Foraker Realty Co
(484) 406-3004
ENES
how to·

How to Switch Real Estate Brokerages in PA, DE or MD (Without Losing Your Deals)

Changing brokerages is mostly paperwork, but the order matters. Here's the sequence I'd follow in Pennsylvania, Delaware or Maryland, what each state's license transfer costs, and what usually happens to your listings and pending deals.

Cover: How to Switch Real Estate Brokerages in PA, DE or MD (Without Losing Your Deals)

Short answer: To switch brokerages in Pennsylvania, Delaware or Maryland, you (1) read your current independent contractor agreement, (2) line up the new broker and plan around your pending deals, (3) give written notice, and (4) file the license transfer with your state: a change-of-employer application in PALS in Pennsylvania, a transfer service request in DELPROS in Delaware ($30), or a transfer with the Maryland Real Estate Commission ($28, online or by form). Your relationships come with you. Your active listings usually don't, because the listing agreement is with the brokerage, not with you personally.

I'm Brian Foraker, owner of Foraker Realty Co. I started as a new agent at a big-box brokerage with no support and monthly fees, so I know the feeling of sitting in your car wondering if it's time. This is the practical version of what I'd tell a friend. Last reviewed October 12, 2026. State fees and portals change, so check the links below before you file, and have an attorney read your contract if anything in it worries you.

Step 1: What does my current contract say?

Before you tell anyone, reread your independent contractor agreement (ICA) and any policy manual it references. Look for:

  • the notice period you owe;
  • how commissions on pending deals are paid after you leave, and whether any fee is deducted;
  • who owns listings, leads and data you got through the company;
  • any non-solicitation language about clients or other agents;
  • fees owed on the way out, such as unpaid monthly or technology fees.

Most of the headaches I hear about came from skipping this step.

Step 2: What happens to my listings and pending deals?

A listing agreement is a contract between the seller and the brokerage. That's why active listings usually stay with your old company unless the seller and your old broker agree in writing to release them. Pending deals typically close under the old brokerage and pay out under your ICA. The cleanest moves happen between deals, or with a written agreement covering each pending file.

Step 3: How do I transfer my license in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania handles it through PALS (pals.pa.gov). From your dashboard, find your license under Professional License Details, use the request button next to it, and submit the change-of-employer application. The State Real Estate Commission's fee schedule lists $20 for a salesperson's change of employer (49 Pa. Code § 35.203). Your new broker has to accept the affiliation, and you shouldn't practice under the new company until it's recorded.

Step 4: How do I transfer my license in Delaware?

In Delaware you file a Service Request in DELPROS to transfer to the new employing office. Your license must be in Active, Probation or Terminated status, and you'll need the new broker's license number and, for an in-state office, its office permit. The Division of Professional Regulation's fee is $30 per transfer.

Step 5: How do I transfer my license in Maryland?

Maryland's Real Estate Commission accepts transfers online or on its Application for Real Estate License Change. The fee to transfer to another broker is $28. When a broker ends an agent's affiliation, Maryland law requires the broker to notify the Commission in writing and send the agent a copy.

Step 6: What else changes when I move?

  • MLS and association: Bright MLS covers all three states, but your MLS profile and your Realtor association record need to move to the new office.
  • Your marketing: signs, cards, email signature, website, social bios and any listing portals.
  • Your database: export what you're entitled to under your ICA before your access ends.
  • Your sphere: tell past clients where you are. A short, personal note works better than a mass email.

How do I know it's time to switch?

A few questions I'd ask yourself, honestly:

  • Are you paying monthly fees whether or not you close?
  • When a deal goes sideways on a Friday, who picks up the phone?
  • Are you buying your own leads while the company spends on its brand?
  • Does anyone train you on live deals, or are you figuring it out alone?

Why do agents move to Foraker?

I can only tell you what exists here today. Agents pay $0 in monthly fees, so the company only makes money when you close. Transaction coordination is $300 per closed deal, only when you use it. Every agent can work the Shark Tank, a database of 30,000 to 50,000 leads, and newer agents get a mentor program and a 30-60-90 day plan. We have 85 agents, two offices (Kennett Square, PA and North Wilmington, DE), and we're licensed in PA, DE and MD. Our split details are a conversation, not a web page, so call (484) 406-3004 or start on our join page. If you're licensed in one state, see licensed agents in PA, DE or MD.

Sources

Related