Posted by William Bronchick on June 21, 2004 at 09:36:01:
You can PAY anyone you want any kind of referral fee or finder’s fee. Receiving a finder’s fee requires a real estate license in some states. A finder’s fee is a fee contingent upon the sale of the property involving the person you referred. A referral fee is simply payment for a lead, whether or not it closes.
The state licensing authority in your state is not likely to put a magnifying glass on this type of activity unless you start holding yourself out as a real estate broker. However, if the person you referred the deal to does not pay, you cannot sue him for the referral or finder’s fee. You simply tell others that he is a RAT.