The Alabama Real Estate Commission (AREC) held its January meeting last week. Commissioners Emmette Barran and Terri May led the meeting as chair and vice chair respectively. Other commissioners present included Jimmie Ann Campbell, Joyce Harris, Cerita Tucker Smith, and Susan Smith. Here are the highlights from the meeting.

New licensees continue to come into the real estate profession at a high rate. According to data provided to commissioners, over nine licenses are issued daily.

One rule amendment and one new rule were approved for certification. The rule amendment streamlines the determination of eligibility process for applicants. You can view the rule amendment here. The new rule provides specific actions that constitute a failure to supervise by a qualifying broker. A copy of the rule as originally filed can be found here, although it was noted at the meeting that several changes were made, including the addition of subsection (13) that will require brokerages to provide orientation to new agents. Now certified, these rules now go to the Alabama Legislative Council for final review. 

A task force looking at pre-license requirements continues to meet, and changes are expected soon. The most likely change appears to be increasing the amount of pre-license coursework to as much as 120 hours, although the exact number may change.

AREC auditors continue to provide assistance visits to new and existing brokerages. These assistance visits are free of charge and are a way for AREC to provide feedback and recommendations to brokerages without the pressure of an official audit.

The hearing docket was robust with a long list of items. The Commission heard:

• three formal complaints,
• four applications for determination of licensing eligibility,
• one application for license instructor approval,
• one request to hold a license after a prior revocation,
• three applications for a salesperson’s temporary license,
• one request for an extension to file a salesperson’s temporary license application, and
• one request for a rehearing.

The next meeting of the Commission will take place on February 17 at 9am in Montgomery. A link to view the meeting live will be posted on AREC’s website here.