From: GJG@SteelVest.com (SteelVest)
Newsgroups: alt.invest.real-estate
Subject: Re: Can I manage rental property without a license?
Date: 30 Jun 2003 14:57:45 -0700

kyrik92@yahoo.com (kyrik92) wrote in message news:<3cc67a52.0306301036.7a6124ea@posting.google.com>...
> Marek Williams  wrote in message news:<44jvfvgvljp2nb6uuv7j2r3o979f50rebe@4ax.com>...
> > On Sun, 29 Jun 2003 18:04:41 -0400, "D. Zimmerman" 
> > dijo:
> > 
> > >I have dealt with quite a few property managers over the last 20 years or
> > >so, many long-distance, and would be very surprised if licenses are needed.
> > >As you probably know, many, many landlords manage their own properties, so
> > >obviously these landlords do not need real estate licenses. In a couple of
> > >cases my wife and I paid a modest fee to ?friends of the family? to manage
> > >our properties in distant cities. I doubt very much if you have anything to
> > >worry about. But it would do no harm to check with a lawyer, or possibly a
> > >landlord association in the city where you do business.
> > 
> > The majority of states today require a license to manage property for
> > others. However, all states exempt managing your own property. The
> > fact that people manage their own properties, therefore, means nothing
> > in this discussion.
> > 
> > The original poster needs to contact the Florida Real Estate
> > Commission. If they are difficult to get hold of, the relevant
> > statutes are probably available online. Look for 1) the definition of
> > what constitutes the practice of real estate for which a license is
> > required and, 2) exemptions to the definition.
> 
> Look for Florida Statutes, Title XXXII Chapter 475
> 
> from what I can tell, a license is required to manage property in FL,
> although there are several exceptions.  For example, a salaried
> employee of an apartment complex does not need a license.
> 
> From limited experience, I'd say that unlicensed management is
> rampant, especially the situation mentioned by the previous poster,
> where the absentee owner pays a friend or relative a few dollars to
> "collect the rent and keep an eye on things."  Of course his address
> is in Canada, so maybe things are different there.

This varies widely by state/jurisdiction - as do the exceptions.  Best
bet is to check with knowledgeable local counsel.

GJG@SteelVest.com