Virginia Law Flashcards
What is the purpose of the Real Estate Board?
Protect the public interest in real estate transactions against:
- Fraud
- Misrepresentation
- Dishonesty
- Incompetence
Who appoints the real estate board members
The governor
How many members sit on the Board
9 Members ( 7 Licensees and 2 Non-Licensees)
- ) Licensees: must be licensed for 5 consecutive years
- Can be reappointed for an additional 4 years
How long does a board member serve?
4 year term
What is the penalty for operating w/o a license
1st Violation: $200-$1,000 per violation
Max $10,000 per year
Who’s exempt from licensure?
- Homeowner
- Power of Attorney (w/o compensation)
- Attorney at Law (in addition to other assigned duties)
- Government employees
The Board has the authority to do what?
- Issue and renew real estate licenses
- Suspend, revoke, or deny renewal of licenses
- Determine license fees
- Levy fines 4 license law, rules, & regulation violations
- Take a disciplinary case against a licensee under advisement, defer a finding, or dismiss
- Issue cease and desist orders for unlicensed activity
What does the Board not do?
- Arbitrate disputes between salespersons & brokers
- Arbitrate disputes between brokers
- Establish commission rates or commission splits
- Standardize listing agreements, sales contracts, or any other forms used in the industry
Where does the Board send an agent’s license?
Sent to the broker (firm)
If a license is inactive, where does the license reside?
Remains with the Board
How long do initial applicants have to apply for their license after passing the PSI?
Within 1 year. (Must be retaken if window is missed)
Where does a licensees license reside?
At the firm’s main office
Which groups need a license?
- Principal Broker (Sole proprietor)
- Non-broker owner (Sole proprietor)
- Partnership
- LLC
- Corporation
- Branch Office (issued to each office when there is more than one office connected to the firm)
Who advises the Board of the names and license #s of all Licensees assigned to a Branch Office
Principal Broker
What are the qualifications 4 a VA Real Estate License?
- Pass state licensing exams
- 60 hours of pre-licensing education
- Mandatory Fingerprinting
- Apply through real estate broker
- A minimum of a high school diploma
What is the requirement for forming a real estate team?
Must obtain a Business entity salesperson license from the Board
Team may hire 1 or more unlicensed assistants
What is the requirement for being a broker?
- Minimum of a high school diploma
- 12 semester hours or 180 hours of classroom or correspondence, or other distance learning course in real estate courses from an accredited university
Requirements for activation or transfer of license?
- Complete activation form
- Complete continuing education within 2yrs of activation
- If inactive for over 3 years: must start from scratch and meet pre-licensing requirements.
How long does your previous broker have to return your old license to the board?
10 days
How frequently must salesperson, broker, and firms renew their licenses?
Biennually
What happens if 30hr aren’t completed within 1st year?from the last day of the month when the license was issued.
License becomes inactive. License will still expire biennually.
Do inactive agents need to do CE
No. Once active again they must start CE
How many post-licensing hours do agents need their 1st year?
30 hours
How many post-licensing hours do agents and brokers need their 2nd year.
Agents: 16 hours (8 required and 8 related)
Brokers: 24 hours (8 required, 8 related, 8 Broker Mgt & Supervision
What is the role of a Supervising broker
- Tells agents what they can and can’t do
2. Team must have a license
Who does the supervising broker supervise?
- Each place of business
- Branch Office
- Real Estate Team
What is a real estate team?
2 or more individuals (1 or more who’s an agent or broker) who:
- Work together as a unit within the same firm
- Publicly display themselves as working together as 1 unit
- Designate themselves by a fictitious name
What is the grace period from financial penalties?
- ) 30 days
2. ) Any activity during this period is considered (Unlicensed activity)
What 3 things can the Board do to a license?
- Issue it
- Suspend it
- Revoke it
How many days does an agent or broker have to report a name or address change?
30 days
How many days does a firm have to report a name or address change?
30 days
How long does broker have to turn his license back to the board once he is discharged or terminates his activity from the firm?
3 business days
Where does a firm keep client and customer money?
In an escrow account
Once a contract is ratified, how long does the firm have to deposit earnest money?
5 business days
What is co-mingling?
Mixing operational funds and escrow funds together in the same account (ILLEGAL)
What goes in an operational versus escrow account?
- Operational: Money 4 firm’s bills, agents, & expenses
2. Escrow: Customer and clients monies
What are the 3 ways escrow funds can be removed from an account?
- Transaction closes
- All parties agree in writing
- Court ordered
What are the documents used when both parties agree to release the escrow money?
Mutual release papers
How do escrow accounts get labeled?
- Anything escrow gets labeled escrow”
2. The account monies go into is labeled “escrow”
How long does a firm have to keep records?
3 years
How many copies of records are required?
3 copies:
- Client or Customer
- Firm
- Licensee
What are the rules about advertising?
- All advertising must go through the firm
- Must be under supervision of broker (Princ. or Sup.)
- Firm’s licensed name must be clearly/legibly displayed
- Must comply with Code of VA Disclosures
- Electronic media advertising that can be displayed as a separate unit must contain disclosures which can be viewed on the main page or is one click away from main site
What’s required on for sale and for lease signs?
- Firm’s Name
2. Firm’s Primary or branch office telephone number
What is required on business cards?
- Licensee’s name
- Firm’s name
- Contact information