Are agents locked to a location?

Question

Hey BP,

Well I am toying with the idea of becoming a real estate agent. Yesterday I was fortunate enough to get a fantastic deal on the required course for New York. So I will probably be more active here with questions if I am unable to find on the web. So today I come to ask about the location.

For instance if an agent picks a broker in a city . Does that broker tie you to a specific location or are you able to work in the surrounding cities/counties as long as it is in the same state?

Also on the side what research can I start doing to determine if it is a good location to start my journey and work out of. I have a few contacts that I went to school with and they ended up moving to another county. I feel it would be awesome if I can get started where I was living the past 21 years of my life.

Joel Owens · Answer

I wanted to clear up a few things here.

1. If you get licensed in a state as an agent then you could work in various areas of the state.

2. MLS's only cover certain areas or counties so you might have to belong to multiple ones to view certain areas.

3. When you apply to be at a brokerage and hang your license there is generally an IC agreement that has to be signed. This Independent Contractor's agreement spells out allowed activities for the brokerage with you being a licensee there.

The principal  broker can dictate what type of business you focus on and where. If you do not like it then the broker can release you to go somewhere else that is a better fit. Agents aren't just allowed to do whatever they want.

Jeff Valentino · Answer

Hey there @John K.!

Short answer is no. Your license is w the state, so you can practice anywhere in NY. Being a member of the board, MLS etc may be different. Check with them to find what areas/counties they cover. If it is the other side of the state for instance it may not be feasible for you to work that deal or properly serve your client. In that case it's important to have a network of fellow agents that you can work out a referral agreement with.

Regarding research it should be pretty easy to determine what the market is like in a local area to see if it matches what you want to work in. I think a place where you know and can network with the most people should be at the top of the list.

Hope that helps and good luck!

Dan Bosak · Answer

Your license will let you work anywhere within the state but each broker/office will tend to focus on an area relatively near that office and if you are trying to work too far away from the office you may need access to multiple MLS systems (each with their own fees) to get the info you need.  I have needed a 2nd MLS just to get info on properties 45 min away from my office.

Once you have a license for 1 state is a bit easier to get licensed in other states since some have reciprocal agreements.

John K. · Answer

Awesome thank you for all the responses. I have read about the possibility of needing to pay fee's for multiple MLS systems. So I will have to look into MLS is tied to the specific broker office I am interested in.

@Joel Owens for the IC agreement is this something I can ask the broker office to look at prior to going any further? I still have plenty of time before I get to this point, but I am trying to do my due diligence and if I do proceed become an "expert" in the subject.

@Kedian Jimenez I agree! I am not sure exactly in relation to being a real estate agent, but I feel a lot of people just go about their career or life just sliding by. Which is actually what helps motivate me. Being in the military I have seen this more then anything so now I feel I can conquer the world in a sense ha ha. Being young and taking risk I feel is something all should take advantage of, but with time and effort good things will come. I could be completely wrong, but only time will tell!

Patrick Britton · Answer

@Roy N. oh wow!  that's nuts!

Roy N. · Answer

@Patrick Britton

If it's any consolation, there are two places here on the other coast of Canada (NB) where one needs to drive through Maine to travel to them (though, in the summer months, one has alternate access via a ferry service).

Patrick Britton · Answer

One thing I should add is just that while you might be able to work anywhere in your MLS/state, it might not be the most convenient.  There's a community about 30 minutes away from me called Point Roberts.  Although distance isn't vast, you have to drive through Canada to get to it.  It's a pain in the neck to get to thanks to the border, both to get in Canada and then into the USA...and of course back again.

If you have a family or other commitment you should consider the logistics of any area you're looking to work in, dominate, etc.

but @Joel Owens tells it best i think.

David Hunter · Answer

As what the others said, yes you can work anywhere you want in your state.

The farthest I've ever gone to sell a house was about an hour and 15 minutes away.  Then I had a few within 50 minutes of the office, and then most were within 15 minutes from the office.

Go where the buyers and sellers take you... as long as there's enough money in it!

Kedian Jimenez · Answer

it depends on your license. REA License is usually based on state. But whats your reason for getting a license rather than just becoming an investor? is it for Education? Representation of yourself? it depends on what you want.

Idk how the broker would assign you but I assume it would be in the same area or close by. probably more relevant to the broker. call and ask a few, their numbers are public.

As far as research I would quickly try to get a mentor/coach either payed or someone that you met at an investment club or somewhere where real estate people meet. With all due respect to my fellow RE agents, especially the good ones, Just because some one is a RE agent and licensed does not mean they know how to deal with investments or are any good at their job. i would argue that roughly 80-90% of our RE agents dont really know what they're doin. but thats just life in almost any field unless there's stricter criteria. If you really want to go far in this industry then I recommend soaking up all the information you can on your local market and general practices. Shadow someone already successful in your area. Then start expanding from there. eat up all the info in these forums that are relevant to you. Drop what isn't useful and keep what is.

Are agents locked to a location?

Most Popular Reply