If I get a real estate broker license and work from home, how do I hide my home address on my business cards?

Question

If I get a broker license and register my own company but work from home (i.e. don't really have an office outside of my home), how do I hide my private residence address on my business cards? I don't want the whole world to know where I live.
Thanks!

I am in California, if that helps with the legal issues at all.

PO Boxes don't really look professional, so that's not an option. Thanks!

Answer 1

If you don't want a po box (I don't agree that it doesn't look professional) get a box at a mail store, you have to call it a suite.

Beyond that my advice is to speak to a lawyer and the best, most inexpensive way to do this is through Pre-Paid Legal Services. For more information visit the website below, and feel free to contact me through that site if you have further questions on how this service may be able to help you. I encourage you to find out what your rights and options are in this situation.

I wish you the best of luck.

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Answer 2

In many states you can't legally withhold your business premises address from your various marketing materials. That's the risk of a home office.

You also need to check your local zoning laws to see if this is even legal to do. Many jurisdictions prohibit any commercial activities in areas zoned for residential use. Some of these are strict enough to even prohibit any vehicles with commercial markings from being parked outside your home.

From a purely business perspective, successful real estate brokers are a high-visibility presence in the community. Hiding away in a home office with no way for the public to locate you is a recipe for disaster. In the mind of the public you'd be trying to hide something and that won't build public trust at all!

You should consult with an attorney before proceeding with any of this. If you're going into the real estate business you're going to be dealing with attornies a lot, so you might as well get started on it now.

Answer 3

Check your state regulations on real estate brokerages.

For example, in Illinois, it is law that your office address and phone number must be published in any marketing materials, including business cards.

If you work with a brokerage, their office address should go on your cards. If you want to open up your own brokerage, again, check your local regs, because certain areas require use of a regular business address and do not permit home offices as a base office.

Answer 4

Get a Post Office box and use that address instead.

Answer 5

Normally the seller pays most brokerage commissions. Therefore if you are the buyer you would only be required to pay closing cost or you might add to the sales contract that the seller pay all closing cost, this is sometimes acceptable. The only way that you would be required to pay a commission is that if you found a For Sale By Owner (FSBO) and you have decided to use a buyers agent. If the FSBO decide or refuse to pay your buyers agent a commission then you would be required to pay a commission to your buyers agent. There will be other that will say the (FSBO)seller will pay the commission, but the (FSBO) did not sign or make a contract with your buyer's agent, therefore they are not obligated to honor the contract that you signed. I hope this has been of some benefit to you, good luck. "FIGHT ON"

Answer 6

Get a PO Box for business.

Answer 7

Get a post office box! Use that for your address.

Answer 8

check state laws, in my state a broker can work from their home but must have name , address etc on business cards as well as all other material

Answer 9

get a mail box at a UPS Store. they will give you a street address with a suite number or office number.

Answer 10

Get a P.O. Box and use that for your address.