State real estate commission
The state body that licenses agents and brokers, sets the rules they work under, and publishes the official forms, including the seller's disclosure form in most states. Not to be confused with the commission an agent is paid, which is a fee.
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Where this comes up in a sale, and what follows
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Part 1 of 5
Why a seller cares
The state commission licenses agents, publishes the standard forms including the seller's disclosure, and takes complaints. It is not the fee an agent is paid; same word, different thing.
Part 2 of 5
A simple example
You download the seller's disclosure form from your state real estate commission's website and check your agent's license on the same site.
| What the commission does | When a seller meets it |
|---|---|
| Licenses agents and brokers | Checking that an agent is real |
| Publishes the official forms | Filling in the disclosure |
| Takes complaints | When the managing broker has not fixed something |
The state commission is the regulator. The commission an agent earns is a fee.
Part 3 of 5
What people get wrong
That the commission is a trade group. It is a state agency; the trade group is the association.
Part 4 of 5
Common questions
What is a state real estate commission?
It is the state agency that licenses real estate agents and brokers, sets their rules, and handles complaints about them. Every state has a body like it, though the name varies.
Can a seller look up an agent's license?
Yes. Most state commissions publish a free license lookup on their website. It shows whether a license is active, and in many states any public discipline.
Is it the same as the commission an agent is paid?
No. The commission an agent is paid is a fee. The state real estate commission is the government body that regulates agents.
Part 5 of 5 · where to read next
Where it appears in the sale
What a definition is, and what it isn't
Keighbor is a software company, not a law firm, brokerage, or tax adviser. This is general information, not legal, tax, financial, or real estate advice about your sale. Your situation may differ. Before acting on a contract, disclosure, title, tax, or pricing question, ask an appropriately licensed professional in your state.
Written and researched by Keighbor Research · drawn from the reference glossary · how we research and check what we publish
In your Room, this word explains itself where it appears.
Your Room defines state real estate commission in the step you meet it in, beside the document or the date it belongs to. Free to set up, with an agent or on your own.
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