How to Transfer Listings & Pendings in Arizona Without Burning Bridges
Part of the Arizona Agent Move Kit:
This article is one spoke in a 60-day playbook for switching brokerages in Arizona.
For the full sequence — including data export, scripts, compliance steps, and broker support — visit the
Switching Brokerages in Arizona Hub.
Arizona-specific guidance from Managing Broker John Patrick Mijac, 1912 Realty Tucson
TL;DR:
When you change brokerages in Arizona, your listings and pending escrows cannot simply “follow you.”
Listings belong to the brokerage, and pendings involve multiple parties and deadlines.
You need broker approvals, correct MLS changes, updated paperwork, clear communication with everyone involved, and good notes.
Done right, you keep your clients, your reputation, and your sleep.
Why Listings & Pendings Are Different From Everything Else
Your CRM, marketing assets, and branding are about your future business.
Listings and pendings are about current legal obligations. They involve:
- Brokerage ownership of the listings
- MLS rules and data accuracy
- Purchase contracts with hard deadlines
- Buyers, sellers, lenders, and title companies who expect continuity
That’s why you cannot just flip a switch and move everything in one chunk.
You need a deliberate, documented process.
Step 1: Inventory Every Active Listing and Pending Escrow
Before you talk to anyone about a transfer, create a simple inventory that includes:
- Seller and buyer names
- Property addresses and MLS numbers
- Inspection, appraisal, loan, and close of escrow dates
- Any unusual contingencies or agreed-on repairs
- Who is currently doing what: TC, lender, escrow officer, co-broke agent
This one page becomes your “at-a-glance” risk map for the move.
Step 2: Get Written Broker-to-Broker Approval
In Arizona, listings belong to the brokerage, not the individual agent.
That means:
- You cannot unilaterally decide where a listing or pending will go.
- Your current broker and your future broker both have a say.
- In some cases, a listing may stay behind while you move.
Make sure you have clear, written approval for each listing or pending you intend to transfer.
This can be as simple as a documented email trail plus any required brokerage forms, but it must exist.
Step 3: Update the MLS and Listing Agreements Correctly
Once broker approvals are in place, you (and your brokers) must decide:
- Will this listing be amended to the new office?
- Will this transaction stay with the original brokerage with you as a paid referral?
- Is a new listing agreement required by either brokerage?
Follow your MLS’s rules for changes in:
- Listing brokerage and office information
- Broker/agent ID numbers
- Showing instructions and contact information
In some situations, it is cleaner to close existing pendings at the old brokerage
and open new business at the new brokerage.
The key is to keep the MLS and paperwork aligned with reality.
Step 4: Notify All Parties in Pending Transactions
People don’t like surprises in escrow. Once the plan is set, notify:
- Buyers and sellers
- Cooperating agents
- Title/escrow officers
- Lenders and transaction coordinators
Your message should be simple:
- You are moving to a new brokerage.
- Your priority is continuity and a smooth close.
- They will see updated signatures, emails, and possibly new brokerage branding.
Step 5: Verify Media and Marketing Rights
Photos, video, floorplans, and virtual tours can be a quiet trouble spot.
Some photographers and media vendors license their work to:
- the original brokerage, or
- the specific listing, under that brokerage’s banner.
Before you move a listing that uses custom media, verify that you are allowed
to continue using that media under the new brokerage.
If not, you may need new photography or a new agreement.
Step 6: Document Everything
Good notes protect everyone.
Keep a simple file (digital is fine) with:
- Broker approvals and emails
- Signed forms and amendments
- Dates when MLS changes were made
- Copies of client and co-broke notifications
If anyone ever asks why something was moved, or why a commission was paid a certain way,
your documentation will answer the question.
Common Pitfalls (and How to Avoid Them)
- Silent transfers: Listings appear in a new office with no paperwork trail.
- Surprised clients: Buyers and sellers find out you moved from a sign, not from you.
- Media reuse issues: Photos and tours used outside the original license.
- Missed deadlines: While focusing on the move, critical escrow dates go ignored.
The antidote is always the same: slow down, plan, and communicate.
Next Steps in Your 60-Day Move Plan
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