A growing disconnect is emerging between real estate agents’ stated demand for professional development and their actual attendance at training events, according to a new commentary from Inman News. The piece highlights what it calls a “participation crisis” that many in the industry avoid confronting.
The gap cuts across markets and firm sizes, with agents frequently requesting coaching, mentorship programs, and advanced resources, yet failing to commit when those opportunities are offered. The pattern suggests deeper issues around time management, motivation, or industry structure may be at play.
No specific data on training attendance rates or lost revenue from underutilized programs was provided by the source. Mortgage rates and home prices were not addressed in the brief.
Buyers and sellers may face inconsistent service quality if agents are not improving their skills through available training. Inventory levels and days on market were not mentioned.
Lori Muller, the author, argues the industry must openly diagnose why agents’ requests do not translate into participation—and design solutions that bridge that gap.