Real estate Principals & Law - Chapter 2 Flashcards
History
- California Real estate license law was first enacted in 1917, created the Department of Real Estate
- In 2013, the Department of Real estate (DRE) became the California Bureau of Real Estate (CBRE) as part of the Government Reorganization Plan of 2012; it became a bureau within the Department of Consumer Affairs in 2014
- In 2018, the Department was restored to independent department status by Senate Bill 173 and again become the Department of Real Estate (DRE).
- The DRE operates within the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency (BCSHA)
Organization
- The chief officer of the DRE, acting under the direction of the BCSHA, is the Commissioner of Real Estate
- Department has seven major sections, each led by an assistant commissioner
- Enforcement
- Legal
- Audits
- Communications & publications
- Subdivisions
- Licensing & Administrative Services
- Legislation
Commissioner
- Chief officer of the Department of Real Estate
- Appointed by governor
- Actively engaged as a broker in the state for 5 years or related experience with real estate in California for 5 of previous 10 years
- Must not have any simultaneous interest in a real estate firm or oil, gas, or mineral brokerage firm
Commissioner duties
- Administer and enforce the real estate law for the protection of purchasers and those dealing with licenses
- Perform all acts provided for in the Real Estate Law
- Maintain main office in Sacramento, establish branches as deemed necessary
- Appoint deputies and others as needed
Commissioner powers
- Regulate and control issuance and revocation of all subject licenses
- Employ deputies, clerks and others as needed to discharge duties
- Adopt rules and regulations necessary for enforcement
- Monitor activies of real estate licensees doing business as mortgage lenders and mortgage brokers
- Active mortgage loan brokers must submit reports to the Department to assist in surveying broker compliance with the law
- Hold hearing involving a licencee which may result in the suspension, revocation of denial of a real estate license
- Issue Desist and refrain orders to stop activities which are in violation of the Real Estate Law
- Issue citations and orders for violations of Real Estate Law or regulation
Commissioner’s Legal Advisor
- Advisor and attorney for the Commissioner : Attorney general
DRE Disciplinary Actions : Citations Orders fines
The commissioner is authorized to issue a citation containing an order of correction and/or assessing a fine for the violation of the real estate law or subdivided lands Law. Th max fine for a citaion is $2,500 even if the citation lists more than one violation
DRE Disciplinary Action : Suspension & revocation
Can issu suspension or revocation if:
- A violation of the code has been knowingly committed or the person should have known
- The violation has caused material damage to the public
- A person charged has been convicted of a crime involving fraud
- The person has been help liable in a civil action for ran offense involving fraud.
DRE Disciplinary Action
Can petition in writing for a monetray penalty any time after filing and accusationa nd before the date of an effective decison.
DRE Real Estate fund & Consumer Recovery
All fees and charges collected are paid monthly into real estate Fund. Allocated to Consumer recovery account, Education and research, and carry out provision of real Estate Law
DRE Real Estate fund & Consumer Recovery : Education and research account
8% of license fees credited to the education and research Account
DRE Real Estate fund & Consumer Recovery : Consumer recovery Account
12% of licensee fees credited to this account is available for payment to aggrieved persons
- $50,00 limitation on liability of the Recovery Account for applications, $250,000 for any one licensee
DRE licensed activities & exemptions : Who must be licensed
Anyone who acts in the business of a real estate broker or salesperson
- Anyone who acts or advertises as a mortgage loan originator within the state must have a license endorsement
DRE License activities & exemptions : Activities requiring license
If someone does any of the following for compensation and regarding real property or business opportunity
- buy or sell
- solicit sellers or buyers
- Negotiate sales or exchanges
- Lease or rent
- Collect rents
- Solicit borrowers or lenders
- Perform services for borrowers or lenders
- Sell, buy or exchange sales contracts or promossory notes whole performing services for holders
DRE CA license Types : Sales person
Salesperson licenses are in effect for a period of four years, renewable
DRE CA license Types : Brokers
in affect for four years, renewable
DRE CA license Types : Restricted
- May be issues to persons found to have committed violations that would justify suspension, revocation, or license denials
- Restrictions may apply to the license term, employment under a particular broker, and to specific privileges
- No right to renew a restricted license
DRE CA license Types : Temporary
90-day temps license issued to applicant for renewal or reinstatement in previous active license was issued four or more years before application
Licensing regulations: Salesperson Licensing Process
- Salesperson’s license applicant must
- Be 18
- Apply for and pass RE exam
- Fulfill education requirements
Licensing regulations: Broker Licensing Process
- be 18
- Have within the previous 5 years, two years of active real estate experience as a salesperson and be eligible for renewal
- Pass brokers exam
- Fulfill education requirements
Licensing regulations: Grounds for rejection
- Convicted of a crime related to RE practices
- Conviction of sexual misconduct
Licensing Regulation : Nonresident requirements
- Th applicant otherwise qualifies for licensure
- The applicants place of residence permits a resident of CAli to obtain a RE license in that jurisdiction
Licensing regulation : License renewal
- Submitting fee, application, & evidence of completion of required continuing education courses
License regulation : Continuing eduation
- 45 clock hours of education including courses of 3 hours each on ethics, agency, trust fund handling, fair housing, risk management, management of real estate offices and supervision of licensees (last two brokers only)
Licensing Regulations L License Violations
misrepresentation
false promises
undisclosed dual agency
commingling
no termination date on listing agreement
undisclosed compensation
exercising an option in a listing without consent of employer
any fraud or dishonest dealing
obtaining a commission or brokerage agreement from a buyer concerning a business opportunity property without prior written authorization from the property owner
failure to disburse mortgage funds according to agreement
intentional delay of a mortgage loan closing to increase charges
any act that is described as a violation of license law
transfer disclosure statement violation
false procurement of real estate license
conviction of, or plea of nolo contendere to, a felony
false advertisement of credentials
any willful violation of the Real Estate Law or Commissioner’s Regulations
any conduct that would warrant denial of license application
suspension or revocation of a license issued by another agency for conduct that would be grounds for suspension or revocation of a California real estate license
negligence or incompetence in a licensed activity
failure as a broker to supervise salespersons
violation of confidentiality
violation of terms of a restricted license
using fear of property value loss to induce sale or listing (“blockbusting”)
violation of Franchise Investment Law or Corporate Securities Law
failure to disclose ownership interest to a buyer-client
knowing misrepresentation of a real property’s value
illegal kickback for referral
final judgment in a civil case for fraud involving licensed activity
California Agency & Fiduciary Relationships
Principal delegates the right to act on their behalf
Agency relationship invokes rules and regulations which govern the rights and duties of principals and agents to each other and the obligations of both principals and agents to third parties
Agent
- A person acting under provisions of Title 9 in a real property transaction, including a person licensed as a real estate broker and under whose license a listing is executed of an offer to purchase is obtained
Associate license
A broker or sales person licensed under a broker or contracted with a broker to act as the brokers agent
- The broker for whom an associate licensee functions is responsible for the actions of the associate and owes the same duties as the associate licensee owes to a transaction party
Dual agent
An agent acting, either directly through an associate licensee, as agent for both seller & buyer in a real property transaction
Responsibilities : Principal to 3rd parties
Responsible for agents negligence and wrongful acts committed as a part of the transaction, and for the willful omission to fulfill the obligations of the principal, unless required by law to employ that particular agent
- not responsible for any wrongs committed by the principal’s agent other than those just mentioned, unless the principal has authorized or ratified the actions