Whether or not it’s drone pictures of the yard, the neighborhood or the roofline, aerial pictures has develop into principally desk stakes in actual property listings.
Consumers count on to see drone images on these Redfin listings, and brokers who provide them stand out. However right here’s the half a shocking variety of actual property professionals get improper: utilizing a drone for something actual estate-related virtually definitely requires an official license from the Federal Aviation Administration.
Should you’re an actual property agent who makes use of drones, right here’s what you really must know.
Sure, you want a Half 107 drone license for actual property
Any time a drone is used to advertise the sale of a property, corresponding to photographing listings, capturing neighborhood overviews or capturing footage for advertising supplies, the FAA classifies that as industrial drone use. Business drone use requires a Distant Pilot Certificates underneath FAA Half 107, generally referred to as a Half 107 drone license.
This is applicable whether or not you’re an actual property photographer getting paid per shoot, an actual property agent flying your individual drone in your personal listings, or somebody doing it “as a favor.” The FAA’s place is that if the footage is getting used to help an actual property transaction in any manner, it’s industrial. Fines for flying commercially with no Half 107 certificates can attain $32,000 per violation, per flight.
The grey areas that aren’t really grey
Just a few eventualities that actual property professionals generally suppose are exceptions — and aren’t:
“I’m simply flying for my very own listings, not charging anybody.” This doesn’t matter. You’re utilizing drone footage to advance a industrial transaction (the sale of a property), which is industrial use underneath Half 107.
“My drone weighs underneath 250 grams — I heard I don’t want a license for these.” The 250-gram threshold exempts drones from FAA registration necessities for leisure flyers. It doesn’t exempt industrial operators from needing a Half 107 certificates. Should you’re flying a DJI Mini 4 Professional for paid actual property work, you continue to want your license.
“A buddy is doing it as a favor, and no cash is altering arms.” It’s nonetheless industrial use, so it counts.
“I employed a licensed drone photographer, so I’m coated.” Largely true — the pilot wants the license, not you. However because the particular person hiring them, you bear some duty for guaranteeing they’re really licensed. Ask to see their Distant Pilot Certificates. If they’ll’t produce one, you’re taking up authorized publicity too.
What in case you don’t need to get licensed your self?
Hiring an authorized drone operator is usually the neatest transfer for actual property brokers who don’t need to take care of FAA certification, airspace authorization, or the educational curve of working a drone safely round folks and constructions.
Should you go that route, all the time confirm the pilot’s Half 107 certificates is present — certificates have to be renewed each 24 months by way of free on-line recurrent coaching. You possibly can lookup any drone pilot’s FAA certification on the FAA’s public airmen registry.
What the Half 107 take a look at really covers
Should you do determine to get licensed (and for actual property professionals who need to shoot their very own listings repeatedly, it’s completely definitely worth the funding) right here’s what you’re signing up for.
The Half 107 take a look at is a 60-question multiple-choice examination administered in particular person at an FAA-approved testing middle. Matters embody airspace classifications, studying sectional charts, aviation climate (METARs, TAFs, wind patterns), FAA rules, Distant ID necessities and emergency procedures. The take a look at prices $175 no matter whether or not you go or fail, and also you want a 70% or greater to go.
Price noting: in 2025, the common Half 107 take a look at rating hit an all-time low of 79.31%, with solely 82.96% of take a look at takers passing. It’s not simple, so research up!
One of the simplest ways to arrange
I used Drone Pilot Floor College to review for my very own Half 107 take a look at and handed with a 90% on my first strive. For somebody coming in with no aviation background (which describes most actual property professionals) the structured video classes, observe exams, and 1:1 teacher help make an actual distinction. The course usually runs $299 however you should utilize code DRONEGIRL100 to carry it all the way down to $199.
If finances is a precedence, Drone Launch Academy is a strong various at $149 with code DRONEGIRL50. I’ve completed a full breakdown of each — and three different choices — in my Half 107 take a look at prep course information.
Is it price it for actual property particularly?
Sure! Aerial pictures instructions a premium for actual property listings — many photographers cost $150–$300 extra for a package deal that features drone pictures. Should you’re a photographer who can add aerial to your providing, or an agent who can management your individual aerial content material relatively than outsourcing it, the $199 course price and $175 take a look at charge pay for themselves shortly.
Flying a drone is the simple half. Getting licensed is the onerous half.
Nonetheless, flying with out certification is a legal responsibility that no itemizing is price. The fantastic construction is punishing, the FAA does implement it, and the reputational injury from an incident throughout an uncertified industrial flight — to the drone pilot and to the brokerage — isn’t definitely worth the shortcut.
Use code DRONEGIRL100 to enroll in Drone Pilot Floor College for $199 →
FTC disclosure: This put up accommodates affiliate hyperlinks. I’ll earn a fee if you are going to buy by them, at no additional price to you.
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