Why Most Real Estate Agents Will FAIL in 2025 (And Deserve It)

[Kyle Reedstrom]

Hey-o it's Kyle from Fargo and I'm always feeling a bit spicy on Tuesdays.  

I think good friends and people you truly care about show you love by telling the truth.   So I feel like calling out my fellow real estate agents today (and myself in the process).  

Let's be real....2025 is separating the winners from the whiners in real estate. If you're struggling, it's probably because of one (or several) of these reasons:

🔥 1. You Still Think You're a "People Person"—But You’re a Dinosaur
Gone are the days of schmoozing your way to a deal. Buyers and sellers don’t need your charming personality; they need a strategic negotiator and a marketing powerhouse.  Oh and also...they need someone that's up to date on contract changes, contract law, and definitely the new rules with the NAR settlement.    If you're not leveraging AI, data analytics, and aggressive digital marketing, you're getting crushed by those who are. You can still be kind...we nice...and serve like crazy, but the "smile and sell" era is dead—adapt or die.

💰 2. You’re Lazy and Entitled—Blaming the Market Instead of Your Skills
Yes, interest rates are up. Yes, inventory is weird.  Yes it costs 60% more to build...ANYTHING these days.  But guess what? Deals are still happening!  Just not for agents who refuse to prospect aggressively, create systems for their business, or pivot away from old strategies. The ones who complain about "how hard it is" or "how tough this market has been" are the ones who refuse to put in the work. Real estate is a business, not a hobby.

🚗 3. You’re Acting Like an Uber Driver, Not a Deal Closer
Stop thinking your job is to “show homes.”  Zillow, Redfin, and AI-powered searches have made house shopping a skill for anyone with a phone and a pair of eyeballs.   Buyers don’t need a tour guide—they need someone who has studied how houses function, can out-negotiate other buyers, and structure offers that WIN. If your only value is opening doors, guess what? You're replaceable.

💡 4. You Refuse to Build a REAL Brand
If your entire marketing strategy is just posting "Just Listed" and "Just Sold" on Facebook, you deserve to fail. In 2025, real estate is a branding game. Buyers are working with agents they trust.   Buyers are working with agents with reputation.  Buyers are working with agents who like-what-they-like.   The agents who are dominating are leveraging short-form video, email marketing, and personal branding that screams authority. The rest? They’re begging for leads while their competition wins.

Harsh truth: The industry isn’t failing...it might just be you.  So if you’re failing, ask yourself: Are you evolving, or are you just making excuses?

Drop your thoughts below—are agents failing because of the market, or are they just getting exposed? 👇🔥

Cheers,

Kyle from Fargo 🚀