Licensing and Education | firsttuesday Journal

Nationally MLOs are far fewer in 2024; CA DRE MLOs increase, DFPI MLOs decrease

by ft Editorial Staff | Jun 26, 2025 | Charts, Licensing and Education, Loan Products, Real Estate | 1

The trend for state-licensed MLOs is down in 2024.

Newly-licensed sales agent and broker population

by ft Editorial Staff | Jun 23, 2025 | Charts, Licensing and Education, Real Estate | 0

This article examines the number of broker and sales agent licenses issued by the DRE from 1998-present, with forecasts about future licensing trends.

The exclusive employment obligations of a broker

by Amy Platero | Jun 20, 2025 | Buyer Representation, Buyers and Sellers, Fundamentals, Licensing and Education, Real Estate, Your Practice | 0

Learn the obligations of a seller and their broker under an exclusive seller representation agreement and whether a buyer is ready, willing and able to buy when submitting an offer to purchase.

DRE Bulletin Digest: Spring 2025

by Lily Hart | Jun 13, 2025 | Feature Articles, Fundamentals, Laws and Regulations, Licensing and Education, Real Estate, Your Practice | 0

The DRE’s Real Estate Bulletin informs licensees on rules of conduct, changing legislation and new licensing exams, which we digest to help you keep your practice and conversations current.

The rise and fall of real estate brokers and agents

by ft Editorial Staff | May 5, 2025 | Charts, Licensing and Education, Real Estate | 38

This article analyzes the historical population of active DRE licensees, with discussions and forecasts about future licensing trends.

Lessons from the Field: Incomplete TDS

by Amy Platero | Apr 22, 2025 | Buyers and Sellers, Fundamentals, Licensing and Education, Real Estate, Your Practice | 0

An agent, retained by a seller of property, has a duty to have the seller-client enter their truthful responses to property conditions itemized on a Transfer Disclosure Statement (TDS).

The exclusive seller representation agreement

by Amy Platero | Apr 21, 2025 | Fundamentals, Licensing and Education, Real Estate, Your Practice | 0

Learn why a seller representation agreement ensures the payment of a fee earned by the employment, how to prepare an exclusive seller representation agreement as the seller-client’s agent and explain the purpose of a seller representation agreement to a prospective seller-client.

A representation agreement employs a broker

by Amy Platero | Apr 11, 2025 | Buyer Representation, Fundamentals, Licensing and Education, Real Estate, Your Practice | 0

Learn the difference between exclusive and open client representation agreements and understand the use of exclusive representation agreements as best practice for client representation.

The agency law disclosure

by Amy Platero | Mar 28, 2025 | Fundamentals, Licensing and Education, Real Estate, Your Practice | 0

Learn when the statutorily-mandated Agency Law Disclosure is required.

DRE Bulletin Digest: Fall/Winter 2024

by Lily Hart | Mar 18, 2025 | Feature Articles, 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.

Conflicts of interest and consent to represent

by Amy Platero | Mar 7, 2025 | Fundamentals, Licensing and Education, Real Estate, Your Practice | 0

Learn how to recognize the types of business arrangements and personal relationships which give rise to conflicts of interest for agents in real estate transactions, how to identify conflicts of interests, and disclose and obtain consent to the relationships presenting a conflict of interest.

Now showing: Real Estate Principles: Video™ — a multimedia powerhouse for aspiring agents

by Amy Platero | Mar 3, 2025 | Feature Articles, Features, Fundamentals, Licensing and Education, Real Estate, Your Practice | 0

Real estate licensing coursework has finally entered the 21st century. See what makes Real Estate Principles: Video™ so unique.

Dual agency piles conflicts and risks on brokers

by Amy Platero | Feb 19, 2025 | Fundamentals, Licensing and Education, Real Estate, Your Practice | 0

Learn to identify conduct giving rise to dual agency representation and understand dual agency as a conflict of interest requiring prompt disclosure and consent.

An agent’s perception of riches

by Amy Platero | Feb 10, 2025 | Fundamentals, Licensing and Education, Real Estate, Your Practice | 0

Learn to estimate the potential income, expenses and initial investment you experience as a newly licensed agent employed by a broker and how to evaluate competing broker firms for suitability with your professional goals and expectations.

Broker activities: by the agent of the agent

by Amy Platero | Jan 29, 2025 | Fundamentals, Licensing and Education, Real Estate, Your Practice | 0

Learn how brokers oversee agents, the office policies a broker puts in place to comply with their duties owed to clients and the Department of Real Estate (DRE), and how licensee status relates to labor regulations, taxation and issues of liability.

Buyer Representation Bonus Training™ brings firsttuesday students up to speed with 2025 buyer legislation

by Amy Platero | Jan 24, 2025 | Buyer Representation, Feature Articles, Features, Fundamentals, Licensing and Education, Real Estate, Your Practice | 0

The Buyer Representation Bonus Training™ is available to current and future firsttuesday students without charge. The Bonus Training contains everything brokers and agents need to operate successfully in the new paradigm — the buyer representation mandate in 2025 and beyond.

DRE Bulletin Digest: Summer 2024

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

DRE Bulletin Digest: Spring 2024

by Amy Platero | Jul 11, 2024 | Fundamentals, Licensing and Education, Real Estate, Your Practice | 0

The Spring 2024 edition of the California Department of Real Estate (DRE) Bulletin informs licensees about Senate Bill (SB) 1495 and DRE fee changes.

DRE raising fees as renewals and licensing drop

by Robin Jennings | Jul 11, 2024 | Licensing and Education, Real Estate | 0

The health of the real estate industry depends in large part upon the financial health of the DRE as its policing unit. DRE’s fees for statutory and licensing courses had not increased since 1997.

DRE Hot Seat: Real estate course provider falsely promises free CE for life

by Amy Platero | Oct 30, 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) issued a bar order against a real estate course provider who published false and misleading statements about their continuing education courses, issued false CE certificates, and more.

Category: Licensing and Education