Wayne Bell is the new Real Estate Commissioner for the State of California, appointed by Governor Jerry Brown on February 14, 2013. The Department of Real Estate (DRE) commissioner oversees the licensing and behavior of approximately 415,000 real estate licensees and is responsible for a staff of about 340.
Commissioner Bell holds a Juris Doctorate from Loyola Law School. His experience in the industry includes:
- 2006 – 2013: Chief Counsel and Assistant Commissioner for Legal Policy and Recovery at the DRE since 2006;
- 2003 – 2006: Special Counsel and Director of Homeownership at the California Housing Finance Agency;
- 1999 – 2003: Deputy Secretary and General Counsel at the California Business, Transportation and Housing Agency; and
- 1989 – 1999: Ralphs Grocery Company in various positions, including Vice President.
first tuesday insight
Lots of change is afoot in the world of real estate! The current DRE will re-title itself as the Bureau of Real Estate (BRE) on July 1, 2013. This change offers the BRE a rare opportunity for a fresh start. first tuesday has asked Mr. Bell what he has in plan for a better BRE. Stay tuned for his response in the coming days!
The most exciting aspect is a real estate commissioner arriving just as the administrative restructuring is set to take place. Although the internal structure of the BRE will remain unchanged per Governor Jerry Brown’s reorganization plan, the real estate commissioner will now report to the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA).
The DCA is a government agency meant to protect and serve California consumers while ensuring a fair marketplace. Assuming they do their job as their mission statement indicates, their oversight of the BRE is great news for observers of real estate licensee behavior with clients and other members of the public.
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The question is, will Mr. Bell surprise Californians? Will he buck the trend of passive and ineffective real estate leadership and continue in the direction of behavioral corrections? Or, will we return to the loose policy enforcement seen during the Millennium Boom? It is hard to say, but it is certain things can only get better for conscientious licensees from here on out.
Real estate commissioners of years past were purely political appointees, catering to CAR endorsed behavior who offered no regulatory leadership. And as such, they lost sight of their mission to safeguard and promote the public interests in real estate matters through licensure, regulation, education and enforcement.
Only after the housing bust did first tuesday see firsthand a turnaround in the way the DRE enforced its own policies. It began taking the quality of education more seriously, holding existing real estate licensees accountable for actually studying and learning.
Confusingly, most of this positive change occurred without a sitting real estate commissioner! Thus, the question is raised; does the state actually need a real estate commissioner? Let us know what you think!
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Re: “Governor Jerry Brown Appoints California Real Estate Commissioner” from the CA Department of Real Estate
I worked for Department of Real Estate in the Broker Section, Salesperson Section, Original Section,Fronter Counter and proctor the Exams for years. I’ve always thought that people who collect Rent should also be license. Most of them don’t know anything about Real Estate. Just because they live on the property does not give them an education about Real Estate and how it works. They should NOT be exempt from taking the exams. It’s one of the biggest mess I’m Real Estate. I wish the Department and the Governor’s office would take another look at how apartments are being ran.
I hope they change the new name of the Department of Real Estate BACK to the DRE, not the Bureau of Real Estate. All of the United States it is the DRE…..when you google the DRE in “Kansas”, you can find it; the DRE of “Arkansa”, you can find it. Now you can’t find the DRE in the State of California because it is a Bureau.
My first question is…..Why the need of a name change? That in itself will cost $(?) for new letterhead, envelopes, name plaques, etc.. Another boon-doggle by Brown that will cost the state money it doesn’t have, and another example of why we’ve called him governor “moonbeam” for all of these years.
Having managed Safeway Stores or 25 years before entering RE, I know first hand there can be only one Boss. No matter how good your crew is( seems 340 employees) they need some direction. I used to hear comments about various safeway ,” oh that store runs itself”. Well oiled crews still need guidance ,relay information, and praise. So yes I feel a leader is needed.
Thank you
Jill Barnett #01501421