A prolonged housing crunch is turning the real estate market into a game where experience matters more than ever. According to the 2026 Member Profile released by the National Association of REALTORS^® (NAR) on Thursday, the typical real estate agent now has 13 years of experience, up from 12 years in last year’s report.

Seasoned Industry

Despite enduring a sluggish market for several years, real estate professionals are choosing to stay put. The survey reveals that 75% of members are highly confident they will remain active in the business for at least the next two years, a slight increase from 74% in the previous cycle.

“The real estate market has been operating under suppressed conditions for more than three years, and yet the typical REALTOR^® continues to gain experience and stay committed to the profession,” said Jessica Lautz, NAR Deputy Chief Economist. “What we are seeing is a more seasoned industry—professionals who are leaning on referrals, repeat clients and deep market knowledge to navigate one of the most challenging buyer environments in decades.”

Challenges in the Market

The largest hurdle keeping buyers on the sidelines right now is the cost of buying a home. The report found that 27% of agents cite housing affordability as the number one factor limiting potential clients from making a purchase. A lack of available housing inventory was the second largest obstacle at 12%, followed closely by the difficulty of finding the right property at 11%.

This friction has created an environment where certain buyers have a distinct advantage over others. “Today’s market is sharply divided between repeat buyers with housing equity who can move with relative ease and first-time buyers who are struggling to save for a down payment,” Lautz said.

To navigate these tighter conditions, an increasing number of agents are pooling their resources. For the first time, NAR’s annual survey separated individual and team transaction data to get a clearer picture of how its 1,438,569 members operate. The data shows that 21% of agents now work as part of a team, with teams averaging four members.

The strategy appears to yield a higher volume of business. Individual brokerage specialists reported a median of nine transaction sides in 2025, bringing in a median sales volume of $2.7 million. In contrast, team-based specialists pulled in a median of 32 transaction sides, resulting in a median sales volume of $17.5 million.

Original reporting: Tampa Free Press — read the source article.