At Simas & Associates, Ltd., our real estate license attorneys have years of experience representing license applicants, realtors, real estate agents, brokers, and corporate brokers before the California Bureau of Real Estate (“BRE”).
Why Real Estate Professionals Need Legal Counsel
The consequences of violating the portions of the California Code of Regulations and the Business and Professions Code related to real estate are severe and can lead to fines, suspension, and even revocation. In addition, any violation of law deemed substantially related to the profession can also have an impact on the viability of your license application or actual license.
With the present real estate climate in California, the BRE, the Department of Consumer Affairs, and the Attorney General's office are all on heightened alert of suspicious real estate practices. All have increased their regulatory oversight of the profession in order to meet the demand of the public. Recently, we have seen an increase in all of the following types of allegations:
- Failure to disclose criminal history on application
- Failure to introduce evidence of rehabilitation, character, and mitigation at time of application or at hearing
- Bans on advance fees
- Truth in advertising
- Trust account violations
- Failure to make required disclosures
- Record-keeping violations
- Failure to supervise salespersons or unlicensed individuals
- Straw-man short sale transactions
Experienced Business and Professional Licensing Attorneys
As a result, we have counseled individuals as they prepare their applications and helped them challenge denials after the filing of a statement of issues. We have also advised realtors, real estate brokers, and corporate brokers as they face audits, investigations, accusations, and desist and refrain orders. Our professional licensing attorneys have many years of experience representing all real estate licensees and applicants in settlement negotiations and administrative hearings.
What sets Simas & Associates, Ltd., apart is our vast experience in other areas of the law that are impacted by any type of real estate professional's license dispute. For example, our specialized practice in Writs of Mandate allow us to pursue another level of appeal or review in situations where we believe the DRE has not given our client a fair shake. In addition, our Employment Law and Contract Law practice helps us advise real estate professionals on how best to handle the likely impact a license suspension, restriction, or revocation will have on his or her career.
Simas & Associates, Ltd., is well-versed in the area of professional licensing law and has a flexible menu of services to allow us to be a one-stop-shop.
If you’re a realtor, real estate agent, real estate broker, or industry professional facing legal action or a threat to your professional license – allow Simas & Associates, Ltd. to act as your real estate defense attorney.
Contact us today to get started on defending your license and your practice through our free and confidential initial consultation.