Hey guys, is it better to be a renter or a homeowner in today’s world? Especially with the rise of digital nomads and people wanting maximum flexibility—being able to live anywhere and work from anywhere.

There’s a strong attraction for that lifestyle, especially for Gen Z. Some in real estate worry: “Will Gen Z still buy homes like Gen X did?”

The reality is in the numbers, and we need to educate them.

Here’s a stark comparison: the average homeowner has 43 times the net worth of the average renter.

Average renter: ~$10,000 net worth

Average homeowner: ~$430,000 net worth

The reasons are many, but the number one factor is leverage.

Let me give you an example. The Wall Street Journal recently published an article comparing real estate to the stock market. They said if you had invested in the S&P 500 over the last 30 years instead of buying a house, you would have made more money.

That’s misleading, because they ignored leverage. Let’s break it down:

Imagine someone gives you $...

Hey guys, what do you think is the average age of a REALTOR in the United States?

For the 35 years I’ve been in the business, we’ve been hearing—and I was a part of it when I got in at 19—that a whole wave of 20-somethings and 30-somethings would enter the business. We kept hearing that REALTORS were getting younger.

Guess what? The average age of a REALTOR today is still 53 years old.

Yes, we do see some younger people getting in—I was one of them. I have young people working for me, and I’ve got young people working at our companies. But the reality is, the average age is still 53.

Why does this matter when it comes to recruiting and retention?

Because we’ve got to be mindful of how we build out our companies. We’re constantly told to design everything for Gen Z or even Gen Alpha—but that’s not true.

The vast majority of your agents are going to be Gen Xers like me. They’re going to be in their 50s. I’m 55. That’s your actual market.

When you're building out your office, your ...