@Nick Schlabach buying another one sounds like a great idea, but here in Baltimore the zoning/permits are not easy and I do not like the idea of having a multi unit, unlicensed.

Curiously, I have seen an abundance of job postings by real estate agencies seeking both unlicensed and licensed real estate agents over the course of my job searching the past several months, and have wondered about that as well given the aforementioned conditions in the industry.

I would like to know how to protect myself as lot of these people are unlicensed handymen.

In my state, Birdogging is considered acting as an unlicensed agent/broker which is against law here.

Many did not have an owners portal, some were unlicensed.  

. $70K may be a bit high - we got a quote from the unlicensed contractor for about $40K.

(bird dogs for example are...you can not pay a fee to an unlicensed person for real estate, there is a perfectly legal way to accomplish that).

The muggers left us alone because we had less money than them and they never knew when some dirtbag RPI student (like us) would be carrying a knife or unlicensed gun.

Probably using unlicensed contractors as well, since most competent and honest contractors would not take a job that would open them to liability.

@Crystal Smith   in our MLS system and unlicensed assistant may not have access to the MLS.. and the licensee giving out their code is subject to a 20k fine.Sebastian K.