Florida Real Estate Commission Archives - Demetree School of Real Estate

Florida Realtors Are Now Getting Punished For This One Common Offense

In prelicensing class, every licensee learns that we are required to keep our correct mailing address and email address on file with the DBPR. If that address changes, we must notify the DBPR within 10 days.

Recently, the Florida Real Estate Commission has decided to crack down on people who don’t change their address. At the last FREC meeting, there were several cases on the docket for this offense. Violators were fined as much as $1,000 plus the cost of the investigation. One particular licensee was quite dismayed. His excuse was that he only moved a block away. The Florida Real Commission said they didn’t care if he moved a block away or 1,000 miles away. Either way, they wanted to know where he was.

You might wonder how the DBPR learned that he had moved. Someone filed an anonymous complaint. The respondent alleges that it was a political opponent who filed it, but it was anonymous, so no one knows for sure.

Almost every day, I hear someone make a comment about they won’t use anything from prelicensing class in real life. Those are the agents who end up at the FREC meeting for some fairly minor violation. When you tell FREC that you didn’t know you had to do something, and every member of the Commission knows that they rule was taught in prelicensing class, they usually aren’t very forgiving.

If you change your address, be sure to notify the DBPR within 10 days because the cost of not doing so is higher than you think it is.

Please note that Karen Climer has no affiliation with Climer School of Real Estate. Her father, Ron Climer, sold Climer School of Real Estate in 2014. It has since been involved in several mergers and acquisitions and is owned by a large investment company. Karen owns Demetree School of Real Estate in Orlando, Florida.

By Karen Climer|2024-07-29T09:32:13-04:00July 29th, 2024|

It Happens Once A Month, And It’s The Most Interesting Thing On The Internet

Every month, the Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC) meets for two days at
400 West Robinson Street in Orlando, Florida (north building, top floor). The meeting starts at 8am. Parking is free. The next meeting is April 16-17 (next week).

I think every real estate licensee needs to attend at least one FREC meeting in their life. I was amazed at how much I learned the first time I attended. The first day (Tuesday) is where FREC considers applicants who have a criminal background. The criminal problems people have range from minor misdemeanors like petty theft to major felonies like murder or sexual assault. The members of the Commission consider each case individually. Most applicants are present to tell their side of the story, and some have an attorney with them. If you have to attend this as an applicant, check out my post with some tips on what to do.

The second day of the meeting (Wednesday) is where they handle current licensees who have gotten in trouble, recovery fund cases, escrow disbursement orders, and any rule changes or other issues. To me, this is the more interesting day of the two. This is also the day where you can get continuing education credit for attending.

When licensees get in trouble, I believe about half of them have good intent and just didn’t know the law or made an honest mistake. The other half are just plain scamsters. You can see what the mistake folks are doing wrong so you don’t make the same mistake. (I’m assuming if you are in the scamsters category you aren’t reading this blog.)

FREC also discusses potential rule and law changes. Recently, there has been a lot of discussion about advertising for both teams and individuals, the requirements to become a broker, and continuing education for instructors. I’ve been there almost every month to see the process unfold. I’ve even participated in the process because citizens are allowed to make comments.

If you don’t live in Orlando, or don’t want to go downtown for the day, you can watch the meeting online! The Wednesday meeting is live streamed. This is something that they’ve only been doing for about a year, and I love it. Sometimes I can’t make it to the live meeting, but I can pop in and out throughout the day to see what is going on. Check out this website to find a link to the live stream and the agendas so you can see what they are discussing.

Too often, laws or rules are passed and people complain that the powers that be are pushing their will down on the people. Actually, you can go to the meeting and participate in the process. (This is true in all areas of government, not just real estate.) America does not have rule by the majority. We have rule by the people who participate in the process. At the FREC meeting, you can participate in the process.

If you attend a meeting in person, I’ll probably be there. Please come up and introduce yourself.

Please note that neither I, nor anyone in the Climer family, have any affiliation with Climer School of Real Estate. My father, Ron Climer, sold Climer School of Real Estate in 2014. You can find me at Demetree School of Real Estate.

By Karen Climer|2023-10-19T11:21:47-04:00April 12th, 2019|

Who Makes The Florida Real Estate Laws?

If you didn’t like a real estate law and wanted it changed, how would you go about that? This isn’t just a theoretical question. It’s something you need to know for the Florida real estate sales associate exam.

First, let’s talk about laws vs. rules. We have to follow laws or statutes. These include state laws like Chapter 475 F.S., Chapter 455 F.S., and federal laws such as the Fair Housing Act or Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act. If it’s a state law, it has to be passed by the Florida Legislature.

We also have to follow rules such as Chapter 61J2, FAC. For our purposes, we will say that a rule is easier to pass than laws, but the consequences are violating it aren’t as severe. That’s not 100% true in every case, but I think it’s true enough for our purposes. Rules are passed by the Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC).

So, if you want a law changed, you need to talk to the Florida Legislature. If you want a rule changed, you talk to the FREC. You can remember that “law” and “legislature” both start with L. FREC has a “R” in it, so it goes with “rule”.

Please note that neither I, nor anyone in the Climer family, have any affiliation with Climer School of Real Estate. My father, Ron Climer, sold Climer School of Real Estate in 2014. You can find me at Demetree School of Real Estate.

By Karen Climer|2021-08-25T14:30:14-04:00April 23rd, 2018|

Three Answers To Three Questions That You Might See On The Florida Real Estate Exam

There are three number laws that my students tell me are on the Florida real estate sales associate exam. I call them number laws because they are referred to by the chapter number in the statute, such as Chapter 475. Some laws are referred to by their name like Fair Housing Act or Sherman-Clayton Anti-Trust Act. There is probably a better way to describe them then number laws, but it works for me.

The ones we need to know are:

Chapter 475, F.S. – Florida Real Estate License Law
Chapter 455, F. S. – Rules of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). These are the laws that apply to all professional licenses, not just real estate licenses.
Chapter 61J2, F.A.C. – Rules of the Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC)

You might just be inclined to make three flash cards right now – one card for each of these laws. You need to know the number and what the law is.

These will not be brain-buster questions. They will be questions like:

The rules of the FREC are described in:

a. Chapter 455, F.S.
b. Chapter 475, F.S.
c. Chapter 61J2, F.A.C
d. Chapter 61Q2, F.A.C

Of course, the answer is C. That is one easy point on the state exam.

If I can help you pass the Florida real estate exam, or if you are looking for a great career in real estate, please give me a call. I’m at Demetree School of Real Estate.

Please note that neither I, nor anyone in the Climer family, have any affiliation with Climer School of Real Estate. My father, Ron Climer, sold Climer School of Real Estate in 2014. You can find me at Demetree School of Real Estate.

By Karen Climer|2021-08-25T14:35:14-04:00March 15th, 2018|

What To Do When Your Florida Real Estate License Application Is Denied

If you get a letter that says you have to appear before the Florida Real Estate Commission, your chances are better than half that you will be approved for your Florida real estate license. I don’t know the exact statistics, but when I’m sitting in the meeting, it seems that most people get approved. If you want to know how to increase your odds of getting approved, read this post.

Here is something that no one tells you: if you aren’t approved, you can get most of your application fee refunded. The $83.75 that you pay initially includes the application processing plus your initial license fee. What if you don’t get your initial license, should you have to pay that? No. That’s why the state is willing to refund most of what you pay. They are willing to refund $69.00. They won’t automatically send this money to you – you have to request it.

How do you request it? You send this form to the Division of Real Estate, and wait for the check. It’s like a tax refund. When you get it, it feels like free money (even though it is really your money). It might take a little bit of the sting out of the denial.

Please note that neither I, nor anyone in the Climer family, have any affiliation with Climer School of Real Estate. My father, Ron Climer, sold Climer School of Real Estate in 2014. You can find me at Demetree School of Real Estate.

By Karen Climer|2021-08-25T14:37:54-04:00February 8th, 2018|