Is it illegal to wholesale houses in WA state with no license2022

[Chelsi Powell]

I have seen multiple answers on google and on BP. I'm wondering is it illegal to wholesale houses in Washington state currently in 2022? I'm finding some answers that say it's legal if you let them know what you're doing, other answers saying you need multiple real estate license to wholesale in this state, and another answer says it's legal as long as it's not a pre foreclosure/foreclosure. 

thank you in advance for helping rid me of this headache lol

[Jake Wiley]

Chelsi,

I'd look at the licensing law statutes in Washington State.   You need to clearly understand what they are defining as activities that require a real estate license and ensure that your business avoids those activities, including what you say you do to anyone involved in a transaction.    

If your seller or buyer believes that you are representing them in the transaction, rather than an interested party to a contract, then you could have issues.    This is where the lines often get blurred in a wholesale transaction and could run you afoul.   

I know it's not a definitive answer, I haven't worked in Washington, but it would seem improbable that the state could either forbid you from putting something into a contract or then be able to assign that contract because it has value in and of itself.   You just have to be very clear that is exactly what you are doing in both deed and form.   

Good luck, and I'd love to know if you find an answer that it is actually illegal.