Which real estate licensee is most likely to be categorized as an independent contractor?

The answer indicates that Joe, who works for a brokerage specializing in residential sales, is most likely to be categorized as an independent contractor. In the context of real estate, independent contractors typically operate under a brokerage but maintain a certain level of autonomy over their work. This includes the ability to control their schedules, methods of conducting business, and the possibility of earning commissions based on their sales performance.

In residential sales, many agents function as independent contractors. They are not employees of the brokerage but are affiliated with it, often handling their own marketing, establishing their own client relationships, and significantly influencing their earnings based on effort and success, aligning with the independent contractor model.

Other scenarios presented do not fit this classification as well. For instance, those working as property managers or in more structured roles, like Jill in commercial brokerage or Jack in a builder/developer context, often have responsibilities or compensation structures that reflect employee status, such as salary or hourly wages with less flexibility in their operational methods, which reduces their independent contractor characteristics.