Real estate income without the hassle.

Refer a client in ANY state to a real estate agent in ANY state, and receive a commission check! Scroll down to learn more & become a Referral Agent with us for $45/year.

Become a Referral Real Estate Agent in 3 Steps

1) Get Licensed

You must have a South Carolina Real Estate License and keep up with the state required CEs (continuing education). We recommend classes through PalmettoCE.com both to get licensed (less than $600) and for low priced CEs.
For more information on obtaining or renewing your license, please visit the
SC LLR Real Estate Commission
or call the LLR (803) 896-4400.

2) Join ReferSC

Read through the FAQ below to get familiar with our processes, and then you will see the Join Us application below the FAQ. Once completed, you’ll be redirected to e-Sign the Brokerage Contract, then to pay your annual $45 membership. Afterwards you will be emailed instructions to move your license to us and how to submit a referral.

3) Submit Referrals

Once you are on-boarded, you can submit referral forms and communicate with the brokerage all right here. Refer a client in ANY state to a real estate agent in ANY state. If it results in a sale, you’ll get paid 90% of the referral commission! …or have us find an agent for your client.

FAQ

What is a referral?

A referral is when one licensed real estate agent (sender or referrer) hands a client to another licensed real estate agent (receiver), via a signed referral form.  With this form the two agents agree to a percentage of the gross commission which the receiver’s brokerage will provide to the referrer’s brokerage if the receiving agent closes a transaction with the client. You can be licensed in South Carolina and refer a client in any state to a real estate agent in any state.

For example, if your neighbor is moving to Florida, you may refer them to an agent in South Carolina for the sale of their house and refer them to an agent in Florida for buying a house; receiving referral commission on both transactions.
If you refer your neighbor to an agent for 25% of the gross commission, and that agent were to sell your neighbors home for $400,000 (assuming the listing agent negotiates a 3% commission), the gross commission would be $12,000. The referral commission would be 25% of that amount, or $3,000.
When that listing agent’s brokerage sends us the referral commission, you would receive 90% of that or $2,700. Find your neighbor an agent in Florida, and get a second check.

Why do I need a real estate license to make a referral? Can I just collect a finder’s fee?

It’s South Carolina law that a real estate agent or brokerage may not pay a commission, compensation, referral fee, or finder’s fee to an unlicensed individual for risk of disciplinary action or losing their license. In the below paraphrased portion of the South Carolina law, the agent or brokerage would be considered the “licensee”.
.

South Carolina Code of Laws (paraphrased)
Title 40, Chapter 57, Article 7
SECTION 40-57-710 Grounds for denial of issuance of license or for disciplinary action against licensee.

(A) …the commission may deny issuance of a license to an applicant or may take disciplinary action against a licensee who…(12) pays a commission or compensation to an unlicensed individual for activities requiring a license under this chapter. Notwithstanding this section, a licensee may not pay or offer to pay a referral fee or finder’s fee to an unlicensed individual…

Do I have to be a South Carolina resident?

No! You only have to have a South Carolina Real Estate license, which does not require you to be a resident of South Carolina.

As a referral agent, can I work as someone’s real estate agent?

Not in South Carolina. Under a referral-only brokerage you are not permitted to act in an agency capacity, meaning you may not sign agency agreements with clients or represent clients in transactions. However, if you’re licensed in another state you may continue to work as a real estate agent in that state. For example if you have a South Carolina and a Georgia real estate license, you may work as a real estate agent in Georgia. Though in South Carolina you will only be able to ‘act as a non-licensed individual’, by referring clients to other agents.

How do I earn a referral commission, what’s the process?
  • When you know someone (in any state) that is relocating, let them know you will connect them with an agent.
  • Locate a trustworthy agent for the person that is moving. Call the agent to let them know you have a client you would like to refer to them for 15%, 25%, or 35% of the gross commission. You negotiate the amount but 25% is most typical.
  • If the agent accepts, get their email address so you can send them a PDF Referral form (which we’ll provide to you). Ask them to sign and return the Referral form, which you’ll upload to us on this site.
  • When that agent closes the deal, their brokerage will send us your referral commission. We pay you 90% of the commission via direct deposit or mailed check.
How much does it cost?
  • $45 / year is the brokerage’s membership fee.
  • The brokerage does not offer MLS, so there are no monthly or quarterly MLS or Realtor Association fees.
  • When a referral commission has been earned, the brokerage retains 10% and the remaining 90% will either be direct deposited or mailed to you via check.
  • You are also responsible for maintaining your CE’s or Continuing Education credits to stay licensed with the state every two years. Through our online real estate school, PalmettoCE.com, it typically costs less than $150 every two years to obtain the CEs required for renewal.
Is the $45 refundable?

The initial $45 is an application fee. Once your application is approved, it also covers your first year’s membership fee. Your card will then be charged $45 annually for membership renewal.

How do I contact the brokerage?

To keep our administrative costs low, we ask that all communication go through through this website. Use the Contact Us form for the quickest response.

I’m a referral agent, how do I get my pocket card?

Visit SC.LLR.gov and navigate to the e-Services Portal (link is at the top of the page). Once you log-in you will be able to download a PDF copy of your pocket card.

What if the other agent wants to use their brokerage’s referral form instead of the ReferSC referral form?

No problem! Most referral forms are pretty similar. But do be sure to download a copy of the ReferSC referral form from the Contact Us page. It provides the other brokerage with instructions on how and where to send the referral commission so that we can get you paid.

Feel free to read over the Sample Brokerage Contract first and send any questions to us via the Contact Us form before completing the steps below to join.

To Join Us…

  1. Complete the form below.
  2. You’ll then be taken to esign the Brokerage Contract.
  3. Next, you’ll be directed to pay your $45 / application fee (which will also cover your first year’s membership).
  4. Finally, we’ll email you instructions on moving your license over to us, and a PDF copy of your signed Brokerage Contract.
Not sure? Look-up you license number here: https://verify.llronline.com/LicLookup/Rec/Rec.aspx?div=19
This link opens a new browser tab so you don’t lose your place here.
Next you’ll eSign the Brokerage Contract. We will email you a PDF copy of the signed contract. Afterwards you’ll be directed to pay the $45 application fee. Once approved, this covers your first years membership fee. Your card will then be charged $45 annually.