Should I Join a Local Brokerage or a National Brand? Here’s What Smart Agents Are Doing in 2025
If you’re debating whether to hang your license at a boutique local firm or go with a national brand, you’re not alone. It’s one of the most common questions agents ask when evaluating where to build (or rebuild) their business.
But what if you didn’t have to choose?
What if you could have:
The local support and community of a boutique firm
The infrastructure and brand power of a national brokerage
PLUS the reach and referral potential of a global network?
That’s exactly what you get with eXp Realty + the Shaina McAndrews Team.
Let’s break it down.
The Case for Local Brokerages
Local brokerages often promise:
Familiarity with the local market
A “close-knit” office culture
Hands-on support
But here’s what often happens:
Limited tools or outdated systems
Minimal mentorship unless you’re a top producer
No reach beyond your ZIP code
You're locked into outdated marketing strategies and commission splits
You're paying the same high split every year—no cap, no exit strategy
Sound familiar?
What About National Brand Brokerages?
National brands like Keller Williams, Compass, and Coldwell Banker often offer:
Strong brand recognition
Some national training or referral network
Structured teams or coaching
But:
Franchise offices = wildly inconsistent support
Franchise fees cut into your income
Innovation is slow due to layers of bureaucracy
Most "national brands" don’t function as one company—they’re a patchwork of independent offices
Why Stop at National? Join a Global Brokerage That Moves With You
eXp Realty is more than a national brokerage—it’s a global real estate platform operating in 24+ countries and expanding rapidly.
That means:
You can earn referral income across borders—Canada, Mexico, Portugal, India, South Africa, and more
You build your business with no territory limits
You can grow your network globally while still dominating locally
You keep 80–100% commission, with no franchise or royalty fees
You plug into a cloud-based world that’s built for the way agents work today
But What About Local Support?
This is where The Shaina McAndrews Team bridges the gap between global scale and local connection.
When you join eXp through Shaina, you get:
A Philly-area leadership team rooted in Bryn Mawr, Ambler, Montgomery County, Philadelphia, and Philly suburbs
Weekly in-person mastermind events
Open house and referral opportunities across the region
Hands-on mentorship and business planning
National training via Fast Forward Movement + Honey Badgers
Global collaboration with agents from every state and dozens of countries
Why settle for a brokerage that stops at your state line?
Want More Than Just a Bigger Logo?
At eXp, you can:
Earn stock in the company
Create passive income through revenue share
Access cutting-edge tools like kvCORE, Skyslope, and marketing campaigns
Plug into pre-built lead funnels and email automations
Get coaching from agents doing $20M, $50M, even $100M+ in production
We combine local culture with international opportunity—and we support agents at every stage of their business.
So, Should You Join a Local Brokerage or a National One?
Neither. You should join a brokerage that gives you BOTH—and then some.
Local support, in-person events, and boots-on-the-ground guidance
National and international reach, brand credibility, and collaboration
A mentor and team who don’t just cheer you on—we get in the trenches with you
Want to Explore the Best of Both Worlds?
Here’s how to get started:
Click “Get Started”
When prompted, list:
First Name: Shaina
Last Name: McAndrews
Complete your application (10 minutes max)
Email Shaina at Shaina@MontcoLiving.com
Or Schedule a Private Tour
Want to attend a local mastermind or visit eXp World with us?
Book a discovery call: https://calendly.com/agentshainamc
Don’t settle for local or national. Choose global—and rooted.
With eXp Realty and the Shaina McAndrews Team, you’ll scale faster, earn more, and build a brand that goes beyond borders.
