What you will find

Understand the difference between a referral-only role and active buyer or seller representation.

Learn what to check before changing REALTOR® or MLS membership.

Understand how licensed referrals, written agreements and program fees work.

Explore your options when retiring, changing careers or taking a break from sales.

About NEXA

NEXA Realty Referral Network is a referral-only program operated by HomeBased Enterprises, Inc., CalDRE #01316623. The program is intended for eligible California licensees who want their professional role to focus on referrals rather than representing buyers and sellers.

Our public program currently lists a $99 annual affiliation fee and a fee charged upon qualifying completed referrals. Review the actual fee terms before joining.

Browse the guides

California referral-only brokerageA referral-only affiliation allows an eligible California licensee to concentrate on identifying people who need real estate services and referring them to an active agent instead of personally handling the transaction.What is LFRO?LFRO stands for Limited Function Referral Office. It is a REALTOR® association membership-dues classification for qualifying referral-only operations—not a separate type of California DRE real estate license.Retiring agentsRetiring from open houses, offers and negotiations does not mean you must stop being a resource to people who trust you. Referral-only affiliation is one potential path for licensed California professionals.Keep your license activeYes, a California real estate licensee can have an active license and focus on referrals rather than personal sales, but the appropriate broker affiliation and DRE obligations still apply.How referrals workYour role is to recognize an opportunity and make a broker-approved introduction. The receiving active agent takes over the real estate representation and transaction work.Referral compensationA real estate referral fee is compensation one licensed brokerage may agree to pay another for a qualifying client referral. The amount is negotiated and documented—not a fixed rate or guaranteed entitlement.No MLS?A referral-only associate does not need MLS access to perform the limited task of referring prospective clients to an appropriately licensed active agent. However, membership and fee obligations depend on the agent’s specific status and association rules.Program feesNEXA publishes an annual affiliation fee plus a brokerage fee applied when a qualifying referral closes. Here is how the current website terms are described.Common questionsGet straightforward answers about whether referral-only real estate work may fit your next career stage. Program enrollment and legal eligibility always depend on your individual situation.
Important: This information describes NEXA’s published program and general California referral-only considerations. It is not individualized legal, DRE, NAR, MLS or tax advice. Eligibility, association dues and compensation depend on your circumstances and the executed program documents.