All real estate team names must end with team or group and must not include any terms that could give the appearance that the team is offering brokerage services independent from the sponsoring broker, such as brokerage, company, or associates. Team names must be registered with TREC by your broker before you use that team name in advertising. Also, your broker must notify TREC in writing within 10 days after you stop using the team name.
From my observation, the teams and groups operate as thought they are the broker. I realize this is a way for the big broker to work the numbers for the bottom line but Brokers earned the name and there should be more respect and oversight.
So, what does this mean for solo agents who would like to use an alternate name for their business? Like I would like to use (see email address)
More regulations that have no beneficial impact.
I disagree, transparency and clarity in advertising is critical. The public mistakes groups and teams for brokers all the time. Whether it’s a matter of deception or incoherence on the part of agents is debatable, but this is why transparency and clarity are such excellent criteria
The laws concerning licenses are written to protect the business interests of the big brokerages – the Public be damned. Most brokers have little or no idea of what their agents are doing and really don’t want to be bothered. That’s is why ‘Teams’ and ‘Groups’ behave like they are the Broker! The Public does not benefit from the typical arrangement – in fact, the Public is harmed because the Big Brokers really just care about having their hands in the pockets of both sides of the deal! Proof? Just look at the nature of Intermediary – it’s really just… Read more »