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Realtors promote higher standards
More than 2,000 Realtors and affiliates from across California gathered at the State Capitol on June 7 to meet with their state legislators to discuss the issues that affect the real estate industry the most. An important subject discussed was legislation promoting higher standards for individuals in the industry.
Before the meetings with state legislators, Realtors highlighted issues of concern during the morning gathering of members of the California Association of Realtors. The association's president, Vince Malta, said promoting higher standards in the real estate industry is one of the issues of concern and the subject of legislation sponsored by the California Association of Realtors.
State Real Estate Commissioner Jeff Davi, a longtime Realtor, indicated in the past five years the number of real estate licensees in California has nearly doubled. In fact, he said, in the next 30 days, there will be more than 500,000 licensed real estate agents in the state of California.
"That's one in 52 adults in California," Davi emphasized.
Due to the incredible influx of new licensees in the industry, the California Association of Realtors is seeking to raise the bar by regulating licensing in order to curtail the low rate of service to consumers, so all real estate licensees can become excellent Realtors and serve the public well. In their meetings with state legislators, Realtors discussed two important bills that would further ensure highest standards of professionalism and supervision by brokers who can truly be mentors, counselors and leaders for their agents.
AB2429 (Real Estate Licensure) proposes to eliminate the conditional license and, after Oct. 1, 2007, requires every salesperson applicant to complete all three of their pre-license courses prior to being issued a license. Of 100,000 new licensees in the last three years, 85 percent came in under the conditional license option.
Given that brokers are mentors for the future generations of Realtors, the California Association of Realtors wants to ensure they all have the tools to lead. The current rules provide that in addition to passing an exam, any applicant with a four-year degree can get a broker's license without experience. AB1963 (Real Estate Brokers License) would require two years of "general real estate" experience, regardless of education. This bill was written by Assemblyman Tim Leslie, a real estate broker prior to entering politics.
Leslie spoke to Realtors in Sacramento and underlined his concern for the real estate industry. The purpose of the proposed legislation, he said, is for applicants "to get out in the trenches and learn the basics which they can't learn by passing a test."
Realtors hope the passage of these two bills will ensure the highest standards of professionalism in the real estate industry.
Information provided in this column is presented by the Realtor members of the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors at www.silvar.org. Send questions on any topic to rmeily@silvar.org.
