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Brokerage Comparison

LPT vs The Agency: Structural Comparison (2026)

Doug Smart
July 28, 2026
15 min read
LPT vs The Agency: Structural Comparison (2026)

Key Takeaway: LPT Realty and The Agency are two U.S. brokerages with different structural models. LPT operates two capped commission plans (Blueprint at $15,000 and Brokerage Builder at $5,000), no franchise fees, a seven-tier revenue share program distributing 50% of company dollars, and an agent stock award program. The Agency uses negotiated splits with a 6% combined royalty and marketing fee, no standardized cap, and no revenue share or agent equity programs.

TL;DR About LPT vs The Agency

  • LPT Realty is a privately held cloud-based brokerage
  • The Agency is a privately held luxury franchise brokerage
  • LPT runs Blueprint and Brokerage Builder commission plans
  • Blueprint caps at $15,000 and Brokerage Builder at $5,000
  • The Agency uses 6% combined royalty plus marketing fee
  • LPT offers seven-tier revenue share and stock awards
  • The Agency offers no revenue share or equity programs

LPT Realty and The Agency are two real estate brokerages operating in the United States with structurally distinct business models. LPT Realty is a privately held, cloud-based brokerage operating through two plan-based commission structures (Blueprint and Brokerage Builder) with capped brokerage costs, no franchise or royalty fees, and a seven-tier revenue share program. The Agency is a privately held luxury and residential brokerage with negotiated commission splits, a 6% combined royalty and marketing fee, no standardized production cap, and physical offices concentrated in upscale residential markets.

Agents sometimes group the two together as cloud-versus-luxury alternatives, but the models differ across multiple structural dimensions including fee architecture, office infrastructure, brand positioning, agent equity programs, and revenue share design.

This article is part of our broader brokerage comparisons library at SmartAgentAlliance.com, built to help agents compare brokerage models, fees, caps, revenue share, equity opportunities, and support structures before choosing where to hang their license.

This article outlines the structural differences between LPT Realty and The Agency across commission plans and fees, total annual cost at different production levels, revenue share, training, technology, culture, stock and equity programs, and agent support:

Commission Structure

The information below is provided for general comparison purposes only, based on sources available at the time of writing. Any plan summaries, figures, or calculation examples are illustrative only. Agents should verify all current terms directly with the brokerage they are evaluating before making a decision.

LPT Realty

LPT Realtyoffers two distinct plans so agents can choose the structure that fits their production level:

Blueprint Plan (BP)

  • 80/20 split until you reach the annual production cap
  • $15,000 cap – once you have paid $15K to the brokerage, you keep 100% minus a per-transaction fee
  • $195 per transaction post-cap (and on all transactions as a processing fee)
  • $89/month in monthly fees
  • $500/year annual fee
  • $0 franchise or royalty fees
  • E&O insurance included at no additional cost

Brokerage Builder Plan (BB)

  • $500 flat fee per transaction – no percentage split
  • $5,000 cap – once you have paid $5K in transaction fees, you move to the post-cap rate
  • $195 per transaction post-cap
  • $149/month in monthly fees
  • $500/year annual fee
  • $0 franchise or royalty fees
  • E&O insurance included at no additional cost

The Brokerage Builder Plan is structured around a flat per-transaction fee model, while the Blueprint Plan applies a percentage split until cap. Both plans apply a brokerage-cost cap structure (Blueprint at $15,000, Brokerage Builder at $5,000), differentiating them from traditional uncapped split models.

The Agency

The Agency operates on a luxury brokerage model with negotiated splits and no standardized cap:

  • 70/30 to 90/10 split depending on the office, your production history, and your negotiating position
  • 6% total in fees on top of the split – approximately 5% franchise royalty plus 1% marketing fee
  • No standardized production cap – the brokerage takes a percentage of every deal you close regardless of annual volume
  • Transaction fees included in the royalty structure at most offices
  • E&O insurance approximately $1,900/year (unverified, varies by office)
  • Monthly fees vary by office and market

The Agency operates with a distinct luxury market positioning, modern brand aesthetic, and high-production marketing standards. Its fee structure pairs negotiated commission splits with a 6% combined royalty and marketing fee on top of the split, with no standardized production cap.

Total Annual Cost at Different Production Levels

LPT Realty Fee Schedules

Fee Type

Blueprint Plan (BP)

Brokerage Builder Plan (BB)

Commission split

80/20 until $15K cap

$500 flat per transaction until $5K cap

Monthly fee

$89/month ($1,068/year)

$149/month ($1,788/year)

Annual fee

$500/year

$500/year

Post-cap transaction fee

$195/transaction

$195/transaction

E&O insurance

$0 (included)

$0 (included)

Franchise/royalty fee

$0

$0

The Agency Fee Schedule (Ranges by Office)

Fee Type

Amount

Commission split

70/30 to 90/10 (negotiated by office)

Cap

No standardized cap

Franchise/royalty fee

~5% (on top of split)

Marketing fee

~1% (on top of split)

Transaction fee

Included in royalty structure

E&O insurance

~$1,900/year (estimated, unverified)

Monthly fee

Varies by office

What an Agent Producing $250,000 in GCI Actually Pays

LPT Realty – Blueprint Plan (BP), assuming 25 transactions:

  • Commission to brokerage (20% until $15K cap): $15,000
  • Annual fee: $500
  • Monthly fees ($89 x 12): $1,068
  • Post-cap transaction fees ($195 x 15 post-cap transactions): $2,925
  • Pre-cap transaction fees ($195 x 10 transactions to reach cap): included in above
  • E&O: $0
  • Estimated total cost: ~$19,493
  • Net to agent: ~$230,507 (92.2%)

LPT Realty – Brokerage Builder Plan (BB), assuming 25 transactions:

  • Transaction fees to cap ($500 x 10 to reach $5K cap): $5,000
  • Annual fee: $500
  • Monthly fees ($149 x 12): $1,788
  • Post-cap transaction fees ($195 x 15): $2,925
  • E&O: $0
  • Estimated total cost: ~$10,213
  • Net to agent: ~$239,787 (95.9%)

The Agency (mid-range estimates, 75/25 split, 25 transactions):

  • Commission to brokerage at 75/25 split (no cap): $62,500
  • Franchise royalty (~5% layered on office share): embedded in split structure
  • Marketing fee (~1%): embedded in split structure
  • E&O (estimated ~$1,900/year): $1,900
  • Additional fees (monthly, admin, varies): ~$2,400
  • Estimated total cost: ~$66,800
  • Estimated net to agent: ~$183,200 (73.3%)

Revenue Share and Passive Income

LPT Realty

LPT Realty distributes 50% of company dollars back to agents through a 7-tier revenue share program:

Tier

Who Is In It

Your Share (% of company dollars)

Tier 1

Agents you directly attract

Highest percentage

Tier 2

Attracted by your Tier 1 agents

Second tier share

Tier 3

Third level

Third tier share

Tier 4

Fourth level

Fourth tier share

Tier 5

Fifth level

Fifth tier share

Tier 6

Sixth level

Sixth tier share

Tier 7

Seventh level

Seventh tier share

LPT’s revenue share pool is 50% of company dollars across 7 tiers, giving agents a path to passive income that grows as the agents they attract build their own production. Income is willable to heirs, creating a legacy income stream that does not depend on you actively selling real estate.

The Agency

The Agency does not offer revenue share, profit share, or any form of passive income for agents. There is no retirement income path and no willable income stream tied to the brokerage.

Agent income at The Agency is generated entirely through personal commission earnings on closed transactions. The model does not include a willable income stream, retirement income path tied to the brand, or referral-based passive income compensation.

Training and Professional Development

LPT Realty

  • 24/7 agent support through virtual channels
  • Online training resources and webinars available to all agents
  • Access to a growing national agent community
  • Training included as part of the plan at no additional cost

The Agency

  • Training varies by office and market
  • Some offices run mentorship programs and in-office training for newer agents
  • The luxury brand environment provides exposure to high-end marketing and presentation standards
  • Franchise structure means each office determines its own training investment

Neither brokerage is structured around a centralized intensive coaching program. LPT delivers training virtually through a centralized platform that applies consistently across the agent base. The Agency’s training is delivered at the office level, with depth and structure varying by individual office and franchise owner investment.

Technology and Tools

LPT Realty

  • Cloud-based transaction management and agent tools
  • Marketing resources included in the plan
  • CRM and workflow tools accessible to all agents
  • Technology platform designed for an agent workforce that works remotely and independently

The Agency

  • High-production marketing materials and luxury listing presentation tools
  • Global property distribution network for premium listings
  • The Agency’s brand identity and visual standards are among the most recognized in luxury real estate
  • Technology resources vary by office

LPT’s technology stack is built around a cloud-native operating model with platform-based tools available to agents from any location. The Agency’s technology pairs office-level tools with brand-consistent luxury marketing infrastructure used in high-end listing presentation. The two address different operating profiles within the agent market.

Culture and Work Environment

LPT Realty: Cloud-Based, Flexible, Fee-Focused

LPT Realty is built around independence and cost efficiency. Agents work from wherever they choose, with no desk fees or mandatory office presence. The company has grown rapidly by offering two distinct plan options – appealing to a broad range of production levels – and by building a revenue share model that rewards agents for attracting other productive agents. The culture skews toward entrepreneurial agents who want low overhead and control over how they build their business.

The Agency: Luxury Brand, Premium Positioning

The Agency has built one of the most visually distinctive brands in residential real estate. Its offices are typically in affluent areas, the marketing materials are polished and premium, and the company attracts agents who want their brokerage affiliation to signal exclusivity to clients. The culture is aligned around the luxury market – client experience, listing presentation quality, and brand prestige are central to the value proposition.

Agents at The Agency tend to work in higher price-point markets where the brand name carries weight with sellers who want a premium brokerage. The networking environment within The Agency provides peer connections concentrated in upscale residential markets.

Stock, Equity, and Wealth Building

LPT Realty

LPT Realty is not publicly traded, but offers agents stock awards as part of its agent incentive program. This gives agents a path to ownership in the company separate from their transaction income. Revenue share adds an additional wealth-building layer – income that accrues from the production of agents in your network, willable to heirs.

The Agency

The Agency is a privately held company. Agents have no equity participation, no stock award programs, and no ownership stake in the brokerage. There is no passive income program and no willable income stream. Wealth building at The Agency comes entirely from commission income earned on closed transactions.

Agent Support

LPT Realty

  • 24/7 agent support available through virtual channels
  • Consistent support access regardless of location or time zone
  • Broker support accessible without scheduling around office hours

The Agency

  • Support is office-based and varies by location
  • Some offices have dedicated support staff and strong broker availability
  • Leaner offices may provide less administrative support
  • No standardized 24/7 support infrastructure across the network

Glassdoor Agent Reviews

Glassdoor reviews give a view into how agents at each company describe their experience. LPT Realty has 70 reviews with an overall rating of 3.5 stars – however, agents who specifically identify as real estate agents rate the company 4.6 out of 5 stars, suggesting the experience is rated highly by those actually working as agents in the field. The broader 3.5 average may reflect staff or non-agent employees.

The Agency has 84 reviews with an overall rating of 4.0 stars. This reflects a consistent luxury brand experience and generally positive feedback from agents at the offices where the brand and culture are well established.

Both review sets are relatively small samples, and experience can vary significantly by office and market in both cases.

What Agents Also Ask

How is LPT’s commission plan structured compared with The Agency?

LPT Realty uses two standardized commission plans: Blueprint (80/20 split with a $15,000 cap) and Brokerage Builder ($500 flat per-transaction with a $5,000 cap). The Agency uses negotiated splits ranging from 70/30 to 90/10 by office, with a 6% combined royalty and marketing fee applied on top of the split and no standardized cap.

What does LPT Realty’s revenue share distribute?

LPT Realty’s revenue share program distributes 50% of company dollars across seven tiers tied to attracted-agent activity. Income is willable to heirs, providing a structural component beyond direct commission earnings. The Agency does not operate a revenue share or profit share program.

Does either brokerage operate in luxury market segments?

The Agency is positioned as a luxury and residential brokerage with concentrated office presence in upscale markets. LPT Realty operates without a luxury-segment positioning or price-point restriction; agents at LPT may handle transactions across all price ranges under the standardized national plan structure.

What stock and equity programs does each brokerage provide?

LPT Realty operates as a privately held company and includes an agent stock award program as part of its agent incentive structure, providing an ownership-based component beyond commission earnings. The Agency operates as a privately held company and does not offer stock awards or agent equity participation as part of standard agent compensation.

Why This Matters

Many agents comparing LPT Realty and The Agency are also evaluating how both models compare with eXp Realty’s cloud-based structure, standardized cap, revenue share, equity opportunities, and sponsor ecosystem. For that comparison, see eXp Realty vs LPT Realty and eXp Realty vs The Agency.

You can also learn more about how eXp Realty works and why choosing the right eXp sponsor can affect the support, systems, training, and resources you receive after joining.

To compare additional brokerage models, return to the brokerage comparisons library.

What Is the LPT Realty Brokerage?

LPT Realty is a privately held, cloud-based real estate brokerage founded in 2022 by Robert Palmer. The company has grown to more than 20,000 agents operating in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and multiple Canadian provinces. Because LPT has no branch offices to maintain, its commission plans stay capped at $15,000 (Blueprint) or $5,000 (Brokerage Builder) with no franchise or royalty fees layered on top.

LPT’s scale shows up in independent verification data as well. RealTrends reports 21,055 active licensed agents at LPT, with 61,041 transaction sides and $23.62 billion in sales volume most recently reported. In the 2026 RealTrends Verified rankings, 155 individual LPT agents and 162 LPT teams earned placement, including eight teams in the national top 14 by transaction sides.

  • Founded 2022 by Robert Palmer
  • More than 20,000 agents across all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and multiple Canadian provinces
  • 21,055 active licensed agents and $23.62 billion in reported sales volume (RealTrends Verified)
  • 155 individual agents and 162 teams placed in the 2026 RealTrends Verified rankings

LPT Realty vs The Agency at a Glance

Category

LPT Realty

The Agency

Commission split

80/20 (Blueprint) or $500 flat/transaction (Brokerage Builder)

70/30 to 90/10, negotiated by office

Annual cap

$15,000 (Blueprint) / $5,000 (Brokerage Builder)

No standardized cap

Franchise/royalty fee

$0

~6% combined (royalty + marketing)

Revenue share

7-tier program, 50% of company dollars

None

Stock/equity program

Yes, agent stock award program

None

E&O insurance

Included at no cost

~$1,900/year (estimated, varies by office)

LPT Realty Stock and Equity Program

LPT Realty runs an agent stock award program tied to production and recruiting milestones, on top of its two commission plans. Because LPT is privately held, these are pre-IPO shares rather than shares in a publicly traded company, so they carry different liquidity and risk characteristics than stock programs at publicly traded brokerages. Awards vest over time and generally require the agent to remain active with LPT to keep them.

LPT’s own compensation guide is the authoritative source for current award tiers, share counts, and vesting terms. Agents evaluating LPT against The Agency, which offers no equity or stock program of any kind, should request LPT’s current compensation and stock plan documents directly before comparing the two on this dimension.

LPT Realty vs The Agency: Pros and Cons

LPT Realty pros:

  • Capped brokerage cost ($15,000 or $5,000 depending on plan) with no franchise or royalty fees
  • 7-tier revenue share program returning 50% of company dollars to agents
  • Agent stock award program not available at The Agency
  • E&O insurance included at no additional cost

LPT Realty cons:

  • A younger brokerage (founded 2022) with a shorter track record than legacy franchise brands
  • Cloud-based model with no physical branch office, which some agents prefer for walk-in support
  • Revenue share and stock awards depend on production and recruiting activity

The Agency pros:

  • Established luxury brand positioning and high-production marketing standards
  • Negotiated splits can reach 90/10 for high-producing agents in a strong negotiating position
  • Physical offices concentrated in upscale residential markets

The Agency cons:

  • No standardized production cap, so the brokerage takes a percentage of every deal regardless of annual volume
  • 6% combined royalty and marketing fee on top of the negotiated split
  • No revenue share or agent equity program of any kind

Bottom Line

LPT Realty and The Agency serve different agent priorities. LPT’s capped, fee-transparent model with revenue share and stock awards suits agents who want predictable brokerage costs and a path to build a team-based income stream on top of commissions. The Agency’s negotiated-split, no-cap model suits established luxury producers who value brand prestige and physical office presence over a capped cost structure or equity program. Agents weighing both should request current written compensation plans from each brokerage, since splits, caps, and fees can change and vary by office.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. LPT Realty offers two capped plans. The Blueprint Plan caps at $15,000 in commission paid to the brokerage (80/20 split until cap), after which agents pay $195 per transaction. The Brokerage Builder Plan caps at $5,000 in flat transaction fees ($500 per transaction until cap), after which agents pay $195 per transaction.
The Agency does not have a revenue share, profit share, or any passive income program. All income at The Agency comes from closed transactions. LPT Realty offers a 7-tier revenue share program that distributes 50% of company dollars, with willable income that can be passed to heirs.
The two plans differ in fee architecture and cap level. The Brokerage Builder Plan applies a $500 flat fee per transaction with a $5,000 cap and $149 monthly fee. The Blueprint Plan applies an 80/20 split with a $15,000 cap and $89 monthly fee. At 25 transactions and $250,000 GCI, the Brokerage Builder Plan totals approximately $10,213 in this illustrative scenario, while the Blueprint Plan totals approximately $19,493.
Nothing prevents agents from selling luxury properties under the LPT brand. The key question is whether your luxury clients care about the brokerage affiliation or your personal reputation and results. The structural distinction is that LPT operates without a luxury-segment brand positioning, so agents working luxury properties at LPT rely on personal brand and track record for client acquisition. Agents whose listing acquisition depends on the brokerage brand carrying weight with high-end clients may evaluate luxury-positioned brokerages.
LPT Realty has an overall Glassdoor rating of 3.5 stars from 70 reviews, but agents who specifically identify their role as real estate agent rate it 4.6 stars. The Agency has a 4.0 overall rating from 84 reviews. Both sample sizes are relatively small, and individual experience varies significantly by office.
E&O (errors and omissions) insurance is included at no additional cost under both LPT Realty plans. The Agency requires agents to carry their own E&O coverage, estimated at approximately $1,900 per year though this figure is unverified and varies by office and state.
LPT Realty is a privately held, cloud-based real estate brokerage founded in 2022 by Robert Palmer. It operates in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and multiple Canadian provinces, supporting more than 20,000 agents through two commission plans, a seven-tier revenue share program, and an agent stock award program.
Yes. LPT Realty is a licensed, actively operating brokerage. RealTrends Verified data reports 21,055 active licensed agents and 61,041 transaction sides most recently, and 155 individual LPT agents plus 162 LPT teams earned placement in the 2026 RealTrends Verified rankings, including eight teams in the national top 14 by transaction sides.
LPT Realty offers two plans. The Blueprint Plan uses an 80/20 split until a $15,000 annual cap, after which agents pay a $195 per-transaction fee. The Brokerage Builder Plan charges a flat $500 per transaction until a $5,000 cap, then the same $195 post-cap fee. Neither plan charges franchise or royalty fees.
Yes. LPT Realty distributes 50% of company dollars back to agents through a seven-tier revenue share program based on the agents each participant attracts to the brokerage.
LPT Realty uses capped commission plans ($15,000 or $5,000) with no franchise fees, plus a revenue share program and stock awards. The Agency uses negotiated splits of 70/30 to 90/10 with a 6% combined royalty and marketing fee, no standardized cap, and no revenue share or equity program. LPT is cloud-based; The Agency operates through physical offices focused on luxury markets.
RealTrends Verified data reports 21,055 active licensed agents at LPT Realty, while the brokerage’s own mid-2026 announcements cite more than 20,000 agents across all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and multiple Canadian provinces.
Yes. LPT Realty runs an agent stock award program tied to production and recruiting milestones, structured as pre-IPO equity since the company is privately held. Agents should confirm current award tiers and vesting terms directly with LPT before factoring equity into a brokerage decision.

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Doug Smart

Doug Smart

Co-Founder, Smart Agent Alliance

Licensed real estate agent - license #02191298 (CA) - Brokered by eXp Realty

Top 1% eXp team builder. Designed and built this website, the agent portal, and the systems and automations powering production workflows and attraction tools across the organization.

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