Dana West, a self-made leader in the St. Louis real estate market, has taken her 31-agent team, The West Group, from humble beginnings to a major force. And in October, she boldly moved her team to join eXp Realty. After years of success with Keller Williams, Dana realized it was time for her team to have even greater opportunities, both financially and professionally. The West Group, which closed over $40 million in sales in 2023, is eager to take advantage of the unique income streams and unlimited growth potential that eXp Realty offers.
“There are so many ways to make money in real estate, but most agents only know about transactions. I wanted to connect my team to a place where they could explore multiple streams of income,” Dana explained. “eXp gives them that platform.”
Why eXp Realty? Limitless Income Streams and Fewer Boundaries
For Dana, making the switch to eXp Realty was about more than just finding a new brokerage. It was about giving her agents the ability to think bigger and reach beyond traditional boundaries.
“Our goal with the brokerage switch was not only to enable our agents to make more money but to surround ourselves with industry leaders who prioritized collaboration and training,” she said.
eXp Realty’s model allows agents to earn through revenue sharing, stock options, and various real estate-related avenues, making it a natural fit for Dana’s vision of growth.
Collaboration and Support That Speaks Volumes
After spending over a year considering her options and talking with over 5 different brokerages, Dana found that eXp’s flexibility and collaborative spirit were exactly what she and her team needed.
“I spoke to so many people (at eXp), from the broker staff to VP staff, and the common thread was, ‘We don’t want to change who you are. We’re a platform – you can plug into what you need,’” Dana recalls. “That transparency and willingness to support my concerns spoke volumes.”
What sealed the deal for Dana was the commitment from eXp’s leadership to foster a diverse and inclusive environment.
“I have a diverse community on my team, and I asked, ‘How do you deal with diversity? How can my people grow under your umbrella?’ They had the right answers, and that made me confident that eXp was the right place for us,” she said.
Building a Team From the Ground Up
Dana’s story is one of resilience, determination, and vision. She entered the real estate world in 2002 after a career as a hairdresser, driven by the desire to spend more time with her three young daughters.
“I had clients tell me I’d be good at real estate, so I attended an intense 3-day seminar and got my license. The rest is history,” Dana recalls.
Dana didn’t just dip her toes into real estate – she dove in. Over time, she grew from a solo agent to leading a 31-agent team, all while obtaining her broker’s license and gaining a reputation for her coaching and mentoring.
“I learned the importance of building teams and how to help agents develop their own businesses. That became my focus – helping others grow,” she says.
Staying Grounded as a Leader and Agent
Despite her role as a team leader, Dana still loves to be hands-on with real estate transactions.
“I’m still doing deals – not as many as I used to – but I realized that when you step away from working with clients, you can get rusty,” she said. “It’s important for me to experience what my agents are going through. Helping clients from start to finish is my joy spot, and it keeps me sharp as a teacher and trainer.”
The Future with eXp Realty: Empowering Agents and Growing Together
Dana’s decision to move to eXp Realty wasn’t made lightly, but it was the right one for her and her team. “I felt like if I made the wrong move, I would be responsible for my team losing the collaboration and community we’ve built,” she explained. “But eXp provided everything I was looking for – the flexibility to plug into resources, the opportunity for my agents to grow beyond just transactions, and the support to keep us connected as a team.”
With eXp Realty, The West Group is set for new levels of success, with more income opportunities and fewer limitations on how and where they can conduct business. Dana’s focus remains the same as it always has been: to help her agents grow, learn, and build successful careers in real estate.
