TC and brokerage operations
A real estate transaction coordinator manages a sale's paperwork and timeline after the contract is signed: deadlines, documents, signatures and updates to everyone involved, until the file closes and passes the broker's compliance review. This hub covers the job and the business: how to become a TC, what TCs charge and how many files one person can handle, how to win clients and put the terms in writing, the checklists and templates that run each file, and the brokerage back office after closing: commission disbursement authorizations, split structures, compliance file review and record retention.
28 guides in this topic
Start here
- What Does a Transaction Coordinator Do? The Role ExplainedWhat a real estate transaction coordinator does from contract to close, who pays them, how they charge, and how a TC differs from an agent …
- How to Become a Real Estate Transaction CoordinatorHow to become a real estate transaction coordinator: whether your state requires a license, the skills to learn, how to get experience and …
- Transaction Coordinator Job Description: Duties and SkillsWhat a real estate transaction coordinator does, phase by phase, what they don't do, the skills to hire for, and a job description template…
- How Much Do Transaction Coordinators Charge?How transaction coordinators charge: flat fee per file, per side, monthly or hourly, who pays, when it's collected, and how to set your own…
- Transaction Coordinator Checklist: Intake to File Close-OutA transaction coordinator checklist in five stages: intake, file setup, active management, pre-closing and close-out, plus a weekly routine…
How do you become a transaction coordinator?
Most states don't license TCs as such, but they limit what unlicensed staff may do, so the route depends on where you work. What a transaction coordinator does explains the role; then read how to become a transaction coordinator, then the state guides for Texas, California and Florida. The job description and interview questions show what brokerages expect, and TC certification and training compares the courses.
Should you work in-house or run your own TC business?
An in-house TC is an employee of one team or brokerage; an independent TC contracts with several agents and is paid per file. Compare them in in-house vs independent TC, and see how the role differs from a real estate assistant and a listing coordinator. Going independent? Read what TCs charge, how many files a TC can handle, the business plan template and how to get clients, and price your files with the TC fee calculator.
What paperwork does a TC run on every file?
The same few documents keep files consistent: the TC agreement with each agent, an intake form for every new contract, a checklist from intake to close-out and a set of email templates for the updates every party expects.
What happens in the brokerage back office after closing?
The broker reviews the file, then authorizes the commission. A commission disbursement authorization (CDA) tells the closing agent how to pay it; the split itself follows the brokerage's plan (commission split structures, with the commission split calculator). The compliance file review checklist and document retention requirements by state cover what the broker must check and keep.
What does the brokerage need on file before and after the contract?
Before the contract: a listing agent checklist on the seller side and a written buyer representation agreement before touring, as the 2024 NAR practice changes require. Around it: referral fees paid broker to broker, and earnest money held under trust account rules. Hiring? See transaction coordinator salary data.
Every guide in this topic
- Broker Compliance File Review Checklist for Real EstateA broker compliance file review checklist: agreements, disclosures, contract and addenda, earnest money, noti…
- Buyer Representation Agreement: What It Must Say and When You Need OneWhat a buyer representation agreement must include under NAR's August 2024 rules, when it's needed, how TX, C…
- How Many Files Can a Transaction Coordinator Handle?How many active files a transaction coordinator can handle depends on deal mix, systems and support. How to m…
- How Much Do Transaction Coordinators Charge?How transaction coordinators charge: flat fee per file, per side, monthly or hourly, who pays, when it's coll…
- How to Become a Real Estate Transaction CoordinatorHow to become a real estate transaction coordinator: whether your state requires a license, the skills to lea…
- How to Become a Transaction Coordinator in CaliforniaHow to become a transaction coordinator in California: what DRE lets an unlicensed TC do, broker supervision,…
- How to Become a Transaction Coordinator in FloridaHow to become a transaction coordinator in Florida: FREC's list of unlicensed assistant tasks, Chapter 475 li…
- How to Become a Transaction Coordinator in TexasHow to become a transaction coordinator in Texas: what TREC lets an unlicensed TC do, when you need a license…
- How to Get Clients as a Transaction CoordinatorWhere independent transaction coordinators find agents, what to offer, outreach that works, and how to turn e…
- In-House vs Independent Transaction CoordinatorIn-house vs independent and virtual transaction coordinators compared: cost model, control, coverage, complia…
- Listing Agent Checklist: From Listing Agreement to Accepted OfferA listing agent checklist from the listing appointment to an accepted offer: agreement, disclosures, photos, …
- Listing Coordinator vs Transaction CoordinatorListing coordinator vs transaction coordinator: what each does, where the handoff happens, licensing limits, …
- Real Estate Commission Split Structures, ExplainedReal estate commission split structures explained: 70/30, graduated, capped and 100% commission models, team …
- Real Estate Document Retention Requirements by StateReal estate document retention requirements by state: how long brokers keep transaction files in CA, TX, FL, …
- Real Estate Referral Fees: How Agent-to-Agent Referrals WorkHow real estate referral fees work: typical percentages, what goes in a referral agreement, paying through th…
- Real Estate Trust Account Rules: Commingling, Deposits, Reconciliation and RecordsBroker trust account rules: commingling and conversion, earnest money deposit deadlines, monthly reconciliati…
- Transaction Coordinator Agreement: What to IncludeWhat to put in a transaction coordinator agreement: scope, exclusions, fees, fall-through terms, confidential…
- Transaction Coordinator Business Plan (Free Template)A transaction coordinator business plan template: the sections to fill in, a startup cost worksheet, legal an…
- Transaction Coordinator Certification: Courses, Cost and WorthIs there an official transaction coordinator certification? What states say, the C.A.R. CTC and other courses…
- Transaction Coordinator Checklist: Intake to File Close-OutA transaction coordinator checklist in five stages: intake, file setup, active management, pre-closing and cl…
- Transaction Coordinator Email Templates (Copy and Paste)Transaction coordinator email templates to copy: client intro, agent and title intros, document requests, dea…
- Transaction Coordinator Intake Form: Agent QuestionnaireA transaction coordinator intake form in two parts: a one-time agent onboarding questionnaire to copy, and th…
- Transaction Coordinator Interview Questions (+ Rubric)Transaction coordinator interview questions with what good answers cover, questions to ask an independent TC,…
- Transaction Coordinator Job Description: Duties and SkillsWhat a real estate transaction coordinator does, phase by phase, what they don't do, the skills to hire for, …
- Transaction Coordinator Salary in 2026: Employee Pay vs Per-File IncomeWhat real estate transaction coordinators earn in 2026: employee salaries from four pay sites, why they disag…
- Transaction Coordinator vs Real Estate AssistantTransaction coordinator vs real estate assistant: who does which task, what unlicensed assistants may do, how…
- What Does a Transaction Coordinator Do? The Role ExplainedWhat a real estate transaction coordinator does from contract to close, who pays them, how they charge, and h…
- What Is a CDA in Real Estate? Commission Disbursement Authorization ExplainedCDA stands for commission disbursement authorization: the broker's signed instruction telling title or escrow…
Frequently asked questions
What does a real estate transaction coordinator do?
A TC manages the paperwork and timeline of a sale after the contract is signed: tracking deadlines, collecting documents and signatures, keeping the agents, lender, title and clients informed, and preparing the file for the broker's compliance review.
Do you need a license to be a transaction coordinator?
Most states don't license TCs as such, but they limit what an unlicensed person may do, such as negotiating or giving advice. Check your state real estate commission's rules for unlicensed assistants.
How much do transaction coordinators charge?
Most independent TCs charge a flat fee per file, often paid at closing; some charge per side or offer listing-only packages. Rates vary by market and scope.
What is a CDA in real estate?
A commission disbursement authorization is the brokerage's written instruction telling the closing agent how to split and pay the commission from the closing funds.