Unit 2: Real Estate Act Flashcards
The Real Estate Act provides regulation for which 3 professionals?
1) Commercial and Residential Real Estate
2) Property Management
3) Mortgage Brokerage
Legislation includes which 4 components?
1) The Act
2) The Rules
3) The Regulations
4) The Bylaws
Who is responsible for the Act?
Minister of Service Alberta
Who establishes and amends the Rules?
The Council
The Regulations are amendments / interpretations from the Act and are made by…
the Minister or the Lieutenant Governor in Council
The Bylaws are guidelines adopted by who?
The Board (related to governance and admin functions)
Real Estate Council of Alberta (RECA) is run by a board composed of:
- 3 public members chosen by the minister and 4 professionals chosen from each industry council
Who is in charge of the Real Estate Assurance Fund?
RECA allocates funds to consumers on case by case basis
Alberta Real Estate Foundation provides..
Education to professionals, the public and supports research / reform
The Rules set requirements regarding…
- Licensing
- Standards of Practice
- Record-keeping / reporting
- REIX mandate
- Fee schedules
- Administrative penalties
The Regulations are divided into 2 types:
1) Ministerial Regulations (policies for Foundation and Fund, Council structure, etc.)
2) Exemption Regulations: Grants exemptions to certain individuals
Bylaws pertain to RECA’s conduct and operation and include:
- Board appointment, remuneration, and duties
- Board / Council training, performance evals, proceedings
- Admin including Registrar duties
- Penalties, hearings and appeals
- Real Estate Assurance Fund
- Licensing Service and Fees
- Schedules
What are the 4 Industry Councils?
1) Residential Real Estate
2) Commercial Real Estate / Commercial Property Manager
3) Residential Property Manager (including condos)
4) Mortgage Broker
Industry Councils are composed of…
- 2 members of the public (chosen by Minister) and 3 licensees from that particular sector (elected)
The Office of the Registrar is responsible for…
RECA’s regulatory functions (e.g. licensing, trusts, practice reviews, etc.)
What are the 4 classes of licences in Alberta?
1) Brokerage
2) Broker
3) Associate Broker
4) Associate
To become a Real Estate Broker you must…
- Complete education in all specialty areas, complete the Real Estate Brokers Program, and have at least 2 years experience as an associate (within the past 5 years)
How many brokers can one brokerage employ?
Only one, anyone else with that brokerage that holds the same qualifications would be an associate broker
Who can be exempted from RECA Licensing?
- Custodian, liquidator, trustee, or anyone else acting according to court order
- Estate administrator, executor or trustee (for will, marriage settlements, deed of trust)
- Banks, treasuries, credit union, loan corps, trust corps or insurance companies
- Someone who owns at least 25% of the property they are trading
- Condo corporation
- Mineral right only transactions
- Member of Law Society of AB
- Licensee of Land Agents Act
Licence + Registration Certificate =
Authorization
If someone’s license has been cancelled under the Act, how long must they wait to reapply for a new license?
36 months
REAP stands for…
Real Estate Associates Program
How long does a person have to complete their REAP?
1 year from date of enrollment in Fundamentals class
What do the following status indicators mean for authorization to trade? Green - Grey - Black - No results
Green = authorized to trade
Grey = not authorized to trade (transferring)
Black = not authorized to trade (suspension or cancellation)
No Results = not authorized (not licensed yet)
Which date is license renewal each year?
Sept 30th
If under 1 year of absence from being licensed..
the licensee can register with a brokerage and complete a licensing online application
If absent between 1 year and 3 years…
the licensee needs to complete an application for registration, submit a criminal record check, and complete all annual courses required for renewals
If absent over 36 months…
Application must complete all training and requirements that a first-time applicant would complete
Who has the power to suspend or cancel a license?
Executive Director
Reasons for license suspension / cancellation include:
- Failure to comply with terms, conditions or restrictions
- Failure to comply with an order of hearing / appeal panels or court
- Failure to pay outstanding moneys
- Swears false affidavit
- Gives false / misleading info
- Fails to comply with request for info / submit records
- Does not complete required renewal courses
Reasons to suspend or cancel a Brokerage license:
- Fails to keep or make available records
- Fails to keep trust fund balanced
- Denies access to auditors or investigators
- Qualifications don’t apply anymore
- Exercises little to no authority
What is the timeline for an appeal request?
Within 30 days of receipt of notice
What circumstances would lead a licensee to reach out to the Executive Director?
- Changes to personal / contact info
- Fines, sanctions, discipline in other professions
- Bankruptcy, insolvency, or receivership
- Criminal convictions
Conduct deserving of sanction includes:
- breaches to the Real Estate Act
- conduct falling below industry standard
- personal conduct that looks badly on the industry
Responsibility of ‘Act Honestly’ is to…
speak up and disclose info
Responsibility of ‘Provide Competent Service’ is to…
have knowledge, skills and abilities to perform necessary services
Responsibility of ‘Duty of Compensation’ is to…
Collect and disperse compensation money related to trade or potential trades
Responsibility to ‘Fulfill Fiduciary Obligations to Clients’ is to…
create trust and confidence through being loyal, avoiding / disclosing conflicts of interest, disclosing relevant info, keeping confidentiality, refraining from making secret profits
Responsibility to ‘Disclose Conflict of Interest’ including where…
-they are part of the transaction personally
- they have 20% or more ownership or their spouse does
- they represent multiple clients in transaction
- they could use confidential info to their advantage
- they receive compensation from multiple sources without client knowledge
Responsibility to ‘Cooperate with RECA’ is to…
comply with the Act, Rules, Regulations and Bylaws. To provide any info required during audits, etc.
Responsibility to ‘Refuse Service to unlawful clients’ means…
Walking away from clients that try to hide material latent defects.