Property Management Laws in Georgia

Must a Georgia property management company have a real estate broker's license?

YES. Key components of property management (renting and leasing) are considered real estate activities under existing Georgia real estate licensing laws. According to Georgia rules, "property management services" mean:

The provision, for valuable consideration, to another of marketing, including referring prospective tenants; leasing; physical, administrative, or financial maintenance; and overall management of real property; or supervision of the foregoing activities for another pursuant to a property management agreement.

A real estate license is required to perform these services. A salesperson working under a broker may engage in such activities. Also, unlicensed employees of brokers may engage in limited activities, such as receiving lease applications, showing rental units, and menial tasks, as long as certain conditions are met.

Are there any exceptions to the requirement that a Georgia property manager have a broker's license?

YES. An exception is available to unlicensed full-time employees of property owners (who are also unlicensed) to perform real estate brokerage activity on property owned by the unlicensed employer.

For more information about these and other Georgia property management requirements and exceptions, please contact the Georgia Real Estate Commission.

Before hiring a property manager to manage your Georgia rental property, you should always check that he or she is licensed appropriately. You can check the license status of Georgia property managers at the Georgia Real Estate Commission's consumer information webpage.

Georgia Community Association Manager Licensing

Community association management in Georgia is an activity that must be done under a broker's license. In addition, the person doing the management must at least have a community association manager's license.

"Community association management services" means:

the provision, for compensation, of management of administrative services for the operation or affairs of a community association, including collecting, controlling or disbursing funds, obtaining insurance, arranging for and coordinating maintenance to the association property, and otherwise overseeing the day-to-day operations of the association.

A community association manager is a person who acts on behalf of a real estate broker in providing only community association management services.

Georgia Real Estate Broker Licensing Requirements

Georgia real estate broker licensing requirements include:

• Age: Must be at least 21 years old
• Residency: Must be a resident of the State of Georgia, unless meeting an exception
• High School: Must be a high school graduate or equivalent
• Experience: Must have served actively for three years as a licensee (however, you can take the broker's exam after two years).
• Trustworthiness: provide copy of criminal history.
• Education: Successfully complete 60 classroom hours in a broker's course approved by the commission. However, if licensed as a community association manager, the applicant must take an additional 75 classroom hours in courses or a course of study approved by the commission
• Exam: Pass real estate broker examination after serving at least two years of active licensure. The exam fee is $91.00.
• Fees: Broker License fee is $170.00 (covers first four years of licensure).

Georgia Real Estate Salesperson Licensing Requirements

Georgia real estate salesperson licensing requirements include:

• Age: Must be at least 18 years old. However, applicants may take the examination at age 17 (license cannot be activated until 18 years old).
• High School: Must be a high school graduate or equivalent.
• Education: Must successfully complete 75-hour Salesperson Prelicense Course (or equivalent). In addition, salespersons must take a 25-hour postlicense course during their first year of being licensed.
• Experience: There is no experience requirement.
• Exam: Must pass the Salesperson's exam. The exam fee is $97. Must apply for the salespersons license within 12 months of taking the exam.
• Fees: If applying for the salesperson's license within three months of taking the exam, the fee is $170. If applying between 3-12 months of taking the exam, the fee is $340.

For more information on these and other license requirements, please visit the Georgia Real Estate Commission's licensing webpage.

Georgia Community Association Manager Licensing Requirements

In order to qualify for a community association manager's license, an applicant must:

• Age: Must have attained the age of 18
• Residency: Must be a Georgia resident, unless meeting an exception
• High School: Must be a high school graduate or equivalent
• Education: Must complete 25 classroom hours in a community association manager's course approved by the real estate commission.
• Experience: There are no experience requirements for a CAM license
• Exam: Must pass the community association manager examination. The fee is $91. Applicants must apply for the CAM license within 12 months of taking the exam.
• Fees: If applying within three months from taking exam, the fee is $170. If applying 3-12 months from taking exam, the fee is $340. These amounts cover the first four years of licensure.

For more information on these and other license requirements, please visit the Georgia Real Estate Commission's licensing webpage.