Sandra,
You can be a licensed salesperson AKA "agent" working under a broker (brokers have more experience and are may have more training than agents) and can either be broker associates, working under a broker or a principal broker as I am. There are certain exemptions: An owner as Joe mentioned below and or a NYS attorney who is currently a member of the bar can also act in the capacities of a broker or agent and
from the NYS Real Estate License Law: "Also tenant associations, and not-for-profit corporations authorized in writing by the commissioner of the department of the City of New York charged with enforcement of the housing maintenance code of such city to manage residential property owned by such city or appointed by a court of competent jurisdiction to manage residential property owned by such city shall be exempt from the licensing provisions of this section with respect to the properties so managed"
From the NYS DOS FAQ: "Do I need to be licensed? Generally, Article 12-A of the Real Property Law provides that anyone who, on behalf of another and for a fee, 1) negotiates a sale, exchange or rental of real property, 2) collects rent, or 3) negotiates a commercial loan secured by a mortgage must be licensed as a real estate broker" Here is an helpful legal memoranda from the NYS DOS on rental apartment hunting:
http://www.dos.state.ny.us/cnsl/apthunt.html
Hope this clears things up for you, please let me know if I can help you or anyone you know rent or purchase a home.
- Tue Jul 14 2009, 23:36