NY Could Double the Time Required to Become a Real Estate Broker

New York Real Estate Licensing Update

New York May Double the Experience Requirement to Become a Real Estate Broker

The New York State Legislature has passed A9518, which would amend Real Property Law § 441(1)(b) and increase the required supervised salesperson experience from two years to four years before qualifying for a broker’s license.

What Would Change?

Currently, a New York real estate salesperson may qualify for a broker’s license after working under the supervision of a licensed broker for at least two consecutive years, assuming the applicant also satisfies the other licensing requirements.

A9518 would change that supervised experience requirement from two years to four years. In other words, future broker applicants would need twice as much supervised practical experience before becoming eligible for a broker’s license.

Why It Matters

Brokers do far more than close deals. They supervise salespersons, oversee compliance, manage risk, handle agency issues, and are responsible for ensuring that licensed activity is conducted lawfully.

The Big Question

Does more time under supervision actually create better brokers, or does competency depend more on training, mentorship, transaction exposure, and legal education?

The Argument for More Supervision

The responsibilities of real estate brokers have become more complex. Today’s brokers must understand fair housing compliance, agency disclosure, advertising rules, commission issues, antitrust risk, buyer representation agreements, escrow obligations, supervision duties, and Department of State enforcement priorities.

From that perspective, requiring more supervised experience may help ensure that future brokers have a broader base of practical exposure before they are permitted to supervise other licensees and operate brokerage businesses.

The Argument Against It

Time alone does not guarantee competency. Some salespersons receive meaningful mentorship, handle complicated transactions, and study the law intensely within two years. Others may spend four years with limited supervision, limited training, and limited exposure to complex issues.

The better question may be whether New York should focus only on years served, or whether broker readiness should be tied more directly to education, testing, supervision quality, compliance training, and actual experience.

Should the Governor Sign It?

If signed into law, A9518 would be a major shift for future broker applicants and brokerage companies planning for recruitment, succession, and growth.

Whether the change improves consumer protection will depend on whether the additional two years produce better supervision, better legal understanding, and better brokerage practices — or merely delay qualified salespersons from advancing.

Either way, every New York salesperson thinking about becoming a broker should be watching this bill closely.

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New York Expands Human Rights Law to Ban Discrimination in Real Estate Appraisals

On October 16, 2025, A6689 was signed into law and now New Yorkers are protected from discrimination in real estate appraisal services by the New York State Human Rights Law. 

This bill expands the New York State Human Rights Law, at Executive Law 296, by enacting new paragraph (h), which now provides:

IT SHALL BE AN UNLAWFUL DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICE FOR ANY PERSON TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST ANY INDIVIDUAL IN MAKING REAL ESTATE APPRAISAL SERVICES AVAILABLE OR TO BASE A REAL ESTATE APPRAISAL, ESTIMATE, OR OPINION OF VALUE ON THE RACE, CREED, COLOR, NATIONAL ORIGIN, CITIZENSHIP OR IMMIGRATION STATUS, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY OR EXPRESSION, MILITARY STATUS, SEX, AGE, DISABILITY, MARITAL STATUS, STATUS AS A VICTIM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, LAWFUL SOURCE OF INCOME, OR FAMILIAL STATUS OF EITHER THE PROSPECTIVE OWNERS OR OCCUPANTS OF THE REAL PROPERTY, THE PRESENT OWNERS OR OCCUPANTS OF THE REAL PROPERTY, OR THE PRESENT OWNERS OR OCCUPANTS OF THE REAL PROPERTIES IN THE VICINITY OF THE PROPERTY. NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL PROHIBIT A REAL ESTATE APPRAISER FROM TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION FACTORS OTHER THAN RACE, CREED, COLOR, NATIONAL ORIGIN, CITIZENSHIP OR IMMIGRATION STATUS, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY OR EXPRESSION, MILITARY STATUS, SEX, AGE, DISABILITY, MARITAL STATUS, STATUS AS A VICTIM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, LAWFUL SOURCE OF INCOME, OR FAMILIAL STATUS.

The bill also provides license law procedures to enforce discriminatory violations by appraisers, including a fine, suspension, or revocation of licensing statute. It finally creates funding for an anti-discrimination in housing fund to be administered by the AG to test fair housing compliance. 

If you believe you’ve been a victim of appraisal discrimination or need guidance on compliance with the New York State Human Rights Law, contact Lieb at Law, P.C. at 646.216.8009 to speak with an attorney experienced in real estate discrimination litigation.

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NAR: Clear Cooperation Stays But With a New Loophole

The National Association of Realtors ("NAR") is shaking up how real estate brokers market properties. After months of debate, NAR announced it will keep its Clear Cooperation Policy ("CCP"), the rule that requires agents to put listings on the MLS within one business day of publicly marketing them. But there's now a twist: NAR is adding a new option called “delayed marketing exempt listings.”

Under the new policy, sellers can opt to delay marketing their property on third-party listing sites that pull data from MLS for a period set by the local MLS. However, the property will still be visible on MLS to MLS participants and subscribers, meaning brokers and agents can still access it. How is this new? Well, the public won’t see it right away on sites like Zillow. This gives sellers and their agents more control over when the listing hits the wider market.

For brokers, this opens up some interesting strategies. A delayed listing could give sellers more time to prepare their property or test the waters with select buyers before going fully public. On the flip side, this could limit public exposure, potentially reducing competition and impacting the final sale price.

Brokers, be aware of the compliance requirements. If a seller opts for delayed marketing, they’ll need to sign a disclosure stating they understand the tradeoff: they’re waiving the benefits of immediate public marketing. It’s also worth keeping an eye on how local MLSs handle the days-on-market ("DOM") rule. Some might count the delayed period toward DOM, which could make a listing look older faster.

At the end of the day, this new policy gives brokers and sellers more flexibility, but with some new risks. Will delayed listings benefit sellers by giving them more control? Or will they reduce transparency and limit buyers’ access to inventory? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.