In most states, if not all, it is illegal to operate as a licensee before you have your license unless it is for your own property.

But then begs the question again, dont you need to be sponsored by a broker to be an active licensee?

I use a "notice of ministerial acts" form, a "notice of no agency relationship" form and a "disclosure of licensee status" form when presenting offers off market. 

An attorney for the LOL could say that you had knowledge of the real estate market as a licensee and took advantage of their client by misleading them about the value of the house--and what you should have done was list it on the market to get her the best price. 

Not for investment, just a family member selling her modest 3br, 2ba home to move out of state.I know good listing agents are fantastic resources because they work their tushes off to market properties and not list at wildly off-base prices, and not being in that market myself, I want to make sure my family member is getting good help there.Seems that Keller Williams Alaska and Dynamic Properties (RE/MAX) are the two top listing offices (about 500 each for a total of 1,000 out of the 2,000 SFR homes sold/closed on the MLS in the last year).Both are huge operations with lots of sub-licensees and agents.

There is no excuse for anything other than full disclosure; as long as that's happening, there are no issues in Ohio with a licensee having other business dealings outside the brokerage as a principal.

It teaches you how to handle real estate transactions for your buyers and sellers.The "cost" you think you are saving from representing yourself (rather than having another licensee rep you), may well cost you a lot more than you can imagine if you are not careful. 

While there are plenty of investors who will insist that becoming a licensee is burdensome, the advantages clearly outweigh the disadvantages. 

This is a great option for licensees wishing to keep active but not desiring to work with listings and/or clients.  

Speak with the local realtor associations to get a better view on what they can offer you, the resources are much more useful than what most brokers offer a new licensee.