Let’s be honest — the market has been dragging its feet, and a lot of agents are feeling it. The days of steady deals and predictable commission cheques aren’t exactly what we’re living through right now. Between higher interest rates, hesitant buyers, and listings sitting longer than expected, many Realtors are quietly wondering:
“How do I stay in the business without drowning in monthly fees?”
If you’ve had that thought… you’re not alone.
In fact, more and more Ontario agents are taking a hard look at their expenses and realizing something pretty wild:
It’s not the slow market that’s hurting them — it’s the fixed monthly costs.
Board dues.
Brokerage fees.
Desk fees.
Tech fees.
Insurance.
When deals are slow, these numbers suddenly feel a whole lot heavier.
But instead of walking away from the industry or letting their license lapse, agents are choosing something smarter:
⭐ Cutting Costs Without Quitting the Business
Here’s what agents are doing right now to survive the slow market:
✔ Parking their license to reduce monthly fees
This is the big one.
Agents are switching to a brokerage model where they can keep their license active, stay RECO-compliant, and avoid thousands in annual board fees.
Parking gives agents breathing room — no pressure, no meetings, no quotas — and they can still earn referral income or close a deal if one comes their way.
✔ Focusing on minimal, high-return marketing
Instead of pouring money into paid leads or fancy CRM systems, many are keeping it simple:
Sphere, past clients, referrals.
Low cost, high trust.
✔ Cleaning up unnecessary subscriptions
Every agent has them — the apps and tools quietly charging $29/month, $49/month, $79/month.
Slow markets force everyone to ask: Do I really need this?
✔ Staying licensed while eliminating board fees
This is especially popular with part-time agents or those taking a temporary break. Board membership is OPTIONAL for parking — and many haven’t realized that until now.
⭐ The Takeaway
Slow markets don’t last forever — but your expenses can drain you long before the next wave of activity arrives.
That’s why so many Ontario agents are choosing to stay in the business — just not at full price.
If reducing your monthly costs sounds like the relief you’ve been looking for, license parking might be the smartest move you make this year.
👉 Want to see how much you can save?
Many agents are switching for one simple reason:
It keeps their license safe without draining their bank account.