How do those with a broker's license go about getting hired at another brokerage? I've heard of people getting their license and remaining with the same company, but some agents I've talked to say it's difficult to find employment as a broker in another brokerage. Would they be associate brokers? I have yet to encounter this issue personally, and since I'm taking the courses for my broker's license I'd be very interested to hear some experiences with this topic. Thanks!

I can only speak for NC but here being a broker is a plus. As an associate broker the liability for the broker in charge greatly diminishes. A sales associate is where most of the risk is for a brokerage.

Not every broker is an employed broker in charge. Those positions are rare as there is only one per office. Most brokers are just associate brokers.

I never considered the risk factor before. That's interesting. So does a broker have a better case for being hired than a new agent? Something else I don't fully understand is how associate broker's are compensated. Do they work on their own commissions, or do they receive some part of the brokerage's commissions? I'm sure this is negotiable anyway, but I'm just seeking some informed opinions.

Associate brokers are just like agents who have a sales license.
Their split or commission is like everyone elses.
In my state we only have a brokers license, everyone is a broker. There are additional education requirements (24 hours) for employing/managing brokers, but that's all.

I am an Associate Broker and like Pikes Peak said, I have a normal split as any agent would in my office. We have something like 7-8 office and most of those offices have a manager, those manager's are also associate brokers, but they are on salary, plus (I believe) a percentage of what their office does and any past clients that they choose to work with.

Difference between Idaho and Colorado is in Idaho, we have sales licenses which are fairly equal to the Colorado Broker Associate license. I have an Associate Broker's license and at any time, without additional educational requirements, I can start my own brokerage. I just choose at this time to work at another brokerage, like to spread the liability a little.

Most of our Associate Broker managers have been with the company for years and have earned their way to the manager positions. The designated broker has worked with these managers for a long time and trusts them. I think it would be hard for a designated broker to just hire a managing associate broker for a branch office without having worked with them for a number of years, that's probably why there aren't many positions available.

This really is an issue that varies greatly from state to state.

In DC ALL of my 'office managers' maintained a broker license. Here in Texas, few do. Though I do know several agents who have obtained their TX broker's license. It may simply be as an added credential to give them an advantage over the competitors... or perhaps they're keeping their options open in the event they choose to open up their own shop.

Keeping options open is a very smart move in this business. Real estate offices have a way of closing their doors on very short notice. Even very large national and international brands.

So has it been anyone's experience that the "broker" label helps in developing leads or obtaining listings? I'm sure this varies from person to person and office to office, but I would think that the public feels a broker will be better than an agent. Anyone agree or disagree?

Well. I know an associate broker who is supposedly working full time and has been in the business longer than me - and she's done one sale this year as opposed to my 9. I think she's generated less than 100,000 in sales.

Nobody has ever asked me if I'm a broker, and I don't think a lot of people understand the difference between a broker and a licensee. Plus, as mentioned already, in some states, ALL agents are "brokers."

Sometimes VERY short notice. Not too long ago we had a prominent Principal Broker get stripped of his License in a Disciplinary Action on a Friday. The Office did not have any other Brokers ready (and willing) to step in as a new Principal, so all 18 or 20 Licensees had to warehouse their Licenses on Monday Morning until they could find a new place.

Those who were Brokers could just open a new Agency under their own names. Those who were Salespeople had to go "Hat in Hand" pleading for a former competing Agency to show mercy on them. Just a little disruptive !

Just another reason for wanting to work only for a Broker who is known to run a "clean " shop; so you don't have to be worrying about the rug being pulled out from under you . . . . through no fault of your own. If your Principal has no License; then you have no License. Sometimes it takes an event like the "License Yanking" above for this relationship to be made clear.

Which is a VERY good reason to stay on good relations with competitors. I had a little courtesy visit with a competing broker just last Friday. Of course she tried her best to convince me to come work for her... and I was very up front with her I have no desire to make a change at this point. But if something were to happen in the future... that relationship has already been established. And it will be kept up with nice phone calls and emails from time to time!

Mix in a few Co-Operative Transactions and after a while, you can come to feel like you always have a home away from home. I have other Offices throughout my Territory where I can "Pop In" and use a Computer or a FAX or or print some documents (and catch up on the most recent scuttlebutt!) I love my competition. A couple of years ago one of them loaned me her brand new $50,000 Car for a few hours after I had the misfortune of locking myself out of my own car in the Boonies. How cool is that ?

But I like having my own Office! And I can say things on this FORUM that I could never verbalize at one of our Local Board Meetings.

That's why you should never burn your bridges...you never know when you'll need to cross back over. I cannot understand why some agents treat other agents so poorly, as if they will never have to deal with that person or that person's network again. As a newbie in the industry, I feel more discouraged about the apparent lack of ethical and moral standards so many agents have in my area than about the prospect of little income. It seems the buyers and sellers are secondary to the commission and beating the other agents. The problem for the industry is that these people give the rest of us a bad name. I am constantly having to defend my career decision because my friends and family don't feel I have the "killer instinct" to compete. My mother actually worried that I was too honest and open to be successful in real estate. What does that say about the image of our industry?

This is a great thread. I also am a broker, but thinking of joining another broker as an associate broker to get my feet wet.