Moving Your California License to Real

What does the application ask for?

Real's California guide lists what the application needs: your license numbers and expiration dates, your MLS and board, a photo of the front of your driver's license, your estimated closed sales volume over the last 12 months, payment details for the fee, your banking details for commissions, and your tax ID.

How does a California license move to Real?

Through the Department of Real Estate's eLicensing system. An agent already with another brokerage chooses Change Responsible Broker, and a new agent chooses Add Responsible Broker. A residential agent enters Real Broker's license number, 02022092. When asked whether the broker is available to confirm the transfer, you answer no, and then you enter Real's California broker email so the confirmation goes there.

Real's California broker then receives a message from the department and confirms the transfer. An associate broker joins through their own account on the department's system.

What if your license is up for renewal or restricted?

If you are in your renewal period and your old brokerage has already signed or submitted your renewal, Real says it cannot transfer the license until the department approves that renewal. If the old brokerage has not, the renewal goes through Real's broker on paper, by mail, and the guide says it could take 4 to 6 weeks.

A restricted license starts with Real's onboarding team reviewing why it is restricted. If Real goes ahead, the forms go to the department by mail through Real's broker, and the guide says the department may take 4 to 6 weeks to approve the transfer.

What does California advertising ask of you at Real?

Real's guide says a California ad carries the brokerage name, your license number, your phone number and Real's logo. A team name has to include the surname of at least one member, and can add Team, Group or Associates after it. A team logo can stand alone only if it is registered as a DBA through Real's Private Label program.

What about your board and MLS?

You contact your local board and MLS for their own transfer instructions, and any document that needs Real's designated broker's signature goes to Real's California signing address on an electronic signing platform.