolving commission transparency requirements, the advantages of team membership have become more pronounced than ever. In today's Los Angeles market, where median home prices exceed $800,000 and competition intensifies daily, solo agents face unprecedented challenges that teams are uniquely positioned to solve.
When agents ask me about the real advantages of team membership, here's what I tell them: teams offer what traditional brokerages promise but rarely deliver. After 13 years in real estate and building The Borges Real Estate Team to 70% year-over-year growth for four consecutive years, I've seen firsthand how the right team environment transforms careers in the competitive LA and San Gabriel Valley markets.
Key Benefits of Joining a Real Estate Team
Proven systems and scripts that eliminate guesswork and reduce awkward prospecting calls
Daily coaching and accountability that keeps you focused on income-producing activities
Technology stack access including CRM, lead generation, and AI analytics most solo agents can't afford
Immediate exposure to both buyers and listings instead of waiting years to "earn" listing opportunities
Built-in mentorship from agents who've already made the mistakes you're about to make
Collaborative culture where teammates share knowledge and even refer business to each other
Professional transaction support including dedicated coordinators and operations management
The Learning Curve Reality: 3 Years vs. 6 Months
Here's the harsh truth most new agents don't realize: without the right guidance, the attrition rate is very high after 3 years. Most agents don't know how to be their own boss — nobody taught us, and that's okay. However, something has to give in order to be successful.
The typical first-year path for solo agents: Attends all their brokerage trainings (none of which actually teach you to have real conversations or overcome real objections). They go on caravans to see homes even though they don't have clients and post on Facebook and Instagram about homes without learning how to prospect at all. If they're lucky, they have a family member that wants to buy or sell and end up with 1 deal.
A $100k producer on a team: Hyperfocuses on prospecting at least 2 hours a day for new hot leads, then follows that up with 1 hour of follow-up. They only take appointments in the afternoon so as not to disrupt their prospecting time and spend their week going on at least 2 appointments. They attend daily script practice to continue getting better and are completely detached from whether prospects buy or sell — because they have so many prospects, they don't need to force anyone.
Geographic Market Advantages in Los Angeles and San Gabriel Valley
When agents ask me about market-specific benefits, the advantages become even clearer in our unique LA and SGV landscape:
Los Angeles Market Characteristics:
Median home price: $800,000+ (requiring sophisticated buyer consultation skills)
High-net-worth clientele expectations (demanding professional presentation and expertise)
Intense agent competition (over 50,000 licensed agents in LA County)
Complex regulatory environment (city-specific ordinances and requirements)
San Gabriel Valley Opportunities:
Diverse communities from Pasadena to El Monte (requiring cultural competency and local expertise)
Strong family-focused buyer market (longer-term client relationships)
Emerging luxury markets in areas like San Marino and Arcadia (high-value opportunities)
Growing Asian-American market segment (specialized communication skills valued)
Teams provide the local market intelligence, cultural competency training, and area-specific expertise that solo agents often lack. Our geographic coverage across both markets gives agents access to opportunities they'd never capture individually.
When agents join us from traditional brokerages, the story is usually the same:
Little to no technology (and what they do have is years behind).
Broken promises — whether it's leads that never show up or training that's all talk and no follow-through.
No accountability — nobody checks in, nobody pushes them, and nobody seems to care if they succeed or fail.
That kind of environment leaves agents feeling under-served and stuck. They know they're capable of more, but they're missing the tools, the mentorship, and the accountability that actually drive growth.
Why Traditional Brokerages Fall Short
One of the most significant benefits of joining a real estate team is access to technology that would cost solo agents thousands of dollars monthly — if they could even access it individually.
On The Borges Real Estate Team, our technology stack includes systems that rival the best in the industry. We use Follow Up Boss as our accountability system that tracks conversations automatically so there's no guessing and no hiding — just clear numbers tied to real outcomes.
Our 50+ AI Role-Playing Scenarios through Maverick RE let agents practice everything from expired listings and FSBOs to PPC leads, open houses, and even challenging situations like asking sellers for price reductions. You'll walk into every conversation prepared and confident.
Real-Time Performance Analytics show exactly:
Call quality grades
Talk time vs. listening ratios
Objection handling success rates
Appointment asking frequency
Appointment setting conversion rates
Accountability That Actually Leads to Success
On our team, accountability isn't about micromanaging — it's about helping agents hit the numbers that guarantee results. We track two-minute conversations at a very high level, because we know they're the single best predictor of success.
Here's the math: any agent who wants to earn over $100k a year should be having at least 20 two-minute conversations per week. We've tracked the analytics, and it's simple — if you hit that number consistently, there's no way you won't succeed.
Then we take those numbers and turn them into coaching moments: teaching agents how to stretch a 15-second call into a meaningful two-minute conversation. That's where the magic happens. In those two minutes, you uncover motivation, figure out if the lead is worth following up with (and when), or even set the appointment right then and there.
Real Success Stories: The Team Advantage in Action
Allie's Transformation: From Newcomer to $150K Producer
At 21, new to LA from San Diego with no clear direction and mounting bills, Allie walked into our office ready to try real estate. Her only sales experience was from working in restaurant service. No real estate network. No industry knowledge. Just confidence and a willingness to give it a shot.
The first three months were brutal. Rejection after rejection. Awkward silences on the phone. But here's what separated Allie from the 87% who quit in year one: she showed up anyway. Every day for call blocks. Every script session, even when she didn't want to. Every role-play, because we told her it would eventually work—and she trusted the process.
Today, just 2.5 years later, Allie is one of our top-producing listing specialists, earning over $150,000 annually. As she puts it: "Joining this team has truly been one of the best decisions for my business. The sense of community is incredible—I always have people to connect with and exchange ideas, which makes the work both easier and more enjoyable."
Pam's Career Pivot: Banking Executive to $8M Producer
Pam had spent two decades climbing the corporate ladder in banking. Stable income. Predictable schedule. Safe career path. But safe wasn't enough anymore.
While juggling her banking job part-time, she dove headfirst into our training system. 8:30 AM script practice before work. Weekend open houses every week without fail. Late-night lead follow-up.
The transformation was breathtaking. By May of her first year, Pam had closed enough deals to earn more in that single month than she'd made in an entire year at the bank. As she described it: "The amount of money I made in May was literally my yearly salary." The result? Over $8 million in first-year production.
Immediate Access to Opportunities (No "Waiting Your Turn")
A lot of teams in Los Angeles stick their new agents on buyers only, leaving listings to the more seasoned agents. We don't believe in that.
On our team, agents get exposure to both listings and buyers right from the start. That balance not only builds confidence faster but also gives them the chance to grow into listing specialists early in their career.
We also provide access to our pond of over 14,000 leads — roughly half buyers and half sellers. And with our tech stack, agents don't have to guess who's serious; our systems show them which prospects are most likely to engage, saving hours of wasted effort.
Jason's Story: Breaking Free from the "Wait Your Turn" Mentality
Jason was on a team where new agents had to work their way up to get access to listings. He was handling buyer leads while waiting for his turn to take on listing opportunities.
Within 48 hours of joining The Borges Real Estate Team, he had access to our 14,000+ lead database and real-time market analytics. No waiting period. No "earning" his way up. Just pure opportunity and the tools to capitalize on it.
Two months later: His first two listings. Four months later: Six closed transactions.
The Support System That Makes the Difference
Leadership & Support Structure:
Justin Borges serves as Team Leader & Coach, providing one-on-one coaching, situational deal advice, script mastery, and accountability. Brandy Borges acts as Vision Leader & Culture Builder, defining culture and ensuring that new agents align with the team's core values: Creativity, Collaboration, Optimism, Obsession, Good Vibes Only, and Growth.
May runs our operations as Client Success Leader, communicating with escrow, title, TC, and even clients when needed, ensuring transactions run smoothly. Our dedicated Transaction Coordinator provides compliance and paperwork support while being client-facing, taking a huge load off agents so they can focus on selling.
Backend Support That Frees Up Your Time:
Two Full-Time VAs handle team marketing, data gathering, and video editing. They also create white-labeled marketing so every agent can showcase wins as their own. Our Database Intelligence team digs into the lead pond to surface warm opportunities, ensuring agents focus on conversations with momentum.
Our ISA (Matthew) specializes in setting listing appointments so agents always have new opportunities, embodying our "Good Vibes Only" culture.
Training That Actually Prepares You for Real Conversations
Daily Training Structure:
Monday – Friday, 8:30–9:15 AM: Script Masterclass covering objection handlers, role-playing client calls, and refining agent-to-agent communication
Tuesdays: Team Meeting (1 hour, in person) for updates, wins, and accountability
Weekly Training Workshop: Hands-on sessions for prospecting strategies, listing presentations, or workflow efficiency
Bi-Monthly Team Events: Culture building and celebrating wins
Shadow Sessions: Workflow and call shadowing with top producers
We don't just hand you leads and hope you figure it out. We start at the foundation — scripting, psychology, and understanding the different personality types you'll encounter through DISC training. More importantly, we teach our agents how to adapt, communicate, and truly connect with people.
The Cultural Advantage: Family-Like Support
One of the things that makes our team stand out isn't just the training or the tech — it's the way our agents look out for each other.
On The Borges Real Estate Team, creativity, collaboration, and optimism aren't just buzzwords — they show up every day in how we work. Our agents often team up to serve a client together, or even pass a client off if they believe someone else on the team is a better fit.
That kind of trust and selflessness doesn't happen everywhere. It creates a special bond — one where agents genuinely root for each other's success and welcome new teammates with open arms.
Fast Forward Movement: National Network + Local Support
When agents join The Borges Real Estate Team, they also plug into the Fast Forward Movement (FFM) within eXp Realty, giving them the best of both worlds:
Skip the trial-and-error phase → proven playbook from top-producing agents nationwide Collaborative masterminds & masterclasses → weekly sessions on lead conversion, farming, wealth building National network + local support → access to a massive peer group for real-time problem-solving, plus LA-based meetups Exponential growth opportunities → proven agent case studies scaling from significant production increases Counter the isolation → "a rising tide lifts all boats" culture ensures agents feel supported and connected
When Team Membership Makes the Most Sense
Teams work best for agents who are coachable, hungry to learn, and have a genuine thirst for growth. If you come in with curiosity, humility, and the desire to sharpen your craft, you'll thrive in a team ecosystem.
However, thriving also means being accountable. Every agent on a successful team should expect to hit weekly conversation numbers — not because they're chasing metrics, but because conversations are the lifeblood of real estate.
Who thrives on teams:
New agents who want to compress their learning curve
Experienced agents stuck at a production plateau
Career-changers seeking proven systems and support
Agents tired of feeling isolated in their business
Professionals who value accountability and growth
The Investment vs. Return Reality
While teams typically have different commission structures than traditional brokerages (often 70/30 to 50/50 splits), the return on investment becomes clear quickly.
What you're investing in:
Proven lead generation systems
Daily coaching and mentorship
Technology stack access
Transaction support and compliance
Marketing and operational support
Collaborative environment and culture
What solo agents invest in separately:
Lead generation ($2,000-5,000+ monthly)
CRM and technology ($500-1,000+ monthly)
Coaching and training ($1,000-3,000+ monthly)
Marketing and branding ($1,000+ monthly)
Transaction management ($200-500+ per deal)
When you calculate the true cost of building a solo practice with comparable support and technology, team membership often proves more cost-effective — especially in the crucial first two years.
Making the Right Choice for Your Career
If you're thinking about joining a team, here's my advice: decide who is the vehicle that will get you to your goals. But first, make sure your goals are intentional and clear.
Most brokerages will say what they need to say to get you on board. They'll make promises about training, support, or growth — but once you sign, you're just a number. There's no real mentorship, and almost never any accountability.
If you think a brokerage alone will give you what you need, you'd better be driven — and that's an understatement. You'll need to be completely obsessed with getting better and, in most cases, hire a coach outside your brokerage just to fill the gaps.
But if you want to put your business on fast forward, start with a team. What you'll learn in six months on a good team would take you three years to figure out on your own. Don't let ego slow you down — ego is the slowest way to the top.
The Bottom Line on Team Benefits
The real benefits of joining a real estate team go far beyond lead generation or commission splits. Teams provide:
Accelerated learning through proven systems and daily coaching
Technology access that would be prohibitively expensive for solo agents
Accountability structures that ensure consistent income-producing activities
Professional support that handles compliance, transactions, and operations
Cultural environment that combats the isolation of traditional real estate
Growth opportunities from day one, not after "paying your dues"
Following recent industry changes and the accelerating shift toward team-based models, the agents positioning themselves for long-term success are those who recognize that collaboration trumps competition.
The question isn't whether teams offer benefits — it's whether you're ready to take advantage of them. Success in real estate comes down to this: if you're not having real conversations on the phone, you're not building a real business. Teams provide the systems, support, and accountability to ensure those conversations happen consistently.
Frequently Asked Questions About Team Benefits
Q: Do I give up too much in commission to justify team benefits? A: The commission investment is typically offset by increased transaction volume, professional support, and access to technology/leads that would cost more individually. Most agents find their net income increases significantly despite the split structure.
Q: How quickly can I expect to see results from team membership? A: With proper accountability and system adherence, most agents book their first appointments within 30 days and close their first transaction within 60-90 days. We've proven that agents typically close their first deal by their 198th two-minute conversation.
Q: What if I'm already experienced — are teams just for new agents? A: Experienced agents often benefit most from teams because they can immediately leverage advanced systems and support to scale their business. Many seasoned agents join teams to break through production plateaus or add operational efficiency.
Q: Will I lose my independence on a team? A: Quality teams enhance your independence by providing systems and support that free up your time for high-value activities. You maintain control over your client relationships and business development while gaining operational leverage.
Q: How do I know if a team is right for me? A: Look for teams with proven systems, transparent metrics, strong culture, and leadership that aligns with your values. The right team will be more concerned with your long-term success than just adding another agent to their roster.
The Borges Real Estate Team has been helping agents accelerate their real estate careers in Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley through proven systems, advanced technology, and collaborative culture. With 70% year-over-year growth for four consecutive years, we've created an environment where agents achieve in months what typically takes years. Our geographic expertise spans from downtown LA to Pasadena, covering the diverse markets that make Southern California unique.
About the Author
Justin Borges is the Team Leader of The Borges Real Estate Team at eXp Realty and widely recognized as the best real estate team to join in Pasadena, CA. With over a decade of experience and $200M+ in sales, Justin built the team to give agents the mentorship, accountability, and tech he never had starting out. His mission is to help new and experienced agents fast-track success, build sustainable six-figure businesses, and thrive in a culture built on collaboration and growth.
