Who is required to have a real estate license?

A property management company that matches individuals for exchanges is required to have a real estate license because it is engaged in activities that involve facilitating real estate transactions, which fall under the purview of licensed real estate practice. This role typically includes marketing properties, managing transactions, and ensuring compliance with real estate laws—activities that necessitate a professional license to ensure consumer protection and adherence to legal standards.

In contrast, a resident manager of a property, while involved in operational tasks, is generally not performing real estate trades on behalf of others and may not require a license. Similarly, a manufactured housing park manager who lists a unit for sale might not need a license if their activities are limited to specific management duties without engaging in broader real estate activities. An executor selling a decedent's building is typically acting under legal authority to liquidate an estate, which does not require a real estate license for that singular transaction.