Do I need to put real estate license # on lead letters? (CA)

[Matt Huber]

Hello PB Community!

A few months ago I received a CA DRE salespersons license. I decided to get this license because I wanted to keep some real estate career options open and learn more about the business, however at this time I have no intention of exercising the privileges of the license. My license status is "No Broker Affiliation". I have a full-time W-2 job in an unrelated field.

I've started a "driving for dollars" property acquisition campaign, and I'm designing my mailers. I'm trying to figure out if I need to put my DRE number on the letters. On one hand, I wouldn't think so because my license is in NBA status and I'm not marketing myself as an agent/fiduciary. On the other hand, I seem to remember something in the ethics materials about licensed agents having a technical/information advantage over the everyday consumer.

Does anyone have experience or advice with this? I can't seem to get a clear answer from the DRE materials.

On a somewhat related note, if I want to wholesale a deal I assume I would (or should) disclose my licensed status to both parties. But does having the license expose me to additional liability or scrutiny when wholesaling?

Many thanks in advance.