In what situations is real estate licensing not required?

Real estate licensing is typically not required for a trustee selling under a mortgage because trustees are usually acting in a fiduciary capacity as part of their responsibilities defined by trust agreements or mortgage documents. They perform duties such as selling property to satisfy a debt owed to a lender without engaging in the general practice of real estate brokerage. In this role, the trustee is not involved in activities that typically require a broker license, such as negotiating or facilitating transactions for compensation. Instead, the trustee's actions are governed by the terms of the trust or mortgage they represent, which qualifies as a specific legal exemption from licensing requirements in many jurisdictions.

Other scenarios, like helping friends sell their homes or working as an assistant, generally fall outside the scope of these exemptions, as they may involve facilitating real estate transactions for compensation or under broader circumstances requiring licensure. Similarly, while managing a nonprofit organization could involve real estate activities, it does not automatically exempt one from licensing requirements when engaging in real estate transactions.