076.00.07 Ark. Code R. 001

Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 9, September, 2024

Rule 076.00.07-001 - Rules of the Real Estate Commission

4.1Applications; education; experience.

Applicants for original licensure as a broker or salesperson must apply on forms provided by the Commission, pay the application fee established by these regulations, and meet the following requirements:

(a) Broker applicants must provide proof of the following:

(1) Attainment of the age of majority, which proof may consist of a birth certificate or copy thereof, driver's license, or other document or proof of age which is satisfactory to the Commission;

(2) Successful completion within thirty six (36) months immediately preceding the date of the application of a course or courses of instruction in real estate principles, license law, and Commission regulations by actual classroom attendance or completion of approved distance education courses for not less than sixty (60) classroom hours. Applicants who are retaking only one part of the examination pursuant to Regulation 4.2 (c), shall remain subject to the requirement which was in effect at the time the applicant passed the other part of the examination. Proof of completion of such education requirement shall consist of the original certificate(s), or certified copies thereof, from the school or organization or other documentation satisfactory to the Commission;

(3)

(A) Service by the applicant of an active bona fide apprenticeship by holding a valid real estate salesperson's license issued by the Commission, or by holding a valid real estate salesperson's license or broker's license issued by the appropriate licensing agency of another state, for a period of not less than twenty four (24) months within the previous forty eight (48) month period immediately preceding the date of application, which proof may consist of the official license records of the Commission or certified copies of licensure records of the appropriate licensing agency of another state, or such other documentation as the Commission deems satisfactory;

(B) However, pursuant to Section § 17-42-303(b)(2) the Commission may waive such experience requirement for a real estate broker applicant who has held an active real estate broker's license for a period of not less than eighteen (18) months or who has experience acceptable to the commission in a field considered real estate related for a period of not less than twenty-four months within the previous forty-eight-month period immediately preceding the date of application. Each request for such waiver shall be in writing and shall include such proof as necessary to establish the applicant's eligibility for the waiver. Such proof may consist of the official license records of the Commission, certified copies of license records of the appropriate licensing agency of another state, or such other documentation as the Commission deems satisfactory;

(4) The applicant's affidavit that he/she has no record of unprofessional conduct;

(5) Any other information or documents required by the Commission.

(b) Salesperson applicants must provide proof of the following:

(1) Attainment of the age of majority, which proof may consist of a birth certificate or copy thereof, driver's license, or other document or proof of age which is satisfactory to the Commission;

(2) Successful completion of a course or courses of instruction in real estate by actual classroom attendance or completion of approved correspondence courses of not less than sixty (60) classroom hours, of which at least thirty (30) hours must be in the basic principles of real estate; which proof shall consist of the original certificate(s), or certified copies thereof, from the school or other organization or other documentation satisfactory to the Commission;

(3) The applicant's affidavit that he/she has no record of unprofessional conduct;

(4) Any other information or documents required by the Commission.

(c)

(1) Effective January 1, 2006, the Commission may require each original applicant for a salesperson or broker license, including nonresident applicants applying pursuant to Arkansas Code Ann. § 17-42-305, using forms furnished by and pursuant to instructions provided by the Commission to apply for a state and federal criminal background check to be conducted by the Identification Bureau of the Department of Arkansas State Police and Federal Bureau of Investigation pursuant to Arkansas Code Ann. § 17-42-315.

(2) "Criminal background check" means a state and nation-wide criminal records check conducted by the Arkansas State Police and Federal Bureau of Investigation, including the taking of fingerprints.

(3) Each such applicant shall submit, prior to or with the Application for Real Estate Examination, the form furnished by the Commission authorizing the release of the applicant's criminal background check report to the Commission and shall pay any applicable fees, associated with the State and Federal criminal background checks, pursuant to written instructions provided by the Commission. The release form shall authorize the Identification Bureau of the Arkansas State Police to forward all criminal history information obtained concerning the applicant in regard to any offense referred to in Arkansas Code Ann. § 17-42-315 to the Commission.

(4) The criminal background check shall be completed within six months immediately preceding the date the Application for Real Estate License Examination is received in the Commission's office, and if not, the application shall be returned to the applicant.

(5) Upon request and proof of identification satisfactory to the Commission the Commission may make the report of any criminal information available to the applicant who is the subject of the report and shall provide the applicant a reasonable time to challenge the accuracy or completeness of the information therein, through the State Identification Bureau pursuant to Arkansas Code Ann. § 12-12-211 and Arkansas Crime Information Center Regulation 7(F).

(6) Should an applicant challenge his/her conviction report, he/she shall notify the Commission in writing. After receipt of such notice, the Commission shall not determine whether an applicant is qualified for the license applied for until the applicant has had reasonable opportunity to challenge said conviction report and shall not process the application until the challenge of said report is resolved by the State Identification Bureau and/or Arkansas Crime Information Center. The applicant shall notify the Identification Bureau to forward to the Commission changes in the applicant's report as a result of any such challenge.

(7) Except as provided in Arkansas Code Ann. § 17-42-315(g), no person shall receive or hold a license issued by the Commission if the person has been convicted by any court in the State of Arkansas or of any similar offense by a court in another state or of any similar offense by a federal court of an offense identified in Ark. Code Ann. § 17-41-315(f).

(8) After a hearing the Commission may waive a conviction identified in the preceding paragraph, upon application of the applicant, pursuant to the provisions of Ark. Code Ann. § 17-42-315(g).

(d) All classroom hours required by Regulation 4.1(a) and (b) shall be conducted by:

(1) An accredited postsecondary school wherever situated; or

(2) A school or organization licensed by the State Board of Private Career Education.

(3) A school or organization approved by a real estate licensing jurisdiction deemed equivalent by the Commission.

(e) The course or courses of instruction requirements of Regulation 4.1(a) and (b) may be satisfied by successful completion of such distance education courses as the Commission may by regulation require, giving due consideration to the number of hours necessary to provide instruction in basic competencies required for a broker's license or salesperson's license, as the case may be, and to the advice and recommendations of the State Board of Private Career Education.

(f) Both broker and salesperson applicants shall also answer all questions and provide all information requested on the examination application, and shall provide such other information or documentation as the Commission may require.

(g) Applicants that have provided all requirements of Regulation 4.1, may sit for the real estate examination, provided that a state and federal criminal background check, as required by ACA § 17-42-315, has been sent to the Identification Bureau of the Department of Arkansas State Police for a state and federal criminal background check. However no license shall be issued upon successful completion of the examination, until receipt and approval by the Commission of the state and federal criminal back ground check.

(h) All applications expire one (1) year after the date of the application or upon successful completion of the examination, whichever first occurs. Provided, however that the application of an applicant who takes and passes either part of the examination within one (1) year from the date of his application shall not expire until the six (6) months allowed for retaking the failed portion pursuant to Regulation 4.2(c) has expired.

(i) Application fees are non-refundable.

4.3Examinations; application procedure; time requirements.

(a) The Commission shall announce from time to time the dates and locations of examinations. All applications should be received in the Commission office at least ten (10) days before the examination for which the applicant desires to sit. However, regardless of the date on which the application is received by the Commission, it shall be processed as expeditiously as possible under the circumstances. Once the application is processed, the Commission will send to the applicant a "Certificate of Examination Eligibility." The certificate will include instructions for making examination reservations and will be required for admission at the test center.

(b) An examination fee which shall equal the actual cost of the examination as established by the testing service engaged by the Commission will be collected at the test center. The examination fee shall be made payable to the testing service unless the applicant is otherwise notified by the Commission. The examination fee shall be charged each time an applicant applies to take an examination and is non-refundable.

(c) An applicant shall receive notice upon passing the examination. Each successful broker and salesperson applicant shall pay to the Commission, within ninety (90) days from the date of the successful completion of the examination, the appropriate license fee and recovery fund fee. However, the payment of the recovery fund fee shall be waived for any successful applicant who has previously paid such fee. If a successful applicant shall fail to pay the prescribed fee(s) within ninety (90) days following the date of the examination, the examination results shall be null and void, and the applicant shall be required to make new application and retake the examination, as an original applicant. If the Federal criminal background check has not been received by the commission within ninety (90) days of the date of the examination, the date may be extended by the commission until receipt of the Federal criminal background check.

7.4Branch office.

(a) All branch offices shall have and display a real estate sign and a duplicate principal broker's license. Principal Brokers who wish to open a branch office shall furnish the Commission a photograph of the branch office sign as previously approved by the Commission bearing the name of the company. If licensees are to be licensed at that branch office, an executive broker shall be designated by the principal broker, to be in charge of the branch office. Such executive broker shall be responsible for any licensee licensed with such branch office pursuant to a written designation of responsibility filed by the principal broker with the Commission on a form provided by the Commission consistent with Regulation 10.4(a)(1), and shall not be gainfully employed or engaged in any non-real estate related field pursuant to Regulation 10.4(e).

(b) If such branch office, maintains its own trust account or separate escrow agent the principal broker shall be responsible and accountable for any and all trust funds received by the branch office and any and all deposits to or disbursements from the trust account.

7.5Termination or transfer.

(a) Within seven (7) days after the employment or association of a licensee with a principal broker ends, such principal broker shall notify the Commission of such termination and return to the Commission the license and pocket card of the terminated licensee. Such notification shall automatically inactivate the license. Immediately upon termination, the terminated licensee shall deliver to the principal broker his/her pocket card.

(b) The license of a licensee terminated under Regulation 7.5(a) may be transferred to another firm, after the license and pocket card have been returned to the Commission, by the licensee's filing with the Commission a transfer application signed by the new principal broker. Such transfer application must be accompanied by (1) a statement that the licensee is not taking any listings, management contracts, appraisals, lease agreements, or copies of any such documents, or any other pertinent information belonging to the former principal broker or firm, and (2) a transfer fee. At the time the transfer application and the accompanying items are filed, a temporary interim license may be issued.

(c) If an actively licensed broker or salesperson does not wish to continue to engage in the real estate business, such broker or salesperson shall return any license and pocket card in his/her possession to his/her principal broker who shall then return these items to the Commission for inactive status. A broker who closes his/her firm shall remove all signs reflecting the company name and shall return all licenses and pocket cards issued to the principal broker to the Commission office for inactive status. If a real estate firm shall close its office, any real estate salesperson licensed with such principal broker shall be entitled to transfer to a new principal broker upon compliance with the appropriate provisions of the Arkansas Real Estate License Law and Commission regulations.

(d) If the principal broker is deceased, unavailable, or for any reason unwilling or unable to act, then the licensee has the responsibility to notify the Commission in writing of the termination or transfer and of returning the pocket card and license.

(e) A principal broker of a real estate firm or designated executive broker of a branch office, who has no ownership interest in the firm, who is terminated by the firm's owner or designee, shall notify the Commission in writing immediately upon termination. The written notification must include a statement that the principal broker or branch office designated executive broker has been terminated by the owner of the firm or designee, and that the terminated principal broker or executive broker is relinquishing his/her responsibilities as principal broker or branch office designated broker effective the termination date. The respective broker license and pocket card must be returned with the written notification.

If the real estate firm or branch office is not closing, and another principal broker or branch office designated broker is not immediately available to assume responsibilities of the real estate firm or branch office, the owner of the real estate firm may request in writing that the Commission permit the real estate firm to continue operating pursuant to Regulation 7.7.

If the owner of the real estate firm closes the firm and ceases to do business and maintain an office, the principal broker shall notify the commission in writing of said closing, return all licenses and pocket cards to the commission and comply with Regulation 10.7(c).

A principal broker or branch office designated executive broker who has been terminated by the real estate firm owner or designee of a real estate firm that is not closing, and who does not notify the commission in writing, relinquish responsibilities as principal broker or designated branch office executive broker, and return his/her broker license and pocket card to the commission, shall be presumed to be in violation of A.C.A § 17-42-311 and subject to appropriate sanctions.

10.4Broker responsibilities; executive brokers; part-time brokers.

(a)

(1) A principal broker is generally responsible for all business conducted by the broker's firm and for all of the real estate activities of all of those licensed under or associated with the principal broker. A principal broker may delegate supervisory responsibility to another broker by designating such broker as an "executive broker." The executive broker may sign offer and acceptance forms as supervising broker and can be responsible for instructing and supervising salespersons and/or brokers for whom the executive broker is responsible. The executive broker may also be delegated responsibility by the principal broker for administrative procedures required by the Commission, such as signing transfer applications.

(2) For each executive broker so designated, the principal broker must complete and file with the Commission an appropriate designation form signed by both the principal broker and the designated executive broker. The designation of an executive broker is effective when filed with the Commission.

(3) Designation of one or more executive brokers does not absolve the principal broker of general responsibility for the conduct of all real estate business conducted by the principal broker's firm, and the principal broker is specifically responsible for the activities of all executive brokers.

(b) Principal brokers and executive brokers have the duty and responsibility to instruct those brokers and salespersons licensed under them with regard to the fundamentals of real estate practice and the ethics of the profession, and to keep them informed and abreast of all changes and developments pertaining to the Arkansas Real Estate License Law and Commission regulations. They shall also exercise strict supervision of the real estate activities of all those licensed under them and for whom they have supervisory responsibility.

(c) Whether or not a principal broker or executive broker has discharged these responsibilities for those licensed under him/her will depend on various factors and circumstances, including, without limitation, the following:

(1) Frequency and manner of contact and communication;

(2) Type and frequency of educational and instructional activities;

(3) Method and frequency of monitoring real estate activities.

(d)

(1) The preparation of instruments in connection with a real estate rental or sale and the closing of a sale by a licensee must be performed by or under the specific supervision of the principal broker.

(2) If the principal broker or designated executive broker or their assigned licensee, closes a transaction or selects a third party to close the transaction, it is the responsibility of the principal broker or designated executive broker to ensure that the real estate closing conducted on behalf of the principal broker's or designated executive broker's client(s) is conducted in accordance with the agreement of the buyer and seller. If the buyer and/or seller selects a third party to close the transaction the principal broker or designated executive broker, or their assigned licensee, must provide written closing instructions, on behalf of their client(s), to the third party closing the transaction, and review the client's closing statement, if reasonably available, to insure that the closing is conducted in accordance with the agreement of their client. It is strongly recommended that the principal broker, designated executive broker, or assigned licensee advise the client to contact the closing agent or title insurer about the availability of closing protection.

(e) No broker who is gainfully employed, or who is engaged in a non-real estate related field, may employ any licensee to work under the broker's license issued to such broker. A broker who is employed or who is engaged in any field other than real estate will be presumed to be gainfully employed or engaged in a non-real estate related field. This presumption may be overcome by proof that such employment or engagement is (1) in a real estate related field, and (2) conducted in the same office as the broker's real estate business.

10.7Handling of funds; maintenance of records.

(a)

(1) A licensee shall immediately deliver to the principal broker any money or other consideration received in connection with a real estate transaction which belongs to others, such as escrow or trust funds, clients' moneys, earnest moneys, rents, advance fees, deposits, etc.

(2) A broker shall deposit all advance fees in the broker's trust account and shall disburse such funds only in accordance with the terms of a written agreement signed by the owner of the funds. If such written agreement is not received within a reasonable time after payment of the advance fee, the fee shall be refunded to the owner.

(3) "Advance fee" means any fee charged for services to be paid in advance of the rendering of such services, including, without limitation, any fee charged for listing, advertising, or offering for sale or lease any real property.

(b)

(1) Each principal broker shall maintain complete records of all real estate business handled by that firm. Separate files for each real estate transaction conducted by the firm shall be maintained and shall contain signed copies of any of the following documents which were prepared in connection with the transaction:

(i) listing contract,

(ii) agency contract,

(iii) offers,

(iv) offer and acceptance contracts and

(v) closing statements, along with any additional documents as may be necessary to make a complete record of each transaction.

(2) Each principal broker shall maintain complete records pertaining to property managed for others. Such records shall include all contracts, financial transactions, receipts, statements, repair estimates and other documents relating to management of the property.

(3) All records required by Regulation 10.7 shall be maintained by the principal broker for three (3) years or such time as may be required by law, whichever is greater, and shall be open to inspection by and made available to the investigative staff of the Commission at the firm's office or other location designated by the Commission. All records required by Regulation 10.7 may be maintained in an electronic form provided that a copy of the records can be produced as required by this Regulation.

(c) When a real estate firm ceases to do business and to maintain an office, the last principal broker remaining with the firm shall be responsible for all records of the firm, including the firm's real estate trust account and transaction records, and at the time the real estate firm's office is closed, the principal broker shall immediately notify the Commission of the address and phone number of the place where those records are being maintained. If for any reason that broker delivers custody or responsibility for those records to another person or firm, he/she shall immediately notify the Commission of such transfer and furnish the name, address and phone number of such person or firm.

10.8Trust funds; trust accounts.

(a) "Trust funds" means and includes money or other things of value not belonging to the principal broker but which are received by the principal broker or any of the principal broker's licensees in connection with a real estate transaction or real estate activity, including, without limitation, clients' moneys, earnest moneys, rents, advance fees, deposits, etc. For purposes of the Arkansas Real Estate License Law and Commission regulations, any funds deposited in a broker's trust account are presumed to be trust funds.

(b) Except as provided in Regulation 10.8(d), a principal broker shall not commingle trust funds with personal funds or other non-trust funds and shall not deposit or maintain trust funds in a personal account or any kind of business account except a specifically designated trust account.

(c) A principal broker who receives trust funds shall either maintain a separate trust account or shall have an escrow agent for all such trust funds. The principal broker of the firm shall be solely responsible and accountable for all trust funds received by the firm and all deposits to or disbursements from the trust account. The principal broker shall also be responsible and accountable for any funds delivered to an escrow agent selected by the principal broker, but shall not be responsible for funds delivered to an escrow agent selected by the parties. Except as authorized by Regulations 10.8(i) and 12.2, the trust account shall be non-interest bearing. The name on the account shall include either "trust" or "escrow" and must be located in an institution insured by either the FDIC or some other insuring agency of the federal government.

(d) A principal broker may maintain the broker's own funds in a designated trust account only when they are clearly identified as the broker's deposit and only for the following purposes:

(1) If the bank in which the account is maintained designates a specific minimum balance that must be maintained in order to keep the account open, the broker may maintain that amount in the account designated as the broker's funds.

(2) If the bank in which the account is maintained requires a service charge to be paid for the account, the broker may maintain a reasonable amount to cover that service charge in the account in the broker's name, provided, however, that such amount shall not exceed the total of six (6) months service charges.

(e) With regard to each separate trust account, the principal broker shall submit to the Commission in writing the following:

(1) Name and number of the account.

(2) Name and address of the bank.

(3) Date the account was opened.

The principal broker shall keep the Commission informed at all times of the foregoing details of each separate trust account.

(f) In addition to the requirements of Regulation 10.8(e), the principal broker shall submit the same information in writing immediately upon any of the following events or occurrences:

(1) Commission approval of real estate firm name.

(2) Change of real estate firm name.

(3) Designation of new principal broker.

(4) The account is changed in any respect or closed.

(g)

(1) No later than three (3) days following the execution of a real estate contract by both seller and buyer, all trust funds delivered to the principal broker, shall be either deposited in the trust account, delivered to an escrow agent, or deposited pursuant to a written agreement by the seller and buyer All other funds delivered to the broker pending performance of any act shall be, no later than three (3) days, either deposited in the trust account, delivered to an escrow agent, or deposited pursuant to a written agreement by the seller and buyer. Should the third (3^rd) day be a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, then the third (3^rd) day is extended to the next day which is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday. The broker shall maintain an accounting of all funds delivered to the broker and shall keep a signed receipt for any funds the broker delivers to an escrow agent. The broker remains responsible for the funds if the broker selected the escrow agent, but not if the parties selected the escrow agent. A broker shall at all times keep detailed records of all funds coming into the broker's possession and all disbursements made by the broker.

(2) All trust account bank statements shall be reconciled in writing at least monthly and balanced to the total amount of trust funds deposited in the account which have not been disbursed. Copies of such reconciliations shall be kept by the broker for at least three (3) years or for such time as may be required by law, whichever is greater.

(3) All trust fund records, including bank reconciliations, shall be open to inspection by and made available to the investigative staff of the Commission at the firm's office or other location designated by the Commission.

(h)

(1) All security deposits made under a rental or lease agreement shall be deposited in the principal broker's trust account, including those deposits made on property owned by any licensee licensed under the principal broker unless the licensee who owns the property has a written agreement with the tenant providing that the licensee may keep the security deposit in the licensee's separate account. A copy of any such agreement shall be furnished to the principal broker by the licensee.

(2) Provided, however, that a principal broker shall not be responsible for the failure of those licensed under such principal broker to comply with Regulation 10.8(h)(1) as long as the principal broker is in compliance with Regulation 10.4.

(i) Nothing in this Regulation 10.8 shall be deemed to prohibit a broker from maintaining certain funds or deposits in particular transactions in an interest-bearing account when required to do so by law or valid regulation of any governmental agency, nor shall it prohibit a broker from maintaining an interest-bearing account while participating in the Interest on Real Estate Brokers' Trust Account program authorized by Section 24 of Act 690 of 1993 [A.C.A. § 17-42-601 et seq.] and Regulations 12.1 and 12.2.

10.12Offers and acceptances.

(a) All offers received on a specific property shall promptly be presented to the seller by the listing firm or other licensee designated by an authorized representative of the listing firm.

(b) Every offer received must be signed by the licensee who receives it and by that licensee's supervising broker. Every acceptance must be signed by the listing licensee and that licensees supervising broker . (It is desirable for the supervising brokers of the selling licensee and listing licensee to review and sign each real estate contract before it is submitted to the seller, although that is not always possible. However, such supervising brokers shall review and sign the real estate contract as soon as possible after it is received, and, in all cases, prior to closing.)

10.15Out of state property Deleted / No longer applicable.

11.1Requests for waiver or extension.

Each request for a waiver of the continuing education requirement under A.C.A. § 17-42-501(b) or extension of time to complete post license education requirement, shall be in writing and shall be supported by clear and convincing evidence. The Commission shall acknowledge each such request and shall announce its decision in writing. If the waiver or extension is granted, the Commission may impose such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate.

076.00.07 Ark. Code R. 001

8/10/2007