Why One Los Angeles Broker Wants a Single Nationwide Real Estate License

Courtney Poulos, Founder, SERHANT. CA, Team Lead, ACME | SERHANT. in Los Angeles, California, is helping build support for an idea that would change how real estate agents work across state lines: a single, nationwide real estate license.

Poulos, who leads ACME | SERHANT in Los Angeles, recently graduated from the Advanced Management Development Program at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design. Out of that program came a connection that could move the idea from talk to action. A classmate with connections to senior policy circles has given Poulos an early opportunity to explore whether there is broader interest in the idea.

Right now, agents who want to help clients buy or sell property in more than one state need a separate license in each one, along with separate continuing education requirements and separate state rules to track. For agents working with relocating clients, second home buyers, or high-net-worth clients who own property in multiple states, that patchwork creates real friction.

Poulos argues the current system was built for a slower, more local era of real estate and has not kept pace with how often clients now move between states or own property in more than one place. A single national license would not eliminate state-specific rules around contracts or disclosures, but it would remove the licensing and infrastructure barriers that currently stop agents from following their clients across state lines.

The idea itself is not brand new, but Poulos says this connection has given her a starting point to explore it further than she has been able to before. Her Harvard classmate’s role at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce offers a link to policy circles that individual brokers do not typically have easy access to on their own.

Poulos also mentions that Ryan Serhant, whose national firm now includes ACME under the ACME | SERHANT brand, offhandedly signaled support for the idea when she raised it with him. A voice with a larger national platform could help the conversation reach a wider audience within the industry, though Poulos is careful to note the conversation with him was informal and the idea is still very much in early stages.

For agents, a national license would mean the ability to represent a client on a property in another state without partnering with, or referring the deal to, a locally licensed agent and giving up part of the commission. For clients, it would mean being able to keep working with the same trusted agent through a cross-state purchase or sale instead of starting over with someone new in an unfamiliar market.

Poulos sees this as especially relevant for boutique brokerages. Independent firms increasingly compete against large, well-capitalized brokerages that already operate across many states. A national license would let smaller firms serve existing clients wherever they buy or sell next, rather than losing that business to a bigger competitor simply because of a state line.

Portable representation means an agent’s future sales funnel is not at risk due to one-off events or cross-state migration, and the true agent talent, such as negotiation and procedural acumen, is less disposable and retains its specialty.

Poulos describes the idea as still in its early stages. The next step is building a coalition to see whether there is enough shared interest to move forward. She expects the conversation to develop over the coming months as more details take shape.

To learn more about Courtney Poulos and her work at ACME | SERHANT, visit her agent profile.

About ACME | SERHANT.

ACME was founded in 2011 as a luxury real estate team in Los Angeles specializing in residential real estate, luxury properties, and renovation-resale strategy, and as of April 2026, is now a luxury team, ACME | SERHANT., under the umbrella of the national firm led by celebrity real estate agent Ryan Serhant.

This article is based on information provided by the expert source cited above. It is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or real estate advice. Readers should conduct their own research and consult qualified professionals before making any real estate or financial decisions.

Disclosure: Individuals or companies mentioned may have a commercial relationship with KeyCrew.

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