How to choose a real estate agent in Los Angeles

Step one: verify the California license

The California Department of Real Estate publishes a free public license lookup. You can search by license ID number or by name (last name first). Check that the license is current and look at the license type and any listed broker affiliation.

The DRE has warned that unlicensed people sometimes use real licensees' names and information. Confirm the license yourself instead of relying on a business card, website, or social-media profile, and make sure the name you look up matches the person you are dealing with.

• Search by license number when you have it; it is the most exact match.
• Note the license status and type shown on the DRE record.
• A mortgage loan originator is licensed separately; the DRE lookup does not replace the NMLS record for a loan officer.

Step two: identify the responsible broker

In California, a real estate salesperson works under a licensed broker. Ask which brokerage is responsible for the agent's work, who supervises the transaction, and how to reach the brokerage if a question cannot be resolved with the agent.

Step three: compare experience that matches your situation

Los Angeles is many markets. A condo purchase in a high-rise, a hillside single-family home, a duplex with tenants, an inherited house, and a San Fernando Valley ranch home raise different questions. Ask about recent work that resembles yours rather than total sales volume alone.

• Which neighborhoods and property types have you worked with recently?
• How do you approach pricing or offer strategy for a property like this?
• Which inspections, records, and disclosures do you usually review with clients here?
• Which other professionals (lender, escrow, inspector, attorney, tax adviser) might I need, and who chooses them?

Step four: agree on communication and written terms

Ask how often you will hear from the agent, who else on the team may contact you, and how quickly decisions usually need to be made in your price range. Before signing, read any written agreement carefully, including how the professional is paid, how long the agreement lasts, and how it can end. Ask questions about anything you do not understand; if a term has legal or tax consequences, consult the appropriate professional.

How LAREALTi can help

If you would like help, LAREALTi can review your request and work to introduce one licensed real estate professional for your area and situation. We identify the professional and the responsible brokerage before licensed service begins, and we ask before sending your request to anyone else. You remain free to verify the license and choose not to proceed.