On March 11, 2021, the NYS Board of Real Estate continued its mission of optimizing the regulation of real estate brokers in our state by holding its meeting. 

To remind real estate brokers and salespersons, the public is welcome at these meetings where the public can bring comments from the floor. Its encouraged that Lieb School students attend these meetings to have your voices heard.

"[T]he Board has general authority to promulgate rules and regulations affecting real estate brokers and salespersons in order to administer and effectuate the purposes of Article 12-A of the Real Property Law."

A complete video of the meeting is available on youtube.

In summary, the following was discussed:

• 5 hearings that have been held by the DOS and 10 others that scheduled as a result of the Newsday Long Island Divided expose;
• Brokerages compliance with the Executive Orders about essential workers and safety in light of COVID;
• Communication with Complainants and Respondents about outcomes of Administrative cases; 
• Current real estate licensee numbers for February 2020 and February 2021 were provided in a report;
• 27 Schools have submitted course applications for the 2.5 hours of business ethics topic (Lieb School is one of these schools);
• 23 Schools have submitted course applications for the 1 hour of recent legal matters topic (Lieb School is one of these schools);
• 2020 Exam Results:
• Salesperson = 17,643 applicants with a pass rate of 59%
• Broker = 1,464 applicants with a pass rate of 65%
• Executive Order Updates:
• Extension of the Licenses continued through March 28, 2021
• Electronic Notarization of Documents continued through March 28, 2021

1. An education audit program was conducted from December through March on licensees seeking license renewal where approximately 360 such audits were conducted resulting in a finding of approximately 80% compliance and approximately $27,000 in fines;
2. Many schools are offering classes at 1 and 2 hours in response to the change in regulations;
3. The possibility of changing the Preliminary Statement of Complaint so real estate brokerage firms can make complaints about their salespersons and associate brokers with the Department of State;
4. That the Department of State received a question about clarifying whether property managers must comply with the Corporate Title Opinion Letter from April 26, 2013 and will address such question accordingly; and
5. A public comment that NYS Department of State should coordinate with the Attorney General's Office to enforce unlicensed activities, particularly against auctioneers.