The National Do Not Call Registry for Real Estate Agents

Does the Do Not Call Registry apply to real estate agents?

The Registry is a list of phone numbers that people have asked sellers not to call. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) enforces the Telemarketing Sales Rule, which includes the Do Not Call provisions. They cover sellers and the people who call on a seller's behalf. An agent who phones strangers to win listings or buyers is selling a service, so you should plan as if the rules apply to you.

Your sponsoring broker may have its own policy, and that policy can be stricter than the law. Ask for it in writing before you make your first call. This guide explains the FTC side in plain words so you can ask better questions. It is not a legal opinion.

What is the 31 day rule?

The FTC says anyone who uses the Registry must synchronize their lists with an updated version of it at least every 31 days. The FTC also says the safe harbor for an accidental call requires that you accessed the Registry no more than 31 days before you called the person.

In practice this means a list you bought, built or exported months ago is not safe to use as it is. Before each calling session, check the date of your last Registry check. If it is older than 31 days, do the check again first.

Who is on the Registry, and how long does it last?

The FTC says a registration never expires. A number comes off only if it is disconnected and reassigned, or if the owner asks. After a person registers, the number should appear in the Registry the next day, and sales calls may take up to 31 days to stop.

That means an old registration is still a real registration. A number that looks stale is still protected until it is removed.

When can you call a number that is on the Registry?

The FTC names two main ways. The first is an established business relationship. The second is written permission. Each has limits, and a person can always say stop.

What counts as written permission?

The FTC says the consumer must sign an agreement that includes the number to be called. It also says an electronic signature is valid if the agreement is made online. A checkbox that does not name the number or the caller may not meet that test.

If a lead provider tells you the permission is already handled, ask to see the form. You are the one making the call, so you want to know what the person agreed to. Our guide on questions to ask a lead source lists what to request.

What if someone asks you to stop calling?

The FTC says consumers can ask a company to put them on that company's own do-not-call list, even if they are not on the national Registry. It also says a specific request not to be called must be honored during the business relationship windows.

Make this simple. Keep one list of people who asked to stop, and check every call list against it. A sticky note is not enough once you have more than a handful of contacts. Use a spreadsheet or a field in your contact system and write the date and what the person said.

Are calls to businesses covered?

The FTC says most calls to a business, made to solicit sales from that business, are exempt from the Do Not Call provisions. That is the business-to-business exemption.

Do not stretch it. Calling a homeowner on a cell phone is not a business call just because the person owns a rental. Calling a real estate investor about your services to them is different from calling an individual about their house. If you are not sure which side a call falls on, ask your broker before you dial.

What are robocalls, and why avoid them?

The FTC says robocalls that sell something are illegal without the consumer's direct written permission, whether or not the number is on the Registry. A recorded message or an automated dialer that plays one falls under this. A new agent has little reason to take that risk.

The FTC also points readers to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for its own rules on calls and texts. We did not review the FCC pages for this guide, so check them before you send marketing texts.

What does Registry access cost?

The FTC says up to five area codes are free. For access beginning October 1, 2026, the FTC lists an annual fee of $85 per area code after five, with a maximum of $23,425 per year. Exempt organizations pay no fees. We checked this on October 29, 2026, and the FTC notes that rates change, so confirm the current fee before you pay.

Most Dallas-Fort Worth agents work inside a small number of area codes, so the free tier may cover a personal list. Ask your broker whether the brokerage already pays for access. Do not buy a second subscription without asking.

What can happen if you break the rule?

The FTC says violators may face fines of up to $53,088 per violation, and each call may count as a separate violation. That number is a ceiling, not a price list, and we are not predicting what any case would cost. The point is that a long list called without a check can turn into many violations at once.

The FTC also describes a safe harbor for a call made by mistake. It requires written do-not-call procedures, trained staff, monitoring, a company-specific list, and records showing you accessed the Registry. In short, the safe harbor rewards the habits you can build now.

A simple compliance routine for a new agent

This is our planning idea, built from the FTC points above. It is not a legal standard. Adapt it with your broker.

• Write down where each list came from and the date you got it.
• Check every list against the Registry within 31 days before you call.
• Keep a separate list of people who asked you to stop, with dates.
• Note the basis for each call: past client, recent inquiry or written permission.
• Never use recorded or automated messages to sell without written permission.
• Save proof of each Registry check, such as a dated file or receipt.
• Ask your broker for the brokerage policy and follow the stricter rule.

What are common mistakes?

These are easy to make and easy to avoid.

• Calling from a list that has not been checked in months.
• Treating a form fill as unlimited permission, when the FTC says an inquiry gives 3 months.
• Forgetting that a request to stop outranks the time windows.
• Assuming a lead vendor handled permission without seeing proof.
• Using a personal cell phone and a personal spreadsheet with no record of checks.
• Relying on the business exemption for calls to homeowners.

Can you grow without cold calling at all?

Yes. Many agents spend their first months on people who already know them, open house visitors and referrals. Our guides on cold calling alternatives for new agents, where leads come from and the follow-up schedule show how. For wording, see our scripts for new agents.

If you are comparing brokerages, ask how each handles compliance and training. The guide on whether brokerages give you leads lists questions that make the answers specific.

How The Bauer Group fits

The Bauer Group is a Frisco brokerage welcoming licensed DFW agents. Opportunities are earned, not guaranteed. If you want to talk through how you would build your first months, you can start the conversation on the join page.

Education only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Confirm telemarketing rules with the FTC and ask your broker or an attorney how they apply to you.