Keep Your Texas Real Estate License. Save on Membership Fees. Earn Referral Income.

A Limited Function Referral Office (LFRO) is a licensed real estate brokerage whose sponsored agents do one thing: refer prospective buyers, sellers, landlords, and tenants to other licensed brokers in exchange for a referral fee. LFRO agents do not list, show, negotiate, or close transactions.

Under the National Association of REALTORS® LFRO policy, a broker can certify a separate referral-only firm with the local association so its referral agents are not counted toward the broker's association dues. That is why referral-only agents generally do not need association membership of their own. Texas Agent Referral Realty LLC is a separately licensed Texas brokerage built on this model.

Our brokerage fee is $200 per year, paid after your application is approved and you affiliate with us. There is no fee to apply.

Separately, every active Texas license holder remains responsible for TREC license renewal fees and required continuing education. Joining us does not change those obligations.

Generally, no, for referral-only activity through our brokerage. Our referral agents generally do not need to join a REALTOR® association, subject to our brokerage's Limited Function Referral Office certification with the association and the association's current rules. While you are referral-only, you would not use the REALTOR® designation, the MLS, or member-only services. If you are a member today, contact the association before your renewal to confirm how and when to end your membership; we will help you confirm timing during onboarding. This applies to the Austin Board of REALTORS® (ABoR).

Generally, no, for referral-only activity through our brokerage. Our referral agents generally do not need to join a REALTOR® association, subject to our brokerage's Limited Function Referral Office certification with the association and the association's current rules. While you are referral-only, you would not use the REALTOR® designation, the MLS, or member-only services. If you are a member today, contact the association before your renewal to confirm how and when to end your membership; we will help you confirm timing during onboarding. This applies to the Houston Association of REALTORS® (HAR).

Generally, no, for referral-only activity through our brokerage. Our referral agents generally do not need to join a REALTOR® association, subject to our brokerage's Limited Function Referral Office certification with the association and the association's current rules. While you are referral-only, you would not use the REALTOR® designation, the MLS, or member-only services. If you are a member today, contact the association before your renewal to confirm how and when to end your membership; we will help you confirm timing during onboarding. This applies to the San Antonio Board of REALTORS® (SABOR).

Generally, no, for referral-only activity through our brokerage. Our referral agents generally do not need to join a REALTOR® association, subject to our brokerage's Limited Function Referral Office certification with the association and the association's current rules. While you are referral-only, you would not use the REALTOR® designation, the MLS, or member-only services. If you are a member today, contact the association before your renewal to confirm how and when to end your membership; we will help you confirm timing during onboarding. This applies to MetroTex Association of REALTORS® and the other associations serving Dallas–Fort Worth.

No. Referral agents do not list or show property, so MLS access is not needed. Under the LFRO model, referral-only agents do not hold MLS access. The licensed agent who receives your referral handles the search, showings, and listing.

Yes. Referral-only affiliation is designed for people with other careers, including IT, healthcare, finance, education, and many more. You simply introduce people you know who need real estate help. Check your employer's policies on outside business activity.

No. As a referral-only agent you may not show property, hold open houses, list property, write or negotiate contracts, or attend closings in a representative role. That includes transactions for family and friends. Your role is to make the introduction through our brokerage. If you later want to practice actively again, you can transfer your license to an active brokerage.

Before your client is introduced, our brokerage signs a written referral agreement with the receiving brokerage. The referral fee is usually a percentage of the receiving agent's commission on that transaction. We typically seek 25%, but every fee is negotiated and none is guaranteed.

Under Texas rules, compensation to a sales agent must be paid through the agent's sponsoring broker. The receiving brokerage pays our brokerage after a successful closing, and we then pay you. Your share of that fee is set by the written Referral Agent Agreement you sign with our brokerage, and we review it with you before you join. If the transaction does not close, no referral fee is earned.

Yes. You must keep your Texas license active, renew it every two years, complete TREC's required continuing education, and pay TREC's fees. TREC currently requires 18 hours of CE per renewal cycle for sales agents, including Legal Update and contract-related coursework. Confirm current requirements at trec.texas.gov.

Yes. After approval, you request a change of sponsorship through TREC Online Services and our broker accepts it. Your sponsorship with us begins once TREC processes the change. Before you move, wrap up any pending transactions with your current broker. Referral fees or commissions you earned there are paid through that broker.

Yes. You can refer clients anywhere in Texas, including Austin, Dallas–Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, and every other city. You can also refer clients who are relocating out of state. Every referral is arranged by our brokerage under a written agreement with a licensed brokerage.

Yes. You can refer commercial, investment, and leasing clients. We place them with licensed brokers who work in that property type, under a written referral agreement. Commercial fee terms vary by transaction and are negotiated case by case.

Often one to two weeks after approval. We verify your license on the TREC website, you sign the Referral Agent Agreement and pay the annual fee, and the sponsorship change is processed through TREC. Timing depends on TREC processing and on wrapping up matters with your current broker.