Five women say eXp Realty long ignored complaints about two male real estate agents

PHOTO: Christy Lundy, a real estate agent in San Diego. Ariana Drehsler for The New York Times

The grand finale celebration of the annual eXp Realty conference was, according to the company, nothing short of “legendary.” The $2 billion brokerage, boasting a rapid growth rate and nearly 90,000 agents worldwide, showcased its success on a memorable October night. The venue, Omnia nightclub at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas, hosted over 5,000 real estate agents reveling in the darkened space with an open bar. Amidst the crowd’s energetic gyrations, a spaceship-like chandelier illuminated the scene with kinetic lights, and confetti descended from above.

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This spectacle epitomized eXp’s ethos: work diligently, play exuberantly, and amass wealth in the process. However, in more than 30 interviews with both current and former eXp agents, women revealed a darker side to the company culture. Despite its outward appearance, the culture allegedly harbors an underbelly where the company’s top earners enjoy a status akin to stars, and allegations of misconduct are purportedly overlooked.

A blond woman in a white dress stands in front of a palm frond, with one arm crossed and one hand under her chin.

Fabiola Acevedo reached out to eXp executives on at least eight occasions to make a report of her alleged assault. The company offered her a settlement of $50,000, which she did not take.Credit…Martina Tuaty for The New York Times

In two separate lawsuits, the first initiated in February and the second more recently, five women detailed a persistent pattern of predatory behavior involving two prominent agents. According to these women, the agents allegedly drugged them during eXp events saturated with alcohol, leading to claims of sexual assault by four of the women. Allegations suggest that executives turned a blind eye to complaints about these men for an extended period, addressing the issue only after the filing of the initial lawsuit.

Moreover, both current and former agents assert that the company disregarded other claims of sexual misconduct, and there has been no apparent shift in the prevailing culture. eXp Realty’s distinctive structure, where agents recruit others and receive a portion of their earnings, reportedly contributes to a lack of motivation to address allegations against high earners.

According to Tricia Turner, a 53-year-old Houston broker who departed eXp in August, the focus on recruitment over client representation perpetuates a problematic dynamic. Turner remarked, “The ones that grow their teams the fastest are the center of attention for the company and the cheerleaders for the company. And unfortunately, it’s like they can do no wrong.”

Although one of the accused agents ceased working with eXp in 2020 and the company severed ties with the other in March, the fallout continues. Glenn Sanford, eXp’s CEO, was added as a defendant in the lawsuits. Sanford, however, maintains that the issue has been resolved, attributing it to “two bad actors in our agent base” during a November earnings call with investors.

th the pair, the complaint reads.

A blond woman in a turtleneck sweater and a pale blue blazer poses for the camera. — Tami Sims was Michael Bjorkman’s real estate partner for nearly a decade, and has known him since junior high school. She alleges he drugged and assaulted her at a real estate event in 2019.Credit…Kristine Potter for The New York Times

Despite these reassurances, eXp agents assert that drinking and partying persist in hotel rooms, as evidenced by numerous social media videos from the Las Vegas conference. Shockingly, even after the filing of the initial lawsuit in May, a female broker reported being drugged and assaulted by a vendor during a conference in Florida.

These accusations deal a significant blow to the already troubled real estate industry, where men dominate executive boards, while women constitute the majority of agents facing routine harassment. In August, The New York Times exposed widespread sexual harassment allegations at the National Association of Realtors, further highlighting the pervasive issues within the industry. The repercussions included the resignation of the organization’s president and the early retirement of its CEO and head of human resources. The eXp revelations add another layer to the industry’s challenges, emphasizing the urgent need for accountability and cultural change.