Keep your license active. Skip the dues. Still earn referral fees.
Not practicing right now? As a referral agent, your real estate license stays active while you send clients to working agents and get paid a referral fee when they close. No MLS, board, or transaction fees.
What is a referral agent?
In plain terms:
You don’t show homes, write contracts, or work with clients day to day. You make the introduction; the other agent does the work. Because you aren’t practicing, you don’t need MLS access or board membership, so you avoid those costs.
How it works
Three simple steps.
Join Royalty Referrals
Choose a plan and place your license with Royalty Referrals, LLC. Your license stays active.
Refer a client
A friend, family member or past client needs an agent? Send the referral, and a working agent handles the transaction.
Get paid at closing
When the deal closes, the referral fee is paid to Royalty Referrals and your share is paid to you.
Referral agent vs. active agent
Same license, very different cost and time commitment.
Active agent | Referral agent | |
|---|---|---|
License stays active | Yes | Yes |
MLS fees | Required | None |
Board / association dues | Required | None |
Transaction fees | Often | None |
Shows homes, writes contracts | Yes | No |
Earns money from real estate | Full commissions | Referral fees |
Continuing education to renew | Required | Required |
Who it’s great for
- Agents taking a break for a new baby, a new job, school, or caring for family
- Newly licensed agents who aren’t ready to join a brokerage yet
- Part-time agents who mostly hear about deals from their network
- Agents near retirement who want to keep their license and stay connected
- Agents who moved away but still get calls from their old area
Referral plans
Billed yearly. No MLS or board dues, no transaction fees.
Bronze
- No MLS or board dues
- No transaction fees
- Quarterly industry updates
- Agent support
- $25 per additional jurisdiction
Diamond
- No MLS or board dues
- No transaction fees
- Quarterly industry updates
- Exclusive continuing education discounts
- Agent support
Royalty Referrals, LLC is an independent real estate brokerage and a Tristar Academy partner. Plans and pricing are set by Royalty Referrals. Questions: [email protected] · 240-463-8589
Common questions
Do I still need continuing education?
Yes. Your license is still active, so you complete CE to renew like any other agent. Tristar offers live Zoom and self-paced CE, and Diamond members get exclusive CE discounts.
Can I show homes or help a client write an offer?
No. As a referral agent you only refer. The agent you refer to handles showings, contracts and the transaction.
How do I get paid?
Referral fees are paid broker-to-broker: the receiving agent’s brokerage pays Royalty Referrals at closing, and Royalty Referrals pays your share under your plan.
Can I go back to practicing later?
Yes. When you’re ready, you can move your license to a full-service brokerage and pick up where you left off.
How much is a typical referral fee?
It’s agreed between brokerages for each referral and is often a percentage of the receiving agent’s commission.
Ready to keep your license without the overhead?
Join Royalty Referrals today, and keep your CE current with Tristar Academy.