Real Estate Agent Disclosures

[Jay Thomas]

For all investors out there with real estate license and are also landlord (self managing your own properties), do you have to disclosure to your tenants (and potential tenants) that you are a licensed agent? Also, are you required to run your rentals through your brokerage?

[Mason Hickman]

@Jay Thomas If posting on the MLS, I need to run everything through the brokerage, use their pricing guidelines, and pay them out. If operating as a FRBO or FSBO, I can transact outside of the brokerage without a commission split.

I disclose to prospective tenants that I am a licensed agent, although in MA it isn't legally required for tenants. I find it lends credibility to me as a professional in the industry and it is better to be fully transparent. We do have a form in Massachusetts that is called the Rental Brokerage Fee Disclosure that we need to have signed.