New agent CRM guide: your first system without overbuying
Your first year is easy to overspend: a quote-only “all-in-one,” a second CRM on top of what your broker already provides, or an AI nurture tool before you have a database. Start with what you already get, then pick a published-price CRM that matches how you will actually get clients.
Step 0: Ask your broker first
Many brokerages include BoldTrail, Lofty, MoxiWorks (RISE is brokerage-purchased), or another desk CRM in fees. Paying for a personal CRM and ignoring the included one is the most common new-agent mistake. If the brokerage CRM is mandatory, learn it before you buy a parallel tool.
- MoxiWorks — agents cannot buy RISE directly
- BoldTrail — quote-only brokerage platform
- Lone Wolf Relationships — common in Lone Wolf shops; plan prices quote-only
If you must buy your own CRM
Sphere and referrals (most new agents)
Wise Agent — $49/mo or $499/yr, drips and transactions on the base plan, no contract. Solo agent guide walks the full math.
IXACT Contact — $55/mo or $561/yr if you want keep-in-touch / e-newsletter workflows with real per-member seats later.
Buying portal leads already
Follow Up Boss — from $69/login/mo monthly ($58/login/mo annual). Worth it when speed-to-lead on Zillow/Realtor.com leads is the business — not when you have three past clients and no ad spend.
Not your first buy
| Tool | Wait until… |
|---|---|
| Agent Legend | You have a database worth nurturing — Starter $199/mo + $299 activation is an add-on, not CRM #1 |
| CINC / Market Leader lead stacks | You have budget for ads + a demo quote (Market Leader vs CINC) |
| Propertybase | You are on a brokerage Salesforce path (from $89/user/mo) |
| Ylopo | You are priced by database size on a quote — not a day-one CRM |
First-year budget sketch (published floors only)
| Path | Rough year-one software (before tax/ads) |
|---|---|
| Wise Agent annual | $499 |
| Wise Agent monthly | $588 |
| IXACT annual | $561 |
| FUB Grow annual (1 login, before dialer) | from $58 × 12 |
Add dialer/text add-ons only when you will use them (WiseText, FUB Calling, etc.).
30-day checklist
- Confirm brokerage-included CRM and whether a personal CRM is allowed.
- Pick one system of record — do not run two CRMs “just in case.”
- Import sphere contacts; turn on one simple drip.
- Revisit AI nurture (Agent Legend) only after the database is real.
- Re-read switching before any annual or 12-month commitment (Agent Legend Grow/Pro are 12-month; FUB annual is a 12-month term).
Related
Verified published prices cited as of October 2026. Quote-only vendors are excluded from “first buy” recommendations. Methodology →