Cloud-Based Real Estate Brokerage in North Texas: A Guide for Agents

by Kelly Bishop

A cloud-based real estate brokerage runs online instead of out of an office agents have to work from. At Rise Realty, agents keep 100% of their commission and pay one all-inclusive transaction fee when a deal closes, starting at just $199, with no monthly fees, no yearly fees and a broker on the phone seven days a week. You still hold a TREC license, work under a sponsoring broker and belong to your local association and MLS. What changes is where the brokerage's work happens and what you pay to keep it running.

Below, we explain how the model works, what to ask any cloud-based brokerage before you join, what it costs and how to switch. It's written from the point of view of Rise Realty, a cloud-based real estate brokerage in North Texas, so we'll use our own setup as the example.

What “cloud-based” actually means

At a traditional brokerage, the office is part of the deal. There's a desk, a manager down the hall, and a fee that pays for both, whether it shows up as a desk fee, a bigger split or a cap. At a cloud-based brokerage, the work that office did moves online. You work from home, your car or your client's kitchen table. Contracts are signed electronically, files are reviewed in a shared system, the broker approves transactions remotely, and meetings happen on video.

What doesn't change is supervision. Texas requires every sponsored agent to work under a licensed broker who supervises their real estate activity, and brokers register a business address with TREC. A cloud-based brokerage meets both. Rise Realty Texas LLC is licensed with TREC, our office is at 700 Central Expy S., Suite 400 in Allen, and supervision, file review and approvals run online.

What stays the same when you switch

Your license. Your TREC license number stays the same. You change your sponsoring broker online.
Your MLS and association. If you work in North Texas, you stay in NTREIS and keep your membership with your association.
Your clients and your commission. Commissions are negotiated between you and your client, the same as before.
Your business. Your marketing, your sphere and your way of working are yours.

How Rise Realty runs it

A broker who answers. You work directly with Kelly Bishop, our broker, by phone seven days a week. When something comes up on a Saturday, you call her, not a help desk.
Files without the paper chase. Every transaction lives in Paperless Pipeline, with checklists by transaction type, deadline reminders and online broker approvals. Transaction support staff answer questions and help keep your files compliant.
Your choice of transaction coordinator. Bring your own, hire one through Rise Realty for a small fee, or run your own files.
A live meeting every week. We hold a Zoom meeting every Tuesday at 9 a.m. Central, and it's recorded if you miss it.
Training that fits where you are. New agents start with the 30-Day Success Plan, and every agent can use Jeff Lobb's Coach 52 for on-demand coaching and marketing. New agents can also choose the MENTOR program, which pairs you with an experienced agent for your first three transactions.
Tools if you want them. The Lofty AI operating system is available as an option for a small fee. It's not something every agent has to take.
Paid at closing. Your commission is paid through the title company, or by direct deposit.
Your brand stays yours. Use your own name, the Rise Realty brand or both. Every listing you transfer to Rise Realty gets a new Rise Realty yard sign panel, on us.

Five questions to ask before you join a cloud-based brokerage

Cloud-based brokerages don't all work the same way, and the differences show up in the fine print. Ask these before you switch:

What does a month without a closing cost me? Some cloud brokerages still bill a monthly technology or platform fee. At Rise Realty you owe nothing until a deal closes.
What is my total cost on a typical closing? Splits, caps, transaction fees and E&O can stack up. Ask for one all-in number at the price you usually sell.
Who picks up when a deal goes sideways? Ask for a name and a phone number, not a help desk or a ticket system.
Does the model depend on me recruiting? Some brokerages are built around revenue share. We sell real estate, not downlines, so there's no revenue share here and no pressure to bring anyone in.
Are they a member of my association and MLS? A brokerage that isn't set up where you work makes your life harder. Rise Realty is a member of the MetroTex Association of Realtors and the Greater Texoma Association of Realtors, and our agents work in NTREIS.

What it costs at Rise Realty

Our fee is set by the sale price, not by your commission. A split takes a percentage of whatever you earn. Here's how the two compare at a few price points, using a 2.5% commission as an example, per side:

Sale price	Example commission (2.5%)	80/20 split takes	RISE 100 fee	PREMIER fee (10+ transactions)	You keep this much more on RISE 100
$300,000	$7,500	$1,500	$499	$595	$1,001
$600,000	$15,000	$3,000	$799	$595	$2,201
$1,000,000	$25,000	$5,000	$999	$595	$4,001
$2,000,000	$50,000	$10,000	$1,299	$895	$8,701

Commissions are fully negotiable between you and your client. The 2.5% figure is an example only, not a standard or recommended rate. Sale prices are examples. Fees shown are for residential sales.

RISE 100 runs from $199 to $999 a side depending on the sale price. E&O is included up to $1,499,999, and from $1.5 million every program adds $150 for each $500,000 of sale price. Close 10 or more transactions in 12 months and you can choose the PREMIER program at a flat $595 a side. New agents start on the MENTOR program for their first three transactions. The commission calculator runs the math with your own numbers.

Who cloud-based suits, and who it doesn't

It tends to suit agents who

already work mostly from home, their car or their clients' homes
want to keep more of each commission and avoid monthly and yearly fees
run their own marketing and are comfortable with online tools
work across several cities or counties and don't want to be tied to one office

It may not be the right fit if you

rely on daily in-person time with other agents to stay productive
want a physical office to meet clients in
expect the brokerage to hand you leads or run your marketing for you

If you aren't sure which side you're on, talk it over with a broker. We'd rather you pick the right model than join and be unhappy.

Where Rise Realty agents work

Rise Realty is a cloud-based brokerage serving agents across North Texas. Each county page covers local prices, boards and what homes are selling for, taken from NTREIS data:

DFW area

Texoma

How to join

Send the onboarding form. It takes a few minutes. Open the onboarding form to start.
We check your license. We confirm it's active and in good standing with TREC.
Move your sponsorship. You request the change online through TREC, and your license number stays the same. Our license transfer guide covers each click.
Bring your listings. With your sellers' sign-off, your active listings move with you.
Start working. We get you set up and walk you through your association and listing transfers.

Questions first? Book a call with our broker, or call (888) 774-7315.

Questions about cloud-based brokerages

What is a cloud-based real estate brokerage?

A cloud-based brokerage runs its day-to-day business online instead of from an office agents have to work from. Agents work from home or in the field, and files, compliance review, broker approvals and training all happen online. The brokerage still has a licensed broker who supervises its agents.

Are cloud-based brokerages allowed in Texas?

Yes. Texas requires every sponsored agent to work under a licensed broker who supervises their real estate activity, and brokers register a business address with TREC. A cloud-based brokerage meets both. Rise Realty Texas LLC is licensed with TREC, our office is in Allen, and supervision, file review and approvals run online.

Do I have to go to an office at Rise Realty?

No. Rise Realty is a cloud-based brokerage serving agents across North Texas, and you never have to work from an office. Files, compliance and broker approvals run online, and our broker is available seven days a week by phone.

What does Rise Realty cost?

You keep 100% of your commission and pay one all-inclusive transaction fee per closing. On the RISE 100 program that fee starts at $199 and tops out at $999 per side depending on the sale price. Agents with 10 or more transactions in 12 months can choose PREMIER at a flat $595. There are no monthly fees or yearly fees on our commission programs, and errors and omissions coverage is included up to a $1,499,999 sale price.

How do I get paid at a cloud-based brokerage?

At Rise Realty you are paid at closing through the title company, or by direct deposit. Your commission doesn't wait on the brokerage to cut a check.

Who supports me if I'm not working from an office?

Your broker, directly. Our broker, Kelly Bishop, is available seven days a week by phone. Transaction support staff answer questions and help keep your files compliant, and we hold a live Zoom meeting every Tuesday at 9 a.m. Central that is recorded. You can bring your own transaction coordinator, hire one through Rise Realty for a small fee, or run your own files.

Can I keep my MLS and my association membership?

Yes. Rise Realty is a member of the MetroTex Association of Realtors and the Greater Texoma Association of Realtors, and our agents work in NTREIS. Switching brokerages doesn't change your access to the MLS. Your association and MLS dues are billed by your association, as at any brokerage.

How do I join Rise Realty?

Start with the online onboarding form. We confirm your license is active and in good standing with TREC, then you request the sponsorship change online through TREC. Your license number stays the same, and we help with your association and listing transfers.

Talk to a broker

If you're weighing a move, call us or book a time to talk. You'll speak with a broker, not a recruiter, and there's no pressure to join.

Call (888) 774-7315 Schedule a call Start onboarding

See also: Join Rise Realty · RISE 100 · PREMIER · MENTOR · Commission calculator

Rise Realty Texas LLC, TREC license #9016637-BB. Kelly Bishop, Broker, TREC #702943-B. Fees as of October 2026. This article is general information about brokerage models and isn't legal or tax advice.