I've read that federal law requires a person receiving a referral fee to have a real estate license. My process will simply match people to specific apartments for free and be listed as the referring entity. I know other companies do this already, but I’m not sure what rules they follow. I''m in Ga...
Looks like you have some good replies and some gray answers on this thread. If you have a business model that will fill vacancies as an app or website then pricing can be structured to not violate state laws.
However if you're trying to be the leasing agent then yes you might have some issues. I will warn you that property management and leasing are very much on the radar of state regulators in California. So understanding your services and how you will be paid is critical.
I am the CEO of a large residential property management company in Southern California. I have extensive experience in this space and would be more than happy to share my experience. Best of luck!