The real estate industry has long grappled with the inefficiency of state-by-state licensing, but a new push led by Courtney Poulos, Founder and Team Lead of ACME | SERHANT. in Los Angeles, is bringing fresh momentum to the idea of a single national license. Poulos, who recently completed the Advanced Management Development Program at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design, has leveraged a connection made there to explore the feasibility of such a system. A classmate with ties to senior policy circles, including a role at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, has provided an early avenue to gauge broader interest in the proposal.
The current system requires agents to obtain separate licenses for each state in which they operate, along with distinct continuing education and compliance regulations. This patchwork creates significant friction for agents serving relocating clients, second-home buyers, and high-net-worth individuals with properties across multiple states. Poulos argues that the existing framework is outdated, designed for a more local and slower-paced era of real estate. A national license would not override state-specific laws governing contracts or disclosures, but it would eliminate the licensing and infrastructure barriers that currently prevent agents from following their clients across state lines.
The idea is not entirely new, but Poulos's Harvard connection offers a concrete starting point for advancing it. Her classmate's position at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce provides access to policy circles that individual brokers typically lack. Additionally, Ryan Serhant, whose national firm now includes ACME under the ACME | SERHANT. brand, has informally signaled support for the concept, according to Poulos. While the conversation was casual and the idea remains in early stages, having a prominent national voice could help amplify the message within the industry.
For agents, a national license would allow them to represent clients in property transactions across state lines without having to partner with or refer deals to locally licensed agents, thereby preserving full commissions. Clients would benefit from continuity, working with a trusted agent through cross-state purchases rather than starting anew in an unfamiliar market. Poulos highlights the particular relevance for boutique brokerages, which often compete against large, multi-state firms. A national license would enable smaller firms to serve their existing clients wherever they move, preventing loss of business to larger competitors solely due to state boundaries. This portability ensures that an agent's future sales pipeline is not jeopardized by cross-state migration, and it underscores the value of skills like negotiation and procedural expertise, which would remain in demand regardless of location.
Currently, the proposal is in its infancy. Poulos emphasizes that the next step is to build a coalition to determine if there is sufficient shared interest to move forward. She anticipates that the conversation will evolve over the coming months as more details emerge. For now, the focus is on fostering dialogue among industry stakeholders and policy influencers. To learn more about Courtney Poulos and her work at ACME | SERHANT., visit her agent profile.
