Reasons Why There’s a Low Real Estate Agent Success Rate

If any other industry had numbers like this, people would panic. The real estate agent success rate is shockingly low: only 13 out of every 100 new agents will still be in business after just five years. That means an eye-opening 87 percent dropout rate.

Now imagine if a disease had that kind of devastation rate. The world would stop.

But this isn’t fiction. This is real. And if you’re in real estate, it’s your livelihood at stake.

Common Agent Mistakes That Contribute to the Low Real Estate Success Rate

1. Interested vs. Committed

Being casually interested is not enough. When you’re only interested, you take action when it’s convenient. When you’re committed, you take consistent action no matter what. This difference separates those who thrive from those who struggle.

If you’re not all-in, you’re more likely to be part of the statistic contributing to the low real estate agent success rate.

2. Not Thinking Strategically

Do you know your local market inside and out? Can you speak confidently about what’s selling and what’s sitting?

Success in real estate demands more than charm. It requires strategy. You need to review market data, analyze trends, and position yourself as the knowledge broker. Without this foundation, it’s nearly impossible to beat the odds and improve your real estate career success rate.

3. Fear of Mistakes and a Need to Look Good

Too many agents are afraid to fail. They avoid trying new things because they’re scared of looking unprofessional or not having all the answers.

But mistakes are where growth happens. They teach you what works and what doesn’t. Every successful agent has made them. The key is to fail forward and keep learning. This mindset is essential for raising your own real estate success rate.

4. No Role Model or the Wrong One

Having a strong mentor or model is vital. Too many agents try to figure it out on their own or follow people who don’t actually walk the walk.

You need someone who has achieved the success you want, both in business and in life, and whose strategies align with the modern market. Emulating the right person gives you a proven roadmap to success.

5. Inconsistent Lead Generation

Marketing once a week is not going to cut it. Think about your business like a gas station that’s only open for one hour each week. Would anyone bother stopping by?

Your number one job is attracting clients. That means prioritizing lead generation, follow-up, and conversion every single day. This is one of the biggest factors that directly impacts the real estate success rate across the industry.

6. Treating It Like a 9-to-5 Job

Real estate is not a job. It’s a business. And successful businesses don’t close at 6 PM.

If you want to survive your first year, and build momentum beyond that, you need to hustle early mornings, evenings, and weekends. Agents who treat this like a true business see results. Those who don’t risk joining the 87 percent.

7. Lack of Sales Skills

The core skills of this business are sales, marketing, and negotiation. Yet, many agents enter the industry with zero experience in any of those areas.

If you’re serious about improving your real estate success rate, start learning how to handle objections, negotiate effectively, and market yourself with confidence. Mastery of these three skills is non-negotiable.

8. No Measurable Goals

Do you know how many leads it takes for you to close one sale? If you don’t, you’re operating on hope rather than data.

When you break your goals down into trackable numbers and measure progress regularly, your business becomes predictable. And predictability leads to progress. Progress improves your success rate.

9. Poor Scheduling and Weak Routines

Your routines determine your results. If your schedule isn’t aligned with your goals, your outcomes will always fall short.

Top agents create structured days, prioritize high-impact tasks, and hold themselves accountable. If you want to raise your own real estate success rate, build a schedule that reflects your ambition and stick to it.

10. Lack of Financial Management

Real estate is not a get-rich-quick career. It requires smart investments in tools, training, and marketing.

Without solid financial planning, agents burn through their savings or fail to invest in what their business needs. Smart financial habits are a hidden but essential factor in boosting your real estate success rate.

Now You Know Why the Real Estate Agent Success Rate Is So Low

So the real question is: What are you going to do with this information?

Will you continue doing what most agents do and risk becoming another statistic?

Or will you take control, get serious about your growth, and raise your own real estate success rate starting today?

Let me know in the comments where you need support and what you’re committing to change.