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Real Estate Sales & Brokerage in the US - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Jared Ristoff Jared Ristoff New York, United States Last Updated: November 2024 NAICS 53121

Revenue

$234.9bn

2024

$234.9bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XX.Xbn

Employees

1m

Businesses

1m

Wages

$XX.Xbn

Real Estate Sales & Brokerage in the US industry analysis

Real estate salespeople and brokers sell, buy, or rent real estate for others. The industry is closely aligned with the health of the US's residential and commercial real estate markets. Revenue is directly correlated with property prices and real estate transaction volumes, and agents are paid entirely on a commission basis, receiving a fee only when they close a deal. Also, the residential market accounts for most of industry revenue, making real estate sales sensitive to fluctuations in housing prices and existing home sales.

Trends and Insights

  • High mortgage rates in the past few years have severely impacted the real estate market, causing a steep drop in existing home sales and pricing out many potential buyers. However, the Federal Reserve's recent interest rate cuts provide some relief.
  • The residential real estate market has significantly slowed, with 2023 seeing the lowest existing home sales in almost 30 years because of high mortgage rates and limited home supply. This drop extended into 2024.
  • According to Zillow data, home values in upstate New York’s metropolitan areas have soared faster than in any other region through the first half of 2024. The gain is based on the strength of the labor market and the relative affordability of homes.
  • There's a high level of competition because of low barriers to entry. Competition results in a high level of personalized service, making it difficult for real estate companies to strengthen and compete over a large geographic area.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 2.0 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $234.9bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

High mortgage rates stunt the residential real estate market

  • In 2022 and 2023, the Federal Reserve raised its benchmark interest rate 11 times to cool off persistently high inflation. As the Federal Reserve hiked interest rates to combat inflation, mortgage rates became more expensive, dampening affordability and cooling buyer demand.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Real Estate Sales & Brokerage in the US
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Interest rate cuts will provide some relief to the residential market

  • After raising interest rates 11 times in 2022 and 2023, the Federal Reserve began cutting rates in September 2024. This will provide much-needed relief to the residential real estate market, as falling mortgage rates stimulate greater home sales.

Biggest companies in the Real Estate Sales & Brokerage in the US

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
Profit ($m)
2024
Profit Margin (%)
2024
Cbre Group, Inc.
19,321.3
1,126.0
5.8

To view the market share and analysis for all 1 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Real Estate Sales & Brokerage in the US
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Residential sales, Commercial sales and Real estate transaction, advisory and other services. Residential sales is the largest segment of the Real Estate Sales & Brokerage in the US.

Trends and Insights

Residential sales have crashed down to earth

  • The residential market comprises single-family homes, attached homes for sale or rent and individual apartments. It doesn't include the sale of entire multifamily apartment complexes, which are generally sold as income-generating properties and are included in the commercial segment.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

The Real Estate Sales and Brokerage industry in the US comprises brokers and agents that sell, buy or rent real estate for others. Brokers and agents don't own these properties but act as intermediaries between owners or sellers and buyers or tenants.

What's included in this industry?

Residential salesCommercial salesReal estate transaction, advisory and other services

Companies

Cbre Group, Inc.

Purchase this report to view all 1 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

REAL ESTATE BROKERFRANCHISEFORECLOSUREWRITE-DOWN

Industry Code

NAICS 2017

NAICS 53121 - Real Estate Sales & Brokerage in the US

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

High mortgage rates in the past few years have severely impacted the real estate market, causing a steep drop in existing home sales and pricing out many potential buyers. Ho...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

The residential real estate market has significantly slowed, with 2023 seeing the lowest existing home sales in almost 30 years because of high mortgage rates and limited home...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

According to Zillow data, home values in upstate New York’s metropolitan areas have soared faster than in any other region through the first half of 2024. The gain is based o...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each state
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each state in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each state in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

There's a high level of competition because of low barriers to entry. Competition results in a high level of personalized service, making it difficult for real estate compani...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

CBRE experienced a climb in global property sales revenue in Q3 2024. The growth was propelled by a 20.0% climb in the US on the back of multifamily and retail assets.

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Cbre Group, Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Cbre Group, Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

The rental vacancy rate is a crucial metric for assessing the supply and demand dynamics in the real estate market, particularly for investment properties. A climb in this ra...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

There has been a significant drop in real estate brokers' profit because of dropping home sales. Sections of the industry fueling this drop include elevated interest rates an...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Industry Multiples (2017-2022)
  • Industry Tax Structure (2017-2022)
  • Income Statement (2017-2022)
  • Balance Sheet (2017-2022)
  • Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2017-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Real Estate Sales & Brokerage in the US industry in United States in 2024?

The market size of the Real Estate Sales & Brokerage in the US industry in United States is $234.9bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Real Estate Sales & Brokerage in the US industry in 2024?

There are 1m businesses in the Real Estate Sales & Brokerage in the US industry in United States, which has grown at a CAGR of 3.4 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Real Estate Sales & Brokerage in the US industry in United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Real Estate Sales & Brokerage in the US industry in United States has been growing at a CAGR of 2.0 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Real Estate Sales & Brokerage in the US industry in United States over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Real Estate Sales & Brokerage in the US industry in United States is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Real Estate Sales & Brokerage in the US market in United States?

The biggest company operating in the Real Estate Sales & Brokerage market in United States is Cbre Group, Inc.

What does the Real Estate Sales & Brokerage in the US in United States include?

Residential sales and Commercial sales are part of the Real Estate Sales & Brokerage in the US industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Real Estate Sales & Brokerage in the US in United States?

The company holding the most market share in United States is Cbre Group, Inc..

How competitive is the Real Estate Sales & Brokerage in the US industry in United States?

The level of competition is high and steady in the Real Estate Sales & Brokerage in the US industry in United States.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • Conveyancing Services in the US

Complementors

  • Loan Brokers in the US
  • Real Estate Appraisal in the US
  • Real Estate Asset Management & Consulting in the US

International industries

  • Global Commercial Real Estate
  • Real Estate Sales & Brokerage in Canada
  • Real Estate Services in Australia
  • Real Estate Services in New Zealand
  • Estate Agents in the UK

View all industries in United States

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in the US include: 

  • US Census Bureau
  • US Bureau of Labor Statistics
  • US International Trade Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.