HOUSE BILL No. 6554

 

September 20, 2006, Introduced by Rep. Hildenbrand and referred to the Committee on Regulatory Reform.

 

     A bill to amend 1980 PA 299, entitled

 

"Occupational code,"

 

by amending sections 2501, 2502a, 2503, 2504, 2505, 2506, 2507,

 

2512, 2512c, and 2514 (MCL 339.2501, 339.2502a, 339.2503, 339.2504,

 

339.2505, 339.2506, 339.2507, 339.2512, 339.2512c, and 339.2514),

 

sections 2501, 2504, and 2505 as amended by 2003 PA 196, section

 

2502a as added by 2002 PA 611, section 2503 as amended by 1990 PA

 

269, sections 2506 and 2507 as amended by 1988 PA 463, section 2512

 

as amended by 2002 PA 42, and section 2512c as added by 1994 PA

 

333.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

     Sec. 2501. As used in this article:

 

     (a) "Employ" or "employment" means the relationship between an

 


individual licensed under a real estate broker and that real estate

 

broker, which may include an independent contractor relationship.

 

The existence of an independent contractor relationship between a

 

real estate broker and an individual licensed to the real estate

 

broker shall not relieve the real estate broker of the

 

responsibility to supervise acts of the licensee regulated by this

 

article.

 

     (b) "Independent contractor relationship" means a relationship

 

between a real estate broker and an associate broker or real estate

 

salesperson that satisfies both of the following conditions:

 

     (i) A written agreement exists in which the real estate broker

 

does not consider the associate broker or real estate salesperson

 

as an employee for federal and state income tax purposes.

 

     (ii) Not less than 75% of the annual compensation paid by the

 

real estate broker to the associate broker or real estate

 

salesperson is from commissions from the sale of real estate.

 

     (c) "Leasing professional" means a person who for compensation

 

or other valuable consideration is employed either directly or

 

indirectly by a licensed real estate broker to lease, or offer to

 

lease, or rent, or offer to rent, or to engage in property

 

management regarding real property consisting of 1 or more dwelling

 

units.

 

     (d) "Negotiate the mortgage of real estate" means engaging in

 

activity not regulated by the mortgage brokers, lenders, and

 

servicers licensing act, 1987 PA 173, MCL 445.1651 to 445.1684.

 

     (e)  (a)  "Property management" means  the leasing or renting,

 

or the offering to lease or rent, of  any of the following

 


activities undertaken, as a whole or partial vocation, regarding

 

real property of others and that are performed for a fee,

 

commission, compensation, or other valuable consideration pursuant

 

to a property management employment contract:  .

 

     (i) Advertising and promotion.

 

     (ii) Leasing.

 

     (iii) Overall management.

 

     (iv) Supervision of the activities described in subparagraphs

 

(i) through (iii).

 

     (f)  (b)  "Property management account" means an interest-

 

bearing or noninterest-bearing account or instrument used in the

 

operation of property management.

 

     (g)  (c)  "Property management employment contract" means the

 

written agreement entered into between a real estate broker and

 

client concerning the real estate broker's employment as a property

 

manager for the client; setting forth the real estate broker's

 

duties, responsibilities, and activities as a property manager; and

 

setting forth the handling, management, safekeeping, investment,

 

disbursement, and use of property management money, funds, and

 

accounts.

 

     (h)  (d)  "Real estate broker" means an individual, sole

 

proprietorship, partnership, association, corporation, common law

 

trust, or a combination of those entities who with intent to

 

collect or receive a fee, compensation, or valuable consideration,

 

sells or offers for sale, buys or offers to buy, provides or offers

 

to provide market analyses, lists or offers or attempts to list, or

 

negotiates the purchase or sale or exchange or mortgage of real

 


estate, or negotiates for the construction of a building on real

 

estate; who leases or offers or rents or offers for rent real

 

estate or the improvements on the real estate for others, as a

 

whole or partial vocation; who engages in property management as a

 

whole or partial vocation; who sells or offers for sale, buys or

 

offers to buy, leases or offers to lease, or negotiates the

 

purchase or sale or exchange of a business, business opportunity,

 

or the goodwill of an existing business for others; or who, as

 

owner or otherwise, engages in the sale of real estate as a

 

principal vocation.

 

     (i)  (e)  "Real estate salesperson" means a person who for

 

compensation or valuable consideration is employed either directly

 

or indirectly by a licensed real estate broker to sell or offer to

 

sell, to buy or offer to buy, to provide or offer to provide market

 

analyses, to list or offer or attempt to list, or to negotiate the

 

purchase or sale or exchange or mortgage of real estate, or to

 

negotiate for the construction of a building on real estate, or to

 

lease or offer to lease, rent or offer for rent real estate, who is

 

employed by a real estate broker to engage in property management,

 

or who sells or offers for sale, buys or offers to buy, leases or

 

offers to lease, or negotiates the purchase or sale or exchange of

 

a business, business opportunity, or the goodwill of an existing

 

business for others, as a whole or partial vocation.

 

     (f) "Employ" or "employment" means the relationship between a

 

real estate broker and an associate broker or a real estate

 

salesperson which may include an independent contractor

 

relationship. The existence of an independent contractor

 


relationship between a real estate broker and an individual

 

licensed to the real estate broker shall not relieve the real

 

estate broker of the responsibility to supervise acts of the

 

licensee regulated by this article.

 

     (g) "Independent contractor relationship" means a relationship

 

between a real estate broker and an associate broker or real estate

 

salesperson that satisfies both of the following conditions:

 

     (i) A written agreement exists in which the real estate broker

 

does not consider the associate broker or real estate salesperson

 

as an employee for federal and state income tax purposes.

 

     (ii) Not less than 75% of the annual compensation paid by the

 

real estate broker to the associate broker or real estate

 

salesperson is from commissions from the sale of real estate.

 

     (j)  (h)  "Professional designation" means a certification

 

from a real estate professional association demonstrating

 

attainment of proven skills or education in a real estate

 

occupational area, and may include the right to use a title or

 

letters after the licensee's name that represent the designation

 

bestowed by the certifying entity.

 

     Sec. 2502a.  Beginning November 1, 2003, the  The department

 

shall issue a license for real estate broker, associate real estate

 

broker, leasing professional, and real estate salesperson for a

 

term of 3 years.

 

     Sec. 2503. (1) A person shall not engage in or offer to engage

 

in any of the following unless licensed in the appropriate capacity

 

or exempt from licensure under this article:

 

     (a) Act as a real estate broker or associate broker.

 


     (b) Act as a real estate salesperson.

 

     (c) Act as a leasing professional.

 

     (d) Engage in property management.

 

     (2)  (1) This  The licensure requirements of this article  

 

shall  do not apply to  an  the following:

 

     (a) An individual, partnership, association, or corporation,

 

who as owner, sells or offers for sale a detached, single family

 

dwelling, duplex, triplex, or quadruplex, which has never been

 

occupied and  which  was built by the individual, partnership,

 

association, or corporation while licensed under article 24.  This

 

article does not apply to an

 

     (b) An individual, partnership, association, or corporation,

 

who as owner or lessor or as attorney-in-fact acting under a duly

 

executed and recorded power of attorney from the owner or lessor,

 

or who has been appointed by a court, performs an act as a real

 

estate broker or real estate salesperson with reference to property

 

owned by it, unless performed as a principal vocation not through a

 

licensed real estate broker.

 

     (c)  (2) This article shall not include the services rendered

 

by an attorney at law as an  An attorney at law  , nor shall it

 

include a  performing legal services pertaining to the sale, lease,

 

or purchase of real estate or an interest in real estate for a

 

client.

 

     (d) A receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, administrator,

 

executor, or a person selling real estate under order of a court.  

 

, nor a

 

     (e) A trustee selling under a deed of trust. This exemption of

 


a trustee shall not apply to repeated or successive sales of real

 

estate by the trustee, unless the sale is made through a licensed

 

real estate broker.

 

     (f)  (3) This article does not apply to a  A person  who is  

 

regulated under the mortgage brokers, lenders, and servicers

 

licensing act,  Act No. 173 of the Public Acts of 1987, being

 

sections 445.1651 to 445.1683 of the Michigan Compiled Laws, and  

 

1987 PA 173, MCL 445.1651 to 445.1684, who does not perform any

 

other act requiring a license as a real estate broker, associate

 

broker, leasing professional, or real estate salesperson.

 

     (4) For the purposes of this article, "negotiate the mortgage

 

of real estate" as described in section 2501, means engaging in

 

activity not regulated under Act No. 173 of the Public Acts of

 

1987.

 

     (g) An individual employed by or acting as an independent

 

contractor for a broker, salesperson, or leasing professional,

 

whose activities are limited to 1 or more of the following:

 

     (i) Delivery to another person of a lease application, a lease,

 

or any amendment to a lease.

 

     (ii) Receiving a lease application, lease, or any amendment to

 

a lease; a security deposit; rental payment; or any related payment

 

for delivery to a property manager or owner.

 

     (iii) Showing a rental unit to any person or providing

 

information regarding a rental unit, lease, application for lease,

 

or the status of a security deposit or the payment of rent.

 

     (iv) Assisting in the performance of property management

 

functions by engaging in administrative, clerical, or maintenance

 


tasks.

 

     (3) An individual licensed as a leasing professional is

 

restricted to activities within the scope of practice of property

 

management and is prohibited from engaging in activities within the

 

scope of practice of a real estate broker or a real estate

 

salesperson.

 

     Sec. 2504. (1) Before receiving a real estate broker's

 

license, an applicant shall submit an application as described in

 

section 2505 and shall have successfully completed not less than 90

 

clock hours of approved classroom courses in real estate of which

 

not less than 9 clock hours shall be instruction on civil rights

 

law and equal opportunity in housing. The 90 hours shall be in

 

addition to the hours required to obtain a real estate

 

salesperson's license.

 

     (2) Before being permitted to take the real estate

 

salesperson's examination, an applicant shall show proof of

 

successful completion of not less than 40 clock hours of classroom

 

courses in principles of real estate, of which not less than 4

 

clock hours shall be instruction on civil rights law and equal

 

opportunity in housing.

 

     (3) Before being permitted to take the leasing professional's

 

examination, an applicant shall show proof of successful completion

 

of not less than 40 clock hours of classroom courses in property

 

management acceptable to the board and the department. For purposes

 

of this subsection, approved courses include, but are not limited

 

to, the following topics:

 

     (a) The provisions of this act applicable to leasing

 


professionals.

 

     (b) Fair housing issues relating to residential leasing.

 

     (c) Advertising and marketing issues.

 

     (d) Leases, applications, and credit reports.

 

     (e) Owner-tenant relationships and owner-tenant laws.

 

     (f) The handling of property management funds.

 

     (g) Michigan laws relating to security deposits and tenant

 

rights.

 

     (h) Leasing office management and model apartments.

 

     (4)  (3)  For purposes of subsections (1) and (2), approved

 

courses may be on the following topics:

 

     (a) Real estate license law and related regulatory laws.

 

     (b) Real property law, including property interests and

 

restrictions.

 

     (c) Federal, state, and local tax laws affecting real

 

property.

 

     (d) Conveyances, including contracts, deeds, and leases.

 

     (e) Financing, including mortgages, land contracts,

 

foreclosure, and limits on lending procedures and interest rates.

 

     (f) Appraisal of real property.

 

     (g) Design and construction.

 

     (h) Marketing, exchanging, and counseling.

 

     (i) The law of agency.

 

     (j) Sales and office management, including listing and selling

 

techniques.

 

     (k) Real estate securities and syndications.

 

     (l) Investments, including property management.

 


     (5)  (4)  Except as otherwise provided in this subsection,

 

before being permitted to renew an active real estate broker's,  or  

 

real estate salesperson's, or leasing professional's license, a

 

licensee shall have successfully completed, within the preceding 12

 

months, not less than 6 clock hours of continuing education

 

approved by the department involving any topics relevant to the

 

management, operation, and practice of real estate and covering

 

changes in economic conditions, law, rules, court cases, and

 

interpretations, or any combination of those changes, relating to

 

real property which are pertinent to the activities of a real

 

estate broker,  or  real estate salesperson, or leasing

 

professional. Beginning November 1, 2003, a licensee shall complete

 

not less than 18 hours of continuing education per 3-year license

 

cycle. A licensee shall complete at least 6 hours of the required

 

18 hours of continuing education courses during the time period

 

from November 1, 2003 and ending on December 31, 2004. During

 

calendar year 2005, a licensee shall complete at least 6 hours of

 

the required 18 hours of continuing education courses. During

 

calendar year 2006, a licensee shall complete at least 4 hours of

 

the required 18 hours of continuing education courses. During

 

calendar year 2007 and thereafter, a licensee shall complete at

 

least 2 hours per calendar year of the required 18 hours of

 

continuing education courses. Any education successfully completed

 

by a licensee for further professional designation and approved by

 

the department as continuing education may be counted toward the

 

total continuing education credits required for the 3-year license

 

cycle. Each licensee, in completing the appropriate number of clock

 


hours, will have the option of selecting the education courses in

 

that licensee's area of expertise, as long as the education courses

 

are approved by the department and as long as at least 2 hours of

 

an education course per calendar year involve law, rules, and court

 

cases regarding real estate. Notwithstanding the provisions of this

 

subsection, the department may renew the license of a licensee who

 

has completed not less than 18 hours of continuing education in the

 

subject matter areas required by this subsection during the 3-year

 

license cycle but has not otherwise met the requirements of this

 

section if the licensee provides evidence satisfactory to the

 

department that he or she has good cause for not complying with the

 

requirements in this subsection.

 

     (6)  (5)  The department may relicense without examination a

 

licensee whose license has lapsed for less than 3 years if the

 

licensee shows proof of completion of not less than 6 clock hours

 

of continuing education for each year the license was lapsed, on

 

topics as described in subsection  (4)  (5).

 

     (7)  (6)  The department may relicense a broker whose license

 

has lapsed for 3 or more continuous years if the licensee provides

 

proof of the successful completion of 1 of the following:

 

     (a) Six clock hours of continuing education for each of the

 

years the license was lapsed on topics described in subsection  (4)  

 

(5).

 

     (b) Ninety clock hours of instruction described in subsections

 

(1) and  (3)  (4).

 

     (c) Passing the examination required for licensure as a broker

 

as provided for in section 2505(5).

 


     (8)  (7)  A salesperson or leasing professional whose license

 

has been lapsed for 3 or more continuous years may be relicensed if

 

the licensee provides proof of the successful completion of 1 of

 

the following:

 

     (a) Six clock hours of continuing education for each of the

 

years the license was lapsed on topics described in subsection  (4)  

 

(5).

 

     (b) Forty clock hours of instruction described in  subsections  

 

subsection (2)  and  or (3) and subsection (4).

 

     (c) Passing the examination required for licensure as a

 

salesperson or leasing professional as provided in section 2505(5).

 

     (9)  (8)  The department shall not apply the course credits

 

used to meet continuing education requirements provided in

 

subsections  (4)  (5) through  (7)  (8) towards the real estate

 

broker's license education requirements provided in subsection (1),

 

and course credits taken under real estate broker's license

 

education requirements shall not be applied towards the continuing

 

education requirements. The department shall apportion the approved

 

course credits eligible for education requirements in subsection

 

(1) and subsections  (4)  (5) through  (7)  (8) to meet either

 

requirement upon the licensee's request.

 

     (10)  (9)  For real estate brokers, associate brokers, leasing

 

professionals, and salespersons who receive a license issued in the

 

second or third years of a 3-year license cycle, continuing

 

education shall be in compliance with subsection  (4)  (5), except

 

for the following:

 

     (a) A real estate broker, associate broker, leasing

 


professional, or salesperson who receives a license issued in the

 

second year of the 3-year license cycle is required to complete 12

 

hours of continuing education to renew his or her license.

 

     (b) A real estate broker, associate broker, leasing

 

professional, or salesperson who receives a license issued in the

 

third year of the 3-year licensing cycle is required to complete 6

 

hours of continuing education to renew his or her license.

 

     (11)  (10)  A person who offers or conducts a course or

 

courses of study represented to meet the educational requirements

 

of this article first shall obtain approval from the department and

 

shall comply with the rules of the department concerning

 

curriculum, instructor qualification, grading system, and other

 

related matters. In addition to other requirements imposed under

 

rule, in order to receive approval a course shall be designed to be

 

taught for not less than 1 clock hour, not including time spent on

 

breaks, meals, or other unrelated activities, provided the course

 

is only approved for less than 2 clock hours if, based upon the

 

subject matter, course outline, instructional materials,

 

methodology, and other considerations consistent with rules of the

 

department, the department determines that the course objectives

 

can be effectively met in the proposed time period. The department

 

may suspend or revoke the approval of a person for a violation of

 

this article or of the rules promulgated under this article. A

 

person offering or conducting a course shall not represent that its

 

students are assured of passing an examination required by the

 

department. A person shall not represent that the issuance of

 

departmental approval is a recommendation or indorsement of the

 


person to which it is issued or of a course of instruction given by

 

it. A pre-licensure course approved under this article shall be

 

conducted by a local public school district, a community college,

 

an institution of higher education authorized to grant degrees, or

 

a proprietary school licensed by the department  of career

 

development  under 1943 PA 148, MCL 395.101 to 395.103.

 

     (12)  (11)  A person who in operating a school violates

 

subsection  (10)  (11) is subject to the penalties set forth in

 

article 6.

 

     (13)  (12)  The department may conduct, hold, or assist in

 

conducting or holding, a real estate clinic, meeting, course, or

 

institute, which shall be open to a person licensed under this

 

article, and may incur the necessary expenses in connection with

 

the clinic, meeting, course, or institute. The department, in the

 

public interest, may assist educational institutions within this

 

state in sponsoring studies, research, and programs for the purpose

 

of raising the standards of professional practice in real estate

 

and the competence of a licensee.

 

     Sec. 2505. (1) An applicant for a real estate broker's license

 

shall file an application setting forth the applicant's present

 

address, both of business and residence; the complete address of

 

each former place where the applicant has resided or been engaged

 

in business, or acted as a real estate salesperson, for a period of

 

60 days or more, during the 5 years immediately preceding the date

 

of application. An applicant for a real estate broker's license

 

shall state the name of the individual, sole proprietorship,

 

partnership, association, corporation, limited liability company,

 


common law trust, or a combination of those entities and the

 

location of the place for which the license is desired, and set

 

forth the period of time which the applicant has been engaged in

 

the business. The application shall be executed by the person, or

 

by an officer or member of the applicant. An applicant for a real

 

estate broker's license which is a partnership, association,

 

corporation, limited liability company, common law trust, or a

 

combination of those entities shall designate which individuals who

 

are officers or members of the partnership, association, limited

 

liability company, or corporation will be performing acts regulated

 

by this article as principals.

 

     (2) The department shall not issue a real estate broker's

 

license to a new applicant who has been convicted of embezzlement

 

or misappropriation of funds.

 

     (3) A real estate broker shall maintain a place of business in

 

this state. If a real estate broker maintains more than 1 place of

 

business within the state, a branch office license shall be secured

 

by the real estate broker for each branch office maintained. A

 

branch office maintained in excess of 25 miles from the city limits

 

in which the broker maintains a main office shall be under the

 

personal, direct supervision of an associate broker.

 

     (4) An applicant for a salesperson's or leasing professional's

 

license shall set forth the period of time during which the

 

individual has been engaged in the business, stating the name of

 

the applicant's last employer and the name and the place of

 

business of the individual, partnership, association, limited

 

liability company, corporation, common law trust, or combination of

 


those entities then employing the applicant or in whose employ the

 

applicant is to enter. The application shall be signed by the real

 

estate broker in whose employ the applicant is to enter.

 

     (5) Before issuing a license, the department may require and

 

procure satisfactory proof of the business experience, competence,

 

and good moral character of an applicant for a real estate

 

broker's, leasing professional's, or salesperson's license or of an

 

officer or member of an applicant. The department shall require an

 

applicant for a real estate broker's, leasing professional's, or

 

salesperson's license to pass an examination developed by the

 

department or contracted for with a recognized outside testing

 

agency establishing, in a manner satisfactory to the department,

 

that the applicant has a fair knowledge of the English language,

 

including reading, writing, spelling, and elementary arithmetic; a

 

satisfactory understanding of the fundamentals of real estate

 

practice and of the laws and principles of real estate

 

conveyancing, deeds, mortgages, land contracts, and leases; the

 

obligations of a broker to the public and a principal; and the law

 

defining, regulating, and licensing real estate brokers, leasing

 

professionals, and salespersons. The department may require written

 

examination or written reexamination of a real estate broker,

 

leasing professional, or real estate salesperson, and in that case

 

a passing score satisfactory to the department is required as a

 

condition precedent to relicensure of a real estate broker, leasing

 

professional, or real estate salesperson. The department shall

 

require proof that each applicant for a real estate broker's

 

license has the equivalent of 3 years of full-time experience in

 


the business of real estate or in a field that is determined by the

 

department to be relevant and related to the business of real

 

estate.

 

     Sec. 2506. (1) The license of a real estate salesperson and

 

leasing professional shall be delivered or mailed to the real

 

estate broker by whom the real estate salesperson or leasing

 

professional is employed and shall be kept in the custody and

 

control of the real estate broker. A real estate broker shall

 

conspicuously display the real estate broker's license and the

 

license of each real estate salesperson and leasing professional

 

employed by the real estate broker in the real estate broker's

 

place of business. Written notice shall be given to the department

 

by a licensee of a change of either a principal or branch business

 

location.

 

     (2) If the department determines that it will be unable to

 

issue a real estate salesperson's or leasing professional's license

 

under subsection (1) within 2 weeks after the department determines

 

that the applicant for a real estate salesperson's or leasing

 

professional's license has met all requirements for licensure, or

 

the department is in fact unable to issue the real estate

 

salesperson's or leasing professional's license within 2 weeks, the

 

department shall issue to the applicant, without payment of an

 

additional fee, a temporary license pursuant to section 213.

 

     Sec. 2507. If a real estate salesperson or leasing

 

professional is discharged or terminates employment with a real

 

estate broker by giving the employer a written notice of the

 

termination, the real estate broker shall deliver or mail by

 


certified mail to the department, within 5 days, the real estate

 

salesperson's or leasing professional's license. If a written

 

notice of termination of employment is not served upon the real

 

estate broker by the real estate salesperson or leasing

 

professional, an application to the department for a transfer of

 

license by the real estate salesperson or leasing professional

 

shall be communicated in writing by the department to the real

 

estate broker. As of the date of the communication, the notice

 

shall operate as if a written notice were served by the real estate

 

salesperson or leasing professional upon the real estate broker.

 

The real estate broker, at the time of mailing the real estate

 

salesperson's or leasing professional's license to the department,

 

shall address a communication to the last known residence address

 

of the real estate salesperson or leasing professional, which

 

communication shall advise the real estate salesperson or leasing

 

professional that the license has been delivered or mailed to the

 

department. A copy of the communication to the real estate

 

salesperson or leasing professional shall accompany the license

 

when mailed or delivered to the department. A real estate

 

salesperson or leasing professional shall not perform an act

 

regulated by this article either directly or indirectly under

 

authority of the license after the date of the department's receipt

 

of the license from a real estate broker. Another license shall not

 

be issued to a real estate salesperson or leasing professional

 

until the person returns the former pocket card to the department

 

or satisfactorily accounts to the department for the pocket card.

 

Not more than 1 license shall be issued to a real estate

 


salesperson or leasing professional for the same period of time.

 

     Sec. 2512. A licensee who commits 1 or more of the following

 

is subject to the penalties set forth in article 6:

 

     (a) Except in a case involving property management, acts for

 

more than 1 party in a transaction without the knowledge of the

 

parties.

 

     (b) Fails to provide a written agency disclosure to a

 

prospective buyer or seller in a real estate transaction as defined

 

in section 2517.

 

     (c) Represents or attempts to represent a real estate broker

 

other than the employer without the express knowledge and consent

 

of the employer.

 

     (d) Fails to account for or to remit money coming into the

 

licensee's possession which belongs to others.

 

     (e) Changes a business location without notification to the

 

department.

 

     (f) In the case of a real estate broker, fails to return a

 

real estate salesperson's or leasing professional's license within

 

5 days as provided in section 2507.

 

     (g) In the case of a licensee engaged in property management,

 

violates section 2512c(2), (5), or (6).

 

     (h) Except as provided in section 2512b, shares or pays a fee,

 

commission, or other valuable consideration to a person not

 

licensed under this article including payment to any person

 

providing the names of, or any other information regarding, a

 

potential seller or purchaser of real estate but excluding payment

 

for the purchase of commercially prepared lists of names. However,

 


a licensed real estate broker may pay a commission to a licensed

 

real estate broker of another state if the nonresident real estate

 

broker does not conduct in this state a negotiation for which a

 

commission is paid.

 

     (i) Conducts or develops a market analysis not in compliance

 

with section 2601(a)(ii).

 

     (j) Except in the case of property management accounts, fails

 

to deposit in the real estate broker's custodial trust or escrow

 

account money belonging to others coming into the hands of the

 

licensee in compliance with the following:

 

     (i) A real estate broker shall retain a deposit or other money

 

made payable to a person, partnership, corporation, or association

 

holding a real estate broker's license under this article pending

 

consummation or termination of the transaction involved and shall

 

account for the full amount of the money at the time of the

 

consummation or termination of the transaction.

 

     (ii) A real estate salesperson shall pay over to the real

 

estate broker, upon receipt, a deposit or other money on a

 

transaction in which the real estate salesperson is engaged on

 

behalf of the real estate broker.

 

     (iii) A real estate broker shall not permit an advance payment

 

of funds belonging to others to be deposited in the real estate

 

broker's business or personal account or to be commingled with

 

funds on deposit belonging to the real estate broker.

 

     (iv) A real estate broker shall deposit, within 2 banking days

 

after the broker has received notice that an offer to purchase is

 

accepted by all parties, money belonging to others made payable to

 


the real estate broker into a separate custodial trust or escrow

 

account maintained by the real estate broker with a bank, savings

 

and loan association, credit union, or recognized depository until

 

the transaction involved is consummated or terminated, at which

 

time the real estate broker shall account for the full amount

 

received.

 

     (v) A real estate broker shall keep records of funds deposited

 

in its custodial trust or escrow account, which records shall

 

indicate clearly the date and from whom the money was received, the

 

date deposited, the date of withdrawal, and other pertinent

 

information concerning the transaction, and shall show clearly for

 

whose account the money is deposited and to whom the money belongs.

 

The records shall be subject to inspection by the department. A

 

real estate broker's separate custodial trust or escrow account

 

shall designate the real estate broker as trustee, and the

 

custodial trust or escrow account shall provide for withdrawal of

 

funds without previous notice. This article and the rules

 

promulgated pursuant to this article do not prohibit the deposit of

 

money accepted under this section in a noninterest bearing account

 

of a state or federally chartered savings and loan association or a

 

state or federally chartered credit union.

 

     (vi) If a purchase agreement signed by a seller and purchaser

 

provides that a deposit be held by an escrowee other than a real

 

estate broker, a licensee in possession of such a deposit shall

 

cause the deposit to be delivered to the named escrowee within 2

 

banking days after the licensee has received notice that an offer

 

to purchase is accepted by all parties.

 


     Sec. 2512c. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section,

 

all property management duties, responsibilities, and activities

 

performed by a real estate broker and  his or her agent engaged in

 

property management  leasing professional shall be governed by and

 

performed in accordance with a property management employment

 

contract.

 

     (2) A real estate broker who engages in property management

 

shall maintain property management accounts separate from all other

 

accounts. Except as provided in this section, a property management

 

account shall be managed in accordance with the property management

 

employment contract.

 

     (3) A property management account may be an interest-bearing

 

account or instrument, unless the property management employment

 

contract provides to the contrary. The interest earned on a

 

property management account shall be handled in accordance with the

 

property management employment contract.

 

     (4) A real estate broker or any designated employee  of the

 

real estate broker engaged in property management  or leasing

 

professional may be signatory on drafts or checks drawn on property

 

management accounts.

 

     (5) A person who engages in property management shall maintain

 

records of funds deposited and withdrawn from property management

 

accounts. Property management account records shall indicate the

 

date of the transaction, from whom the money was received or to

 

whom it was given, and other pertinent information concerning the

 

transaction the property management employment contract may

 

require.

 


     (6) A real estate broker engaged in property management shall

 

render an accounting to his or her property management client and

 

remit all money strictly in accordance with the property management

 

employment contract.

 

     (7) All records required to be kept pursuant to this section

 

or pursuant to the property management employment contract shall be

 

subject to inspection by the department.

 

     Sec. 2514. A nonresident of this state may become a real

 

estate broker, a leasing professional, or a real estate salesperson

 

by conforming to the requirements of this article. A nonresident

 

applicant shall file an irrevocable consent that an action may be

 

commenced against the applicant in the proper court of a county of

 

this state in which a cause of action may arise in which the

 

plaintiff may reside, by the service of process or pleading

 

authorized by the laws of this state on the department, the consent

 

stipulating and agreeing that service of process or pleadings on

 

the department shall be taken and held in court to be as valid and

 

binding as if due service had been made upon the applicant in this

 

state. An instrument containing a consent shall be authenticated by

 

a seal, if a corporation, or by the acknowledged signature of a

 

member or officer of the corporation, if otherwise. An application,

 

except from an individual, shall be accompanied by the certified

 

copy of the resolution of the proper officer or managing board

 

authorizing the proper officer to execute the application. If a

 

process or pleading mentioned in this article is served upon the

 

department it shall be by duplicate copies, 1 of which shall be

 

filed in the department and the other immediately forwarded by

 


registered mail to the main office of the applicant against which

 

the process or pleading is directed.