Behind The Scenes of My Best Year In Real Estate Yet (And A Look To The Year Ahead)

Real estate is one of those careers where you really aren’t ever sure what you’re gonna get. Some years are insanely busy, while others are a little slower. It’s a career that takes a whole lot of grit and I’ll be honest, it’s not for the weak. 

In my 11 years in the industry, I’ve learned that not everyone who starts out in real estate will last. It takes someone willing to put in the hard work, build relationships, be a continuous learner, and fight for your transactions. 

In fact, only about 15-20% of realtors make it past year 5 with many exiting due to common challenges the industry faces, like inconsistent income, competitive markets, or the demanding nature of the work.

And I’ll be the first to admit – YES, it’s hard. Yes, you don’t always know when you’re getting your next paycheck. And yes, the schedule of the job sometimes means you have to miss moments on the weekend or work long hours to serve your clients. 

But it’s also insanely rewarding when you figure it out. And I’m truly proud to say that it finally feels like I’ve figured this thing out. 

In the past, I’ve ended some years feeling like “how can I keep doing this.” And I’ve also experienced the opposite – the feeling of “I was made for this.”

But I think I’m most proud of 2024. So much so that I’ve possibly even deemed it the best year I’ve EVER had for a few reasons, which I’m going to explain in this blog post. 

Keep reading for my celebration and farewell to 2024 and my hopeful excitement for 2025!

BTS of The Real Estate Collective in 2024

I want to preface all of this by saying that I’m not just proud of our year because of what we accomplished, but more so because of the conditions we faced all. year. long. in the real estate industry. 

If you ask any Realtor, I'm willing to bet that many would agree that 2024 was one of the most challenging they’ve ever experienced. The market has been pretty whack most months, inventory has been lower, interest rates have not been on our side, and it’s just felt like non-stop craziness and unknowns. 

In 2024, the nationwide average of homes sold by agents was 0-1. Let that sink in… the average agent only sold ZERO to ONE homes this year.  

And there’s a lot of factors that contributed to this lower average. Between the NAR lawsuit, the election, interest rates, home prices, inventory levels, and more, it was truly an uphill battle to prove our value and maintain good rapport in our communities.

Despite all of these challenges (and trust me, we were indeed impacted by the challenges), we were still honored to serve 37 families here at The Real Estate Collective! 🤯

The key, in my opinion? We leaned into the challenges and learned how to navigate all of it in a way that’s best for the consumer.

Oftentimes challenges and hardships cause agents to turn the other way or freeze completely. They want to wait until things go back to “normal,” but I’m here to say THIS is our new normal. 

Things will always be changing and there will always be updates and challenges to navigate. Which is why I believe there’s two options: learn how to make the most of it and reap the rewards OR get left behind. 

And I don’t say that to be harsh in any way. It’s just that I’ve seen it with my own eyes – the agents who are leaning in and learning and the ones who are falling into that nationwide average. 

You might be wondering though… how exactly did we serve 37 families this year? So, let’s break it down. ⬇️

Here at The Real Estate Collective, approximately 80% of our business in 2024 was thanks to a client referral or a repeat client. I really pride myself on building relationships that last far beyond the closing table. 

My goal isn’t just to help you buy or sell a home. In addition to that, I want to stay connected with you and truly be your realtor for life.

I want to watch the milestones that happen in your life – from getting married, having babies, landing your dream job, starting your business, sending your teens off to college, welcoming grandkids, and everything in between – and celebrate those with you!

The next 10% of families we served this year were brand new that found us via our ad and blog strategy where we meet them where they are and guide them into a home purchase or sale in Billings. From relocation clients, empty nesters, divorcees, and more, our blog is full of content designed to truly serve various situations and help you navigate it accordingly. 

Lastly, the final 10% came from agent to agent referrals, meaning other agents across the country referring me to their clients who are making a move to or from Billings. And that’s on the power of relationships.

If you follow me on Instagram, you’ve likely seen me talk about eXp before – the cloud-based real estate brokerage that really did change the game for me. I joined eXp in 2020 and haven’t looked back!

Through eXp, I’ve met so many amazing agents that live all across the country and as cliche as it may sound, it really IS a community that I’m so proud to be a part of. It’s a group that’s challenged me and taught me so much and really has helped shape me into the agent I am today. 

If you’re an agent and you’re looking for community that actually feels like community, while also learning, growing, and being challenged on a consistent basis, I’d love to chat with you about it! 

A Look To 2025

Overall, in 2024 we increased our business 42% with families served than 2023. The way we serve our people is beyond important to me and I'm so thankful that I get to do this every day.

While 2024 was seriously incredible, I’ve got my eye on 2025 and I have a feeling it’s going to be EVEN better. It’s already looking promising with multiple transactions already pending for January. 🎉

As I’ve mentioned multiple times throughout this blog post, relationships really are the key to so much in life and I can honestly say I’m not sure I would’ve seen so much success this year without the PEOPLE.

Which is why I want to share my 2025 goal with you because it really can’t happen without YOU. This year, I want to increase the number of families I serve to a whopping 50. 

The market will likely remain pretty unpredictable throughout the year and I know we’ll face a whole new set of challenges in the months to come, but my team and I are up for the challenge. 

If you’re looking to make a move to Billings this year or know someone who is, I’d love to help you or them navigate the process and get the outcome that is truly best for you. Simply click here to get started and let’s start the year off right. 

And if you aren’t looking to move to Billings, but still need a hand finding an agent in your area that will keep your best interest in mind? Well, I know people! Connect here and I’ll get you in touch with a trusted agent in your area to start the home buying process with ease!

P.S. If you know you want to buy in 2025, click here for the steps you can take NOW to make the process smooth sailing when the time comes. 🏠🔑