Find resources for real estate brokers and managing brokers.
User guides
These guides include step-by-step instructions to help you get, renew, or update your license.
Professional license guides
- Apply for a Real Estate Broker License
- Apply for a Managing Broker Upgrade License
- Apply for a Reciprocity Real Estate Broker or Managing Broker License
Business license guides
- How to Apply for a Firm License
- How to Apply for a Branch License
- Manage Licensees for Real Estate Firms or Branches
- Renew Your Firm or Branch License
- Replace a Branch Manager
- Replace a Designated Broker
- Manage Real Estate Business Names
Real estate school statistics
These documents show the pass rates for Washington real estate schools.
- School statistics: July to September 2024
- School statistics: April to June 2024
- School statistics: January to March 2024
- School statistics: October to December 2023
- School statistics: July to September 2023
Candidate handbook
The Candidate Handbook includes general information on the exam and testing process.
Guidelines
- Internet, print, and social media:
- Short sales:
Articles
Reports and studies
- Housing Market Data (University of Washington)
- Parking in and Around Mixed-Use Buildings in Designated Growth Areas with Frequent and Reliable Transit Service: A Puget Sound Region Study
- The Value of Green Building LEED Valuation Phase I Report
Law and policy changes
See relevant law and policy changes for brokers in Washington.
Responsibility to get signatures on purchase and sale agreements
Licensed real estate agents are the only people allowed to get signatures on a purchase and sale agreement. If a real estate agent asks an escrow agent to get signatures, they are encouraging unlicensed real estate practices unless the escrow agent is also a licensed broker.
An escrow officer must follow the instructions of the buyer and seller according to the negotiated purchase and sale agreement. When someone asks escrow officers to get documents signed for the purchase and sale agreement, they are engaging in unlicensed real estate activity and are no longer a neutral party.
Real estate licensees should provide escrow agents with signed documents. When changes are needed, it's a real estate licensee's responsibility to provide signed documents.
Policy on broker price opinions
Many licensees have asked us about giving broker price opinions and getting paid for them. A broker's price opinion or comparative market analysis (CMA) is any oral or written report of a property value.
According to RCW 18.140.010(4), you must be licensed under RCW 18.85 to give broker price opinions. It's a violation of RCW 18.85.230(19) for you to receive a commission, compensation, or any form of valuable consideration from anyone except the licensed real estate broker with whom you are licensed.
Earnest money delivery requirements
All earnest money funds must be deposited into the broker's trust bank account no later than the next banking day unless the purchase and sale agreement states the check will be held for a specific period of time or until a specific event happens. The broker is responsible for delivering the funds to escrow.
Audits of broker transactions still show that many firms don't comply with these requirements, and we continue to receive complaints from sellers when transactions fail because of this.
In addition to being a licensing problem, it may also be considered a failure to disclose if you don't tell the seller that you never collected or delivered the earnest money.