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Rainmaker
1,543,225
Thomas J. Nelson, REALTOR ® e-Pro CRS RCS-D Vets
Big Block Realty 858.232.8722 - La Jolla, CA
CEO of Vision Drive Realty - Coastal San Diego

Except for Redfin, I believe the majority of us are Independent Contractors.

Jul 15, 2022 09:54 AM
Rainmaker
5,868,372
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

In Colorado you are an independent contractor.

Jul 15, 2022 08:54 AM
Rainmaker
2,390,010
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

I do not know of a Realtor in Minot ND whom works as an employee Peter Mohylsky. BRIX REALTY .

Jul 15, 2022 12:08 PM
Ambassador
3,125,255
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!
Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 - St. George, UT
St. George Utah Area Residential Sales Agent

Unless you are paid your worth in a regular pay check, monthly, bi-monthly or weekly, by an employer, you are an independent contractor. At least I am, Peter!

Jul 15, 2022 11:56 AM
Rainmaker
1,502,848
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

In California we are both, with the exception of Redfin which it's own business model.

Redfin has agents as full-time salaried employees ("FTE").  Developers have them as FTEs as well.

In California we are considered "Independent Contractors for purposes of worker comp, insurance, payroll taxes only."  In all other regards agents and Broker-associates are employees of their employing Broker.  This is a question on both the salespersons and the Broker's exam.

 

In California, if your Broker says you must be in the office every Wednesday for a staff meeting, you must attend and you can be fired for not attending.  They may have a dress code and you MUST follow their rules and policies.  This is how Brokers are supposed to maintain control and oversight of their agent's marketing and such.

Jul 15, 2022 11:44 AM
Ambassador
3,344,906
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

I believe that is a safe assumption.  In California, we are independent contractors. 

Some people with a license not selling real estate may be working in another capacity earning a wage or salary. 

Jul 15, 2022 10:37 AM
Rainmaker
2,781,013
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

Fascinating as I started out salaried but did very little Real Estate licensing duties. When I went out there on my own, I went independent

Jul 15, 2022 10:18 AM
Rainmaker
1,310,972
John Juarez
The Medford Real Estate Team - Fremont, CA
ePRO, SRES, GRI, PMN

In California, we are independent contractors. There may be some exceptions...Redfin, I believe, employs some and treats some as independent contractors depending upon what tasks they perform.

Jul 15, 2022 10:02 AM
Ambassador
3,587,835
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Yes

Jul 15, 2022 02:55 PM
Rainmaker
7,834,939
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

We are independent contractors in Maryland. 

Jul 15, 2022 02:10 PM
Rainmaker
1,090,637
Diana Zaccaro Broker Associate
ZOOM Realty Group - Cocoa Beach, FL
"The Accidental Blogger" Cocoa Beach, Florida

That is mostly true here but it varies from brokerage to brokerage. If the person handles the property management division, for example, some brokers classify them as an employee but that is few and far between.

Jul 15, 2022 01:06 PM
Rainmaker
628,614
Buzz Mackintosh
Mackintosh REALTORS - Frederick, MD
“Experience, reliable, leadership”

There are a number salaried agents who work for relocation departments and as many have said in the Redfin business model, but a majority of real estate professionals work as Independent contractors.

Jul 15, 2022 11:14 AM
Rainer
378,367
Don Baker
Lane Realty - Eatonton, GA
Lake Sinclair Specialist

I feel confident it is how most work

The IRS sees it as okay as well. 

The IRS recognizes the unique nature of the real estate industry and created a statutory non-employee status for real estate professionals, provided three elements are met: 1) the individual is a licensed real estate professional; 2) substantially all of their payments be directly related to sales

Jul 15, 2022 11:11 AM
Ambassador
5,048,708
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

I believe that's true. Redfin is one exception, there may be others.

Jul 15, 2022 10:35 AM
Rainmaker
711,752
Lynnea Miller
Bend Premier Real Estate - Bend, OR
Premier Real Estate Service in Central Oregon

In my experience, yes. 

Jul 15, 2022 10:29 AM
Rainmaker
5,104,806
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

That is a safe assumption. I've always signed an independent contractor agreement with each brokerage I've been affiliated with.

Jul 16, 2022 12:50 PM
Rainmaker
1,035,056
Elyse Berman, PA
LoKation Real Estate - Boca Raton, FL
Boca Raton FL (561) 716-7824

Yes, here we do.

Jul 16, 2022 10:17 AM
Rainmaker
1,196,588
Doug Dawes
Keller Williams Evolution - 447 Boston Street, Suite #5, Topsfield, MA - Topsfield, MA
Your Personal Realtor®

I would say so. Although there have been legislative attempts to make agents employees in MA

Jul 16, 2022 08:48 AM
Rainmaker
1,844,171
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

IC for me & my company.

Jul 16, 2022 07:43 AM
Rainmaker
5,215,388
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Independent contractors prevail, but some, have or are experimenting, with the employee model.

Jul 16, 2022 04:55 AM
Ambassador
6,392,879
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Most do, however not all.

Jul 16, 2022 12:20 AM
Ambassador
2,060,946
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

I'm not sure that it's really a big question.

In my experience, the simple answer is "yes", most real estate agents (Realtors®, and otherwise) work as independent contractors and not employees.

Jul 15, 2022 03:07 PM
Rainmaker
900,008
Olga Simoncelli
Veritas Prime, LLC dba Veritas Prime Real Estate - New Fairfield, CT
CONSULTANT, Real Estate Services & Risk Management

Most are Independent Contractors. There may be exceptions in cases, where agents work for a developer and sell units on-site. Those agents might be hired as W-2 employees with benefits, etc.

Jul 15, 2022 10:29 AM
Rainmaker
1,052,056
Candice A. Donofrio
Next Wave RE Investments LLC Bullhead City AZ Commercial RE Broker - Fort Mohave, AZ
928-201-4BHC (4242) call/text

it is safe to assume this, as most real estate licensees are ICs 

Jul 15, 2022 10:20 AM
Rainmaker
763,783
Tony Lewis
Summit Real Estate Group - Valencia, CA
Summit Real Estate Group Valencia & Aliso Viejo

That would not be a safe assumption as most as in California an agent working under another's broker's license is their employee.

Jul 15, 2022 07:09 PM
Rainmaker
901,187
Carla Freund
Keller Williams Preferred Realty - Raleigh, NC
NC Real Estate Transition & Relocation 919-602-848

At this time I believe that is true. There are new models bouncing around that offer salaries. I prefer to be independent. That's part of the beauty of being a Real Estate Professional.

Jul 17, 2022 07:57 AM