What is required of a broker who wants to open a branch office?

To open a branch office, a broker must name a licensed real estate broker as the broker in charge. This requirement ensures that there is a designated individual responsible for overseeing the operations of the branch and ensuring compliance with state real estate laws and regulations. The broker in charge acts as the primary contact for the branch office and is accountable for the actions of the agents working there, maintaining the integrity of the brokerage’s operations.

The other options do not accurately reflect the requirements for opening a branch office. For instance, while obtaining approval from the state licensing authority is important, it is not the sole requirement — having a broker in charge is a crucial part of the licensing and operational oversight structure. Additionally, there is no requirement that each branch office must be associated with a different municipality, and submitting a new license application for each office is not necessary when opening branches under the same brokerage. Thus, naming a licensed real estate broker as the broker in charge is the key requirement for establishing a branch office.