Fathom Realty for New Agents: Public Facts and Questions to Ask
Short answer. Fathom Realty is a brokerage owned by the public company Fathom Holdings. Its 2025 annual report describes a flat fee model with annual caps and a revenue share program, and says it operates in 43 states plus the District of Columbia. This page lists public facts and questions to ask. It does not rank brokerages.
The short version
A new agent in Texas has many brokerages to compare. This page collects public facts about Fathom Realty so you can compare it with any other brokerage on the same terms.
We do not give an opinion on Fathom Realty. We use the company's own filing, and we label each fact with its source and check date. The Bauer Group is also a brokerage, so we compete with Fathom Realty. Read with that in mind.
Education only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Confirm licensing rules with TREC.
Public facts table
All rows come from Fathom Holdings' annual report (Form 10-K for 2025, filed March 30, 2026). We checked them on October 14, 2026.
| Topic | What the company published |
|---|---|
| Company | Fathom Holdings Inc., a public company incorporated in North Carolina on May 5, 2017. The 10-K says Fathom Realty LLC "was founded in January 2010" |
| Headquarters | Cary, North Carolina, as listed on the cover of the 10-K |
| Agents | The 10-K says "approximately 14,135 agent licenses" as of December 31, 2025 |
| Reach | The 10-K says "We currently operate in 43 states plus the District of Columbia." Texas is on its list |
| Fathom Max plan | The 10-K says agents "pay a fee of $465 per transaction until they reach an annual cap of $9,000" |
| Fathom Share plan | The 10-K says agents "pay a 12% commission fee on each transaction until they reach an annual cap of $12,000" |
| Annual fee | The 10-K says "Every agent also pays an annual $700 fee, which is charged on their first transaction of each anniversary year" |
| Revenue share | The 10-K says the program "allows agents to receive a percentage of the Company's retained commission from agents they sponsor" |
| Support | The 10-K says "We believe we offer our agents some of the best technology, training, and support available in the industry." This is the company's own statement |
How this type of brokerage works
Fathom Realty is usually grouped with lower fee brokerages. In this model an agent often pays a flat fee per deal and keeps the rest of the commission, up to a yearly cap. Features vary by company and by office or team, so check each one.
Many lower fee brokerages also describe a revenue share program. In general, an agent who brings other agents to the company may earn a share of what the company keeps from those agents' sales. The exact terms are set by the company, so read its current written terms.
Our guide on types of brokerages and their trade-offs compares this model with others.
What the company says about its own risks
Public companies must list risks in the 10-K. Three of Fathom's lines are about how agents are attracted and kept. We quote them as written.
- On agents, the 10-K says "we might not be able to attract, retain and incentivize agents."
- On pay plans, it says "Our agent commission plans might not positively contribute to agent recruitment and retention."
- On agent counts, it says "Our net licensed agent and broker base decreased by approximately 1.2%."
What agents and reviewers say
Review data was limited when this page was written. We could not load a public review source that allows reading, so we are not reporting review counts, scores or quotes. We will not guess what agents think.
To hear from real agents, ask the brokerage for two or three agents in your market who joined in the last year. Ask each what surprised them. Ask the same of every brokerage you compare.
Questions to ask before you decide
These are our planning questions, not TREC rules. Ask every brokerage the same ones.
- What is every fee, and when is each one due? Ask for the current fee list in writing.
- How is my commission paid, and how fast after closing?
- Which plan would fit my deal count, and what happens after I reach a cap?
- How does the revenue share program work, and do I need to take part?
- Who answers my contract questions in Texas, and how quickly?
- What training is there for a new agent in the first 90 days?
- How do leads reach agents, if at all? Ask for it in writing.
- What happens to my pending deals if I leave?
How to read a public company filing as an agent
A 10-K is written for investors, not for agents. It still tells you how a company describes itself. Start with Item 1, the business section, which says how the company earns and pays agents. Then read Item 1A, the risk factors. A risk line is not a finding of fault. Every public company lists risks.
Then look for what is missing. Fee plans can change from year to year. Ask for the current terms in writing and keep a copy.
- Item 1 (Business): how the company says it earns and pays.
- Item 1A (Risk factors): risks the company chose to list.
- Cover page: legal name, state of incorporation and address.
- Agent counts: look for the date they are as of.
A side by side worksheet
Fill in this table for Fathom Realty and for every other brokerage on your list. Use the company's written answers. This is our own planning tool, not a TREC form.
| Question | Brokerage A | Brokerage B |
|---|---|---|
| Every fee I would pay, and when | ||
| Per deal fee or split, and the yearly cap | ||
| How the revenue share program works, if any | ||
| How and when I am paid after closing | ||
| Training in my first 90 days | ||
| Who answers contract questions | ||
| What happens to my deals if I leave |
Who may want to look closer, and who may want to compare more
We do not say who should join any brokerage. These are questions that help you decide for yourself.
You may want to look closer at a flat fee model if you expect to close several deals and want to know your cost per deal. Ask yourself how many deals you can realistically close in year one.
You may want to compare more if you want an office to walk into, a mentor next to you, or a local team. Ask yourself where you will get answers on a hard contract at 6 p.m. on a Friday.
How we wrote this
Sources: the Fathom Holdings Form 10-K for 2025 on SEC EDGAR, checked October 14, 2026. The fee amounts above are as published by Fathom Holdings in that filing on that date. The company's website did not return readable text, so we do not use it.
Experiences vary by office and team. If you see an error, write to agents@joinbauergroup.com. We apply corrections within 2 business days.
Comparing options?
Ask any brokerage the same questions. Our guides on choosing a brokerage in Texas and what a sponsoring broker does can help you set up your list.
Common questions
What kind of brokerage is Fathom Realty?
It is a brokerage owned by the public company Fathom Holdings. Its annual report describes a flat fee model with annual caps and a revenue share program.
How many agents does Fathom Realty have?
The company's 10-K for 2025 says "approximately 14,135 agent licenses" as of December 31, 2025.
What does Fathom Realty charge agents?
As published in its 10-K for 2025: $465 per transaction up to a $9,000 annual cap on Fathom Max, 12% per transaction up to a $12,000 cap on Fathom Share, plus a $700 annual fee. Plans can change, so ask for current terms in writing.
Does Fathom Realty operate in Texas?
The 10-K says it operates in 43 states plus the District of Columbia, and Texas is on that list.
Is Fathom Realty good for new agents?
That depends on what you need. We do not rank brokerages. Use the questions on this page to compare it with others.
Sources
Education only. Not legal, tax or financial advice. Confirm licensing rules with the Texas Real Estate Commission. Results vary and depend on effort, market and lead performance.