FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The Questions We Hear Most

We believe in full transparency—no fine print, no runaround. If you don't see your question answered here, reach out and we'll get you a straight answer.

The Kollective is a lead-share program that gives independent real estate agents and team leads access to a consistent pipeline of Zillow Preferred leads. Without upfront costs, rebranding, or long-term contracts.

1

What is The Kollective?

The Kollective is built for two types of people: solo agents who want a reliable lead source without joining a traditional team, and team leads who want to scale without adding overhead or giving up their brand.

2

Who is IT for?

We currently operate in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland, with plans to expand nationwide.

3

WHERE do you operate?

Is there a contract?

4

No. There are no long-term contracts. You're not locked in.

  • All leads come through Zillow Preferred (previously Zillow Flex), one of the most trusted lead programs in real estate. These are high-intent buyers who are actively searching for homes on Zillow and have requested to connect with an agent.

  • Agents typically receive up to 10 Zillow Preferred leads per month in their chosen zip codes.

  • Yes. You select the zip codes that make sense for your business and market.

  • The Kollective is a Zillow Preferred partner, which is an exclusive program with stringent performance requirements. Access isn't available to just any agent—it's earned. That's what makes the lead quality consistently high. Jeremiah F. Kobelka earned it for his team, The JFKLiving Team, and now has an agreement with Zillow to allocate leads outside of that team.

  • We can pause your calls at any time—just let us know.

The Leads, Structure, & Fees

  • Nothing upfront—currently. There are no fees to join and no cost per lead at this moment. You only pay a referral commission when a transaction actually closes, eliminating a lot of the risk that comes with buying leads.

  • The referral commission is paid to The Kollective upon closing. Zillow Preferred typically take a 40% commission—at closing. Specific commission details are discussed during your consultation.

  • Per Zillow Preferred program rules, if two years pass from the date of first contact with no closed transaction, no commission is due. Additionally, if a client completes more than two transactions, only the first two are subject to commission—the rest are yours free and clear.

  • At Real Brokerage, it is an 85/15 split. There is more information here.

  • At Real Brokerage, the split for agents is 85/15, and you can find out more info here.

  • No. You keep your own name, logo, and brand identity. The Kollective is an umbrella program—not a team you join. The JFKLiving Team is a separate real estate team run by The Kollective CEO, Jeremiah F. Kobelka, based in NJ & PA. We do have opportunities for you to join JFKLiving if you are looking for more structured support.

  • That's entirely up to you. Your brand stays front and center. The Kollective operates in the background as your support system.

Branding & Support

  • Members get access to Zillow Academy training, twice-monthly Best Practice sessions, and weekly Follow Up Boss CRM trainings—held in person at our South Jersey office or virtually.

  • We use Follow Up Boss, which comes pre-loaded so you know exactly who to follow up with, what to say, and when.

About Zillow Preferred (formerly Zillow Flex)

  • Zillow Preferred (formerly Zillow Flex) is a performance-based lead program where agents receive high-intent buyer leads at no upfront cost. Instead of paying per lead, you only pay a referral commission when a transaction closes. The Kollective is a Zillow Preferred partner, meaning our agents get direct access to this lead flow without having to qualify for the program independently.

  • Zillow Preferred is invite-only and highly selective. Zillow partners with a small number of teams per market who meet stringent performance standards. Through The Kollective, agents can access Zillow Preferred leads without going through the individual qualification process.

  • For most agents, yes. There's no upfront financial risk—you only pay when you close. And because the leads are high-intent buyers already active on Zillow, conversion rates tend to be stronger than cold or purchased leads. The Kollective also provides training specifically designed to maximize your conversion rate so the economics work in your favor.

  • The median Zillow Preferred lead closes within approximately 70 days of first contact, though many leads take longer—often several months to over a year—depending on where the buyer is in their search process. This is why The Kollective emphasizes CRM management and long-term nurture systems, so leads that don't close quickly still turn into future business.

  • A lead-share program is an arrangement where a team or network distributes inbound leads to participating agents. Instead of agents generating their own leads through marketing or cold outreach, leads come to them through a centralized source. The Kollective operates as a lead-share program powered by Zillow Preferred, meaning agents receive a consistent pipeline of buyer leads without any upfront marketing spend.

  • The Kollective gives agents access to Zillow Preferred leads with zero upfront cost. You receive leads, work them, and only pay a referral commission if and when a deal closes. It's one of the few legitimate ways to build a consistent pipeline without spending money before you make money.

  • Most high-performing Zillow Preferred agents and teams use Follow Up Boss, which integrates directly with Zillow's lead flow. The Kollective provides agents with a pre-loaded Follow Up Boss setup, so you know exactly who to follow up with, what to say, and when—from day one.

  • For most newer agents, yes. Zillow Preferred provides a consistent inbound pipeline of buyer leads, which removes one of the biggest early challenges in real estate: finding clients. Success depends on an agent's ability to build trust and maintain consistent follow-up over time—coachable agents who commit to the process tend to see strong results. The Kollective's training and accountability systems are specifically built to set newer agents up for success.

Building a Real Estate Business & Lead Pipeline

  • Most lead generation in real estate requires significant upfront investment—whether that's paying per lead, running ads, or buying into a platform. The Kollective operates differently. Through our Zillow Preferred partnership, agents receive high-intent buyer leads at no upfront cost and only pay a referral commission when a transaction actually closes. No risk, no wasted spend.

  • For newer agents, inbound leads from a trusted source consistently outperform cold outreach or self-generated marketing—because the buyer is already active and looking. The Kollective gives agents direct access to Zillow Preferred leads, one of the highest-intent lead sources in real estate, backed by training and a pre-loaded CRM so you're set up to convert from day one.

  • Building a pipeline comes down to three things: a consistent lead source, a system to manage follow-up, and the discipline to nurture relationships over time. The Kollective provides all three—Zillow Preferred leads land in your pipeline every month, Follow Up Boss keeps your follow-up organized, and our training teaches you how to convert leads into long-term clients even if they're not ready to buy right away.

  • Lead conversion comes down to speed, consistency, and trust. The faster you respond to an inbound lead, the higher your chance of converting them. From there, it's about consistent follow-up through calls, texts, and value-driven drip campaigns—staying top of mind until they're ready to move. The Kollective's training is built specifically around this, with scripts, CRM workflows, and accountability sessions designed to help agents hit a 10% conversion rate.

  • Industry average for real estate lead conversion sits between 1-3%. The Kollective trains agents to target a 10% conversion rate on Zillow Preferred leads—meaning for every 10 leads you receive, you should be closing one deal per month. Because Zillow Preferred leads are high-intent buyers already active in their home search, conversion rates tend to run significantly higher than cold or purchased leads.

  • The key is value over volume. Rather than checking in just to check in, every touchpoint should give the lead something useful—a relevant listing, a market update, a helpful article about the buying process. The Kollective's Follow Up Boss setup is pre-loaded with drip campaigns and follow-up sequences built around this principle, so you're staying top of mind without feeling pushy.

  • It varies widely depending on where the buyer is in their journey. Some leads are ready to move within weeks; others take six months to a year or more. This is why database nurture is just as important as active follow-up. The Kollective trains agents to treat every lead—whether they close fast or slow—as a long-term asset in their pipeline.

  • Follow Up Boss is widely considered the gold standard for real estate teams managing inbound leads, particularly for agents on Zillow Preferred. It integrates directly with Zillow's lead flow and tells you who to call, what to say, and when. Every Kollective agent gets a pre-loaded Follow Up Boss setup from day one.

  • Building a real estate team starts with having a consistent, reliable lead source—because without leads, there's nothing to build around. Most team leads start by establishing their own production, then bringing on agents once they have a system that works. The Kollective gives team leads access to Zillow Preferred lead flow they can distribute across their agents, making it significantly easier to attract and retain talent without relying solely on self-generated business.

  • This is one of the biggest challenges team leads face—and the reason many teams struggle to scale. Most leads either cost significant money upfront or require heavy marketing infrastructure to generate consistently. The Kollective solves this by plugging teams directly into Zillow Preferred, providing a steady stream of high-intent buyer leads that team leads can distribute to their agents every month.

  • Scaling without burning out comes down to systems, delegation, and lead flow. If you're personally generating every lead and managing every agent's pipeline, growth creates more pressure, not less. The Kollective handles the lead generation infrastructure—Zillow Preferred leads, CRM setup, training, and accountability—so team leads can focus on leadership and production instead of holding everything together themselves.

  • The single most compelling thing you can offer an agent is a reliable source of business. Agents leave teams or avoid joining them because they don't trust that the leads will actually be there. Through The Kollective, team leads can offer their agents something tangible—up to 10 Zillow Preferred leads per month, per agent—which makes recruiting significantly easier and retention significantly stronger.

  • Agent retention comes down to whether your agents are making money. If leads are inconsistent, agents get frustrated and start looking elsewhere. The Kollective gives your agents a predictable pipeline of high-intent buyers every month, backed by training and CRM support—which means they're closing deals, building their database, and growing their business within your team structure.

Starting Your Own Team

  • Yes—and this is exactly what The Kollective was built for. You don't have to merge into another team, adopt a different brand, or hand over your agents. When you bring your team into The Kollective, you stay the leader, your agents stay your agents, and your brand stays intact. You simply plug into the lead flow, training, and infrastructure that makes growth easier.

  • A portal team is a team structure built around inbound leads generated through major real estate platforms like Zillow, rather than through traditional prospecting or marketing. Portal teams tend to grow faster because the lead source is consistent and scalable. The Kollective operates as a national portal team model, giving independent agents and team leads access to Zillow Preferred leads without requiring them to build or join a traditional team.

  • Small teams often can't outspend large brokerages on marketing or lead generation—but they can out-serve them. The Kollective levels the playing field by giving small teams access to the same Zillow Preferred lead flow that powers some of the highest-producing teams in the country, combined with the training and systems to convert those leads at a high rate.

  • The Kollective operates under Real Brokerage, which offers an 85/15 split, revenue share, stock options, and no monthly fees. If you're not currently with Real Brokerage, that transition is part of the onboarding conversation—and for most agents and team leads, the economics make it a straightforward decision.