The two claims describe different activity, which is why they seem to collide.
Most state brokerage statutes attach licensing to negotiating, soliciting, or offering property for sale on behalf of another for compensation. Passing along public information about a property, with no discussion of price or terms and no contact with the seller on the buyer's behalf, sits outside that in many states. That's the basis for the "no license needed" claim, and for the narrow version of bird dogging it's usually accurate.
The drift starts when the work grows. Calling owners, asking what they'd take, telling them an investor can close in two weeks, sitting in on the conversation. Do enough of that for a fee and you look like you're negotiating on someone's behalf, and some states will treat it that way. A few states are stricter than others about compensation tied to a closing, and this varies state by state, so the only reliable answer comes from a real estate attorney licensed where the property sits. One consultation is cheap next to a complaint file.
One practical thing to decide early: define your own line and write it into your agreements. Mine-the-address-and-stop is defensible and easy to explain. Half-negotiating is where people get uncomfortable letters.
Also, a finder's fee paid to you is income, and how it's reported depends on your setup, so ask your tax preparer rather than guessing from a forum.
