trust funds | firsttuesday Journal

DRE Bulletin Digest: Summer 2025

by Carrie B. Reyes | Sep 8, 2025 | Real Estate, Your Practice | 0

In this issue: mentorship for new licensees, the DRE’s Cite and Fine program, trust fund signatory rules and the annual business activity report.

DRE as the enforcer at large steps up to the plate — as the umpire in chief

by Amy Platero | Sep 2, 2025 | Feature Articles, Features, Fundamentals, Laws and Regulations, Licensing and Education, Real Estate, Your Practice | 0

Our multimedia review of the DRE’s most common types of disciplinary actions they encounter.

Transparency as symmetric marketing

by Amy Platero | Aug 11, 2025 | Buyers and Sellers, Fundamentals, Licensing and Education, Real Estate, Your Practice | 0

Learn how to persuade a seller-client to order out third-party reports on a property’s condition to enhance marketability, provide a marketing package to prospective buyers and work up effective marketing plans to sell a property when employed under a seller representation agreement.

DRE Bulletin Digest: Summer 2024

by Amy Platero | Nov 5, 2024 | Fundamentals, Laws and Regulations, Licensing and Education, Real Estate, Your Practice | 0

The DRE’s Real Estate Bulletin keeps licensees informed on new codes and regulations significant to real estate practice, common violations of real estate rules of conduct, and real estate education opportunities.

DRE Hot Seat: Unlicensed activities and trust fund violations

by Amy Platero | Dec 1, 2023 | Laws and Regulations, Real Estate | 1

This article is part of an ongoing series covering violations of real estate law. Here, a real estate corporation surrendered their broker license in connection with disciplinary action taken by the Department of Real Estate (DRE) regarding licensed activities performed while unlicensed, maintaining fund shortages totaling more than $300,000, and other related trust fund violation

Your next renewal just got more entertaining — and informational

by ft Editorial Staff | Oct 9, 2023 | Feature Articles, Fundamentals, Licensing and Education, Real Estate, Your Practice | 1

Video BO-AFTER™ is the culmination of years of meticulous work, being in some state of active production since May 2017. And now, it is approved by the DRE and ready for your next renewal — get ready to be entertained as you are being educated.

DRE Bulletin Digest: Summer 2023

by ft Editorial Staff | Sep 20, 2023 | Real Estate, Your Practice | 0

The Summer 2023 edition of the California Department of Real Estate (DRE) Bulletin includes licensee reminders about broker supervision, adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs) and trust funds.

DRE Hot Seat: Failure to disburse trust funds to the owner of funds

by Amy Platero | Aug 4, 2023 | Fundamentals, Licensing and Education, Property Management, Real Estate, Your Practice | 0

This article is part of an ongoing series covering violations of real estate law. Here, the Department of Real Estate (DRE) revoked the real estate license of a broker acting as a property manager who collected trust funds on behalf of landlords they represented and failed to disburse the trust funds to the landlords as required.

DRE Hot Seat: Trust funds require constant upkeep

by Amy Platero | Mar 29, 2023 | Fundamentals, Licensing and Education, Real Estate, Your Practice | 0

This article is part of an ongoing series covering violations of real estate law. Here, the Department of Real Estate (DRE) revoked the real estate license of a broker who did not properly maintain trust fund records, and allowed the unauthorized withdrawal of trust funds.

Trust Account Management

by ft Editorial Staff | Mar 26, 2023 | Features, Real Estate, Video | 0

Management of trust funds deposited into a non-interest-bearing or interest-bearing trust account.

Penalties for Misuse of Trust Funds

by ft Editorial Staff | Feb 6, 2023 | Feature Articles, Real Estate, Video | 0

This video covers the penalties for misusing trust funds and when individuals can satisfy a judgment against a broker through the Real Estate Recovery Account.

Dear Broker: Handling trust funds is like playing with fire

by Guest Author Summer Goralik | Jan 12, 2023 | Laws and Regulations, Real Estate, Your Practice | 1

Real Estate Compliance Consultant Summer Goralik outlines the inherent risks real estate professionals face when handling trust funds and how to counter them.

DRE Hot Seat: Broker frauds his landlord client and tenant

by Amy Platero | Sep 30, 2022 | Fundamentals, Licensing and Education, Property Management, Real Estate, Your Practice | 5

This article is part of an ongoing series covering violations of real estate law. Here, the Department of Real Estate (DRE) revoked the California real estate license of a broker acting as a property manager who charged the tenant a greater amount than was paid to the landlord.

DRE Hot Seat: Trust funds are held “in trust” and belong to another

by Amy Platero | Sep 1, 2022 | Fundamentals, Licensing and Education, Real Estate, Your Practice | 0

DRE Hot Seat: Designated officer assumes responsibility over mismanaged brokerage

by Amy Platero | Jul 27, 2022 | Fundamentals, Licensing and Education, Real Estate, Your Practice | 0

This article is part of an ongoing series covering violations of real estate law. Here, the Department of Real Estate (DRE) restricted the California real estate license of a broker who failed to properly supervise and maintain trust funds and trust fund records as the designated officer of a property management company.

DRE Hot Seat: Broker conceals their own non-licensed escrow service while commingling trust funds

by Amy Platero | Apr 25, 2022 | Fundamentals, Licensing and Education, Real Estate, Your Practice | 0

This article is part of an ongoing series covering violations of real estate law. Here, the Department of Real Estate (DRE) revoked the California real estate license of a broker who commingled their client’s funds with their personal account and used themselves, operating under an unapproved fictitious business name, as the escrow service without informing the client.

DRE Bulletin Digest Summer 2021

by ft Editorial Staff | Sep 7, 2021 | Licensing and Education, Real Estate | 0

A review of the Summer 2021 DRE Real Estate Bulletin.

DRE Hot Seat: Making substantial misrepresentations constitutes dishonesty

by Amy Platero | Aug 30, 2021 | Laws and Regulations, Property Management, Real Estate, Your Practice | 0

This article is part of an ongoing series covering violations of real estate law. Here, the Department of Real Estate (DRE) revoked the California real estate license of a broker who made substantial misrepresentations to his clients, mishandled a trust account, and more.