No national register

Unlike migration agents (MARA) or mortgage brokers (ASIC credit licensing), buyer's agents have no single national register. They operate as licensed real estate agents or agent's representatives under state and territory law — the same licensing regime as selling agents.

Who licenses whom

  • NSW — NSW Fair Trading (Property and Stock Agents Act 2002); verify at verify.licence.nsw.gov.au
  • VIC — Consumer Affairs Victoria estate agent register
  • QLD — Office of Fair Trading property licence register
  • WA — DEMIRS (Consumer Protection) licence register
  • SA — Consumer and Business Services occupational register
  • TAS — CBOS property agent registration
  • ACT — Access Canberra; NT — NT Consumer Affairs
Every legitimate buyer's agent can tell you their licence number and issuing state instantly. Most do not print it on their website — that is normal, unlike mortgage brokers who are legally required to disclose credit licence numbers — but they must hold it, and you can check the register yourself in minutes.

What the licence does NOT tell you

Here is the catch: the licence is a real estate agent's licence. It says nothing about whether its holder represents buyers, sellers, or developers. A project marketer moving house-and-land stock holds exactly the same licence as a genuine buyers-only advocate.

Where REBAA fits

The Real Estate Buyers Agents Association of Australia (REBAA) solves the gap the licence leaves. Membership requires the agency to hold a full licence AND to exclusively represent buyers — no selling, no seller or developer commissions — under a code of conduct. It is an industry association, not a regulator, but its exclusivity requirement is precisely the thing buyers most need verified. PIPA membership and the QPIA qualification play a similar role on the investment-advice side.

The two-step verification

  1. Licence: ask for the number and issuing state; check the public register.
  2. Exclusivity: confirm buyers-only status in writing, or look for REBAA membership, which audits it for you.

The bottom line

The licence proves they may operate; it does not prove whose side they are on. Check both — the register for the licence, and REBAA membership or a written buyers-only declaration for the loyalty.