Welcome back! The Spring 2024 edition of the California Department of Real Estate (DRE) Bulletin informs licensees about Senate Bill (SB) 1495 and DRE fee changes.
Commissioner’s welcome
DRE Commissioner Chika Sunquist opens the newly revamped newsletter with an announcement the DRE’s headquarters in Sacramento and testing center has moved to a new downtown location closer to other government offices. The attractive new location is open and operational as of Monday, July 8.
SB 1495 in action
SB 1495 was signed into law in September 2022. SB 1495 changed the requirements for the statutory, pre-licensing Real Estate Practice course.
The new Real Estate Practice course includes:
- an implicit bias education component; and
- fair housing education which includes an interactive participatory component in which licensees role play as both consumers and real estate professionals.
The changes to Practice went into effect January 1, 2024.
However, the first fully compliant New Practice course emerged eight months prior to the effective date, in April 2023. This was brought to you by firsttuesday.
Not only were we the first, but we also deliver on quality. Our interactive participatory component is presented in a dynamic video game format, called Access for All: A Fair Housing Game™. Access For All™ puts students directly into the shoes of transaction participants, both licensees and principals.
Depending upon the responses of the student, the scenarios change to dramatize either positive or negative outcomes. The game allows students and players to recognize biases that may unconsciously emerge in real estate transactions. Completion is at any pace in less than an hour.
Related article:
New California Real Estate Practice course fulfills 2024 requirements and beyond
DRE fee changes
The DRE has raised its fees in all ecosystems. It is overdue. This is the first fee increase regarding licensing and statutory courses in 27 years. The new fee structure will go into effect for applications submitted after July 1, 2024.
New fees include:
- salesperson examination: $100
- salesperson re-examination: $100
- broker examination: $150
- broker re-examination: $150
- salesperson original license: $350
- broker original license: $450
- salesperson exam & license: $450
- broker exam & license: $600
- corporation license: $450
- salesperson renewal (on-time): $350
- salesperson renewal (late within 2 years of license expiration): $525
- broker renewal (on-time): $450
- broker renewal (late within 2 years of license expiration): $675
- officer renewal (on-time): $450
- officer renewal (late within 2 years of license expiration): $675
According to the DRE, the new fee changes help the department remain financially sustainable, and well poised to provide the needed services and fulfill their duty of consumer protection.
Related article:
Visit the DRE website to download the full Spring 2024 DRE Bulletin.
