Real Estate Team FAQs

December 2025

Do real estate teams need a principal broker?

The law doesn't require every team to have a principal broker. However, if any team member will be supervising or managing other real estate licensees, that person must be either:

• A managing principal broker, OR
• A principal broker operating under a written supervisory agreement.

Note: Your managing principal broker may have additional policies about team structure.

When must team members provide the Real Estate Team Disclosure?

As soon as you have enough contact information to send it.

Provide the disclosure to:

• Prospective buyers or sellers of real property
• Unrepresented parties seeking representation during a transaction

Exception: You don't need to provide a disclosure if the client has already received one from another member of your team.

How can the Real Estate Team Disclosure be delivered?

The disclosure can be provided by:

• Email or internet
• Facsimile (fax)
• Hand delivery
• USPS mail
• Any similar electronic or physical method

What are the advertising requirements for real estate teams?

When advertising as a real estate team, you must:

• Display your brokerage’s registered business name (RBN) so it is immediately noticeable on all advertising.
• Identify which team members are licensed and which are not (if team members are listed).
• Comply with all the requirements of OAR 863-015-0125.
• Not imply that the team is an entity separate from the brokerage’s RBN.
• Not suggest that a team member is the managing principal broker unless they actually are.

Important: The brokerage RBN must not be buried in fine print.

How do I start a real estate team?

Follow these step:

• Get approval from your managing principal broker.
• Prepare the Real Estate Team Disclosure for prospective clients.
• Ensure proper supervision. If anyone on your team will supervise other licensees, make sure they are either:
• A managing principal broker, OR
• A principal broker with a written supervisory agreement that gives them authority to supervise team members

I am a managing principal broker. What do I need to do if my licensees want to form a team?

If you allow real estate teams, you must:

• Establish written policies, procedures, and systems that address team creation and operation (required by HB 3137 section 20).
• Formally approve the real estate team.
• Designate a principal broker to supervise by a written supervisory agreement if you won’t directly supervise the team.

Tip: Clear policies can prevent confusion and encourage compliance. Make sure that they are documented in writing.

Can team members from different brokerages work together?

No. All licensed team members must be associated with the same managing principal broker. 

What happens if a team member leaves the brokerage?

When a team member leaves:

• They are no longer part of the team.
• The team must update all advertising and disclosures to remove the departed member.
• Any pending transactions involving that member must be handled according to the managing principal broker's policies and OAR 863-014-0063 if applicable.
• Clients should be notified if their primary contact has left the team.

Can unlicensed assistants be part of a real estate team?

Yes. Unlicensed assistants can be team members, but:

• They cannot perform activities that require a real estate license (showing properties, negotiating terms, discussing pricing, etc.).
• If your advertising lists both licensed and unlicensed team members, you must clearly identify which are licensed.
• The managing principal broker is responsible for ensuring that the use of unlicensed assistants is managed in accordance with the written policies, procedures, and systems.

Can a real estate team use its name in advertising?

Yes, but with restrictions:

• The RBN must be prominently displayed.
• The advertising cannot suggest the team is independent from the brokerage.
• The team name cannot be misleading about who the managing principal broker is.
• The advertising must comply with all applicable laws and rules.

What's the difference between a real estate team and a branch office?

Real estate teams work from the main office or an existing branch office and do not require separate registration.

Branch offices are separate physical locations of the RBN that must be:

• Registered with the Oregon Real Estate Agency
• Supervised by the managing principal broker or a principal broker with a written supervisory agreement
• Maintained in compliance with Oregon Administrative Rule

If your team operates from a location that is not the main office or a branch office, consult with the Oregon Real Estate Agency at orea.info@rea.oregon.gov to determine if it needs to be registered as a branch office.