California Real Estate SalespersonPractice of Real Estate and DisclosuresEasy
A salesperson creates a personal business card listing only her name and phone number, omitting her employing broker's name and license identification number. Under California law, this advertising practice is:
- APermitted as long as the salesperson's own license number appears somewhere in her office
- BPermitted because business cards are not considered advertising
- CA violation only if the salesperson is advertising a specific listing
- DA violation, because all advertising must include the employing broker's identity and license information
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. A violation, because all advertising must include the employing broker's identity and license information
California Business and Professions Code and DRE regulations require that all advertising, including business cards, identify the broker under whom the salesperson operates and include license identification. Omitting the broker's name is a licensing violation regardless of whether a specific property is advertised.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Having a license number in the office does not satisfy the advertising disclosure requirement.
- B. Business cards used professionally are considered advertising under DRE rules.
- C. The requirement applies to all advertising, not just listing-specific ads.
Broker Identification in Advertising
All real estate advertising by a salesperson must identify the employing broker's name and license number, not just the salesperson's own.
- Applies to print, business cards, online ads, signage
- Salesperson cannot advertise independently of broker
- Violations can result in DRE citations or discipline
Memory trick: No broker name = no legal claim to fame