by Lori Muller April 09, 2026

Almost every real estate professional has heard some version of the same question. “What exactly do agents do? I can find houses online myself.”

It’s not usually meant as an insult. In fact, most consumers genuinely believe it. After all, technology has changed how people search for homes. Buyers can scroll through listings on their phones while sitting on the couch. They can see photos, watch virtual tours, track price changes and research neighborhoods before ever speaking to a professional.

From the outside looking in, it can appear as though the real estate agent’s job has been reduced to unlocking doors and filling out paperwork.

The logic sounds simple enough.

• If I can find the house online, why do I need an agent?
• If I want to buy a home, can’t I just knock on the door?
• If I want to sell my house, can’t I just list it myself?

State forms are available online. Negotiation tips are everywhere on the internet. Contracts can be downloaded with a few clicks.

So why involve a professional at all? It’s a fair question. But if it were really that easy, we would see a very different real estate market.

My real estate agents still matter

According to the National Association of Realtors’ 2025 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, only 5 percent of homes were sold as for sale by owner (FSBO) over the past year — the lowest level ever recorded.

Think about that for a moment. In an age where consumers can access nearly unlimited information online, the percentage of people choosing to sell their homes without professional representation has dropped to an all-time low.

If the internet truly replaced the need for real estate professionals, FSBO transactions would be exploding. Instead, the opposite is happening. Why? Because searching for a home online is the easiest part of the entire process. The real work begins after a buyer finds the property they love.

Suddenly there are contracts to interpret, disclosures to review, inspections to coordinate, financing timelines to manage, negotiations to navigate and legal obligations that vary by state. There are appraisal issues, title concerns, repair requests, contingency deadlines and emotional moments where decisions involving hundreds of thousands — sometimes millions — of dollars must be made carefully.

Real estate professionals aren’t just opening doors. They are guiding people through one of the most complex financial and legal transactions of their lives. And the stakes are high.

Housing isn’t just another industry — it’s a cornerstone of the American economy. According to research cited by Fiduciary Trust, housing represents roughly 18 percent of U.S. GDP and nearly one-third of household spending. It influences everything from consumer confidence to interest rates, construction jobs, lending activity and community development.

In other words, housing doesn’t just move families. It moves the economy.

The economic impact of real estate

Every successful real estate transaction supports a chain of professionals and industries — lenders, title companies, inspectors, contractors, movers, insurance providers and countless local businesses. Communities grow. Neighborhoods stabilize. Families build wealth.

And at the center of that process is a professional who understands how to guide people through it. Yet many agents still downplay their role. Ask a real estate professional what they do for a living, and you’ll often hear a modest answer.

“I’m a real estate agent.” Or perhaps, “I sell homes.”

But that description barely scratches the surface.

Real estate professionals help first-time buyers achieve something they once thought impossible.

• They guide families relocating for new opportunities.
• They support individuals navigating divorce, loss or major life transitions.
• They help seniors downsize into their next chapter and investors build long-term wealth.
• They negotiate on behalf of clients who may never have negotiated a real estate contract before.
• They solve problems before clients even know those problems exist.
• They protect, guide and advocate.

The truth is, real estate professionals don’t simply sell houses. They change lives.

They help people achieve the American dream of homeownership. They help build stronger communities. They help fuel one of the most important sectors of the American economy.

And they do it one relationship at a time.

That’s why it’s important for those in this profession to stand a little taller.

Continue to educate yourself. Strengthen your expertise. Build confidence in the value you provide and the role you play in the marketplace.

Because when someone asks you what you do for a living, the answer shouldn’t be delivered with hesitation.

It should be delivered with pride. You can say you’re a real estate professional. Or you can smile — ear to ear — and tell them the truth.

“I help people achieve the American dream of homeownership. I help build our economy, strengthen our communities and support families through one of the most important decisions of their lives.”

That’s not just a job. That’s a profession worth standing tall for.

Lori Muller is the president of Fathom Realty in Appleton, Wisconsin. Connect with her on Facebook or LinkedIn.