Can a retired realtor get referral fees in Alberta?

Yes. In the MST Legacy Program, a retired agent can keep earning referral fees after they stop selling, as long as their Alberta licence stays active with Real and the fee is paid through Real.* RECA's Rule 54 (as of September 2026) says referral money goes through the brokerage, not between agents. Enquiries are confidential.

This is general information, not legal advice. Check your own situation with RECA or a lawyer.

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Can a retired realtor get referral fees in Alberta?

Under your MST Legacy Program agreement, yes. You introduce your client to a named MST agent. Your client agrees in writing before their details are shared. Real pays your referral fee through the brokerage when that client buys or sells, for as long as your licence stays active with Real.*

A referral fee is a share of the commission. It goes to the agent who sent the client. The program works in three steps.

Your program agreement sets out the details. Every situation is a little different. The program is built to follow RECA's rules, and every fee is paid through the brokerage. For the general rules that apply to any Alberta agent, see how referral fees work in Alberta.

Do you need to keep your licence to get a referral fee?

In the MST Legacy Program, yes. Referral fees are paid through Real for as long as you hold an active Alberta licence with Real.* That is how our program works. Whether a particular referral needs a licence is a question for RECA or a lawyer.

Two RECA rules sit behind this, Rule 50(d) and Rule 54. Their words are in the table in the next section.

The licence has to stay active. The date to watch is September 30, covered below.

What do RECA's rules say about referral fees?

RECA, the Alberta regulator, publishes the rules for licensees. Six of them matter for a retired agent's referral fees: Rules 44, 45, 50(c), 50(d), 50(e) and 54. They cover consent, written disclosure, who can be paid and how money moves. RECA can amend them. We checked the text in September 2026.

Our reading of Rule 50(c), not RECA's words: this is why the program is built around an active licence with Real.

RECA's bulletin on referrals (last revised May 2014) says the person being referred must consent to their information being shared. It also says the disclosure must be in writing, with the client's acknowledgement. We match that by getting the client's written agreement first. For the consent step in detail, see what happens to your clients when you retire.

What happens if you miss the September 30 licence renewal?

Alberta real estate licences expire on September 30 every year unless renewed (see RECA's renewal page). If you do not renew by then, the licence is cancelled automatically. You cannot work as a licensee. You can apply to reinstate within three years. The MST Legacy Program needs an active licence with Real.

Here is what RECA says about renewing:

• To keep practising on October 1, the online renewal and all fees must be done by September 30.
• RECA lists the 2026-2027 renewal fee for brokers, associate brokers and associates at $750 in total (RECA fees page, September 2026). The fee changes each year.
• An associate (an agent who works under a broker) cannot renew until the brokerage and broker have renewed.

If a licence ends, RECA says this about coming back:

• Within three years, you can apply to reinstate.
• After one year, a current criminal record check is required.
• After three years, the full new-licensee process applies.

We do not say whether a fee could still be paid to someone whose licence was cancelled. The sources we checked do not settle that. Ask RECA or a lawyer.

Costs at Real beyond RECA's renewal fee are on our page for Real Broker for agents near retirement.

Who actually pays the fee, and how?

Real pays it, through the brokerage. The team does not pay you directly. Agents do not pay each other. Rule 54 says referral money goes through the brokerage you are registered with. At Real, a referral to another Real agent is recorded in Real's reZEN system. That happens once the receiving agent adds you as a participant on the transaction.

Two more sources agree that the brokerage receives the money. RECA's referral bulletin says the brokerage must receive all referral fees. The Alberta Real Estate Association (an industry group, not the regulator) says only the brokerage can receive a referral fee.

In the program, the 25% referral fee is taken after Real's 15% and before the team and agent split. How it is paid is written into your program agreement.

Can you use Real's referral-only status instead?

The simplest path in our program is to stay licensed with Real and refer your clients to MST. Where Real offers referral-only status, it may fit you, and we will confirm your options with you before you join. Real's rules for referral-only status are on our Real Broker page.

Real calls its referral-only program Real Select. It lets an agent refer clients and earn a referral fee. The agent must keep their licence active and their continuing education current. Whichever route you take, you stay connected to MST through your Legacy Program agreement.

How does the MST Legacy Program fit?

In the MST Legacy Program, you earn a 25% referral fee on deals from the clients you introduce, for as long as you keep your licence active with Real.* Our first 10 founding members earn 30%. Fees are paid through Real, under your program agreement.

Here is a short example. On a $700,000 sale, an illustrative example commission of $25,000 in total means $12,500 for one side. Real's 15% is $1,875, which leaves $10,625. A 25% referral on that is $2,656 per deal, or $26,563 a year at 10 deals.* For founding members, 30% is $3,188 per deal, or $31,875 a year at 10 deals.*

For the full math and more scenarios, see what your book of business could earn.

*Illustrative example only. Before GST and Real's per-transaction fees. Commission shown is an example, not an MST rate.

Frequently asked questions

Can I still get paid if I stop selling?

In the MST Legacy Program, yes. The program pays a referral fee when a client you introduced buys or sells, for as long as you keep your Alberta licence active with Real.* The fee is paid through Real, under your program agreement. We will confirm your options with you before you join, because every situation is a little different.

Does my client have to be told about the referral fee?

In writing, yes. As Rule 45 reads (as of September 2026), a licensee who refers someone and may get a referral fee or other benefit must disclose that in writing and keep a copy. In our program, clients also agree in writing before their information is shared. The general rule is on our referral fees page.

Can a friend who is not licensed receive the fee?

Rule 50(d) stops a brokerage from paying someone who needs a licence for the services involved but does not have one. Whether a particular referral needs a licence is a question for RECA or a lawyer. In our program, the fee is paid through Real to a retired agent who holds an active Alberta licence with Real.*

What if my licence lapses?

It is cancelled, and you cannot work as a licensee until you reinstate. The Legacy Program needs an active licence with Real. RECA says you can apply to reinstate within three years. We do not say whether a fee could still be paid to a cancelled licence, so ask RECA or a lawyer before you let a licence go.

Can I be paid directly by the team?

No. Under Rule 54, referral fees go through the brokerage you are registered with. The Alberta Real Estate Association also says only the brokerage can receive a referral fee. In our program, that brokerage is Real Broker, and fees are paid through Real, under your program agreement.

Back to the MST Legacy Program

Sources

• RECA, Real Estate Act Rules (Rules 44, 45, 50, 54)
• RECA, Renew your licence
• RECA, Manage your licence
• RECA, Licensing fees 2026-2027
• RECA, Referrals: Industry Members Requirements (last revised May 2014)
• Alberta Real Estate Association, What disclosure or consent is required when sending or receiving a referral fee (January 17, 2025)
• Real Broker support, Real Select Referral-Only Agent FAQs
• Real Broker support, How do I refer my client to another agent