How can real estate agents effectively lower their cost per closing?

Agents can lower cost per closing by reducing reliance on high-fee lead portals, focusing on referral business, and negotiating lower brokerage splits and transaction fees. Streamlining marketing with free or low-cost tools like social media and repurposing content also cuts expenses. Regularly analyzing which lead sources have the highest ROI allows budget reallocation to the most efficient channels. Keeping a tight, lean budget combined with scaling referrals drives profitable closings consistently.