November 2010 Volume 6 Issue 11 
 
GREC RENews MMoonntthllyyNNeewwslseltetetrteorf 
of thethGe eGoerogrgiaiaRReeaal EstEastetatCeoCmommmisisssioion 
 
Calendar 
GREC Brokerage Course & Trust Accounts Class Dates: 
 November 29 & 30, 2010 Statesboro Board (912) 764-3818 
 December15 & 16, 2010 Metro South Association (770) 477-7579 
GREC Annual Schools Meeting: 
 December 2 & 3, 2010 Athens, GA 
http://www.annualschool meeting.com/ 
Click here to see GREC Disciplinary Sanctions 
Happy Holidays from 
GREC! 
Georgia Real Estate Commission 
Suite 1000 International Tower 229 Peachtree Street NE Atlanta, GA 30303-1605 Phone 404-656-3916 
Clipart from MicrosoftTMOffice 
 
GREC Online 
 
This Issue: New Free CE Course Online P.1-2 
Focus on Terminology P. 2 
 
Now Available...Another FREE Online Course from GREC: 
"Being a Broker and Staying Out of Trouble" 
 
In a continuing effort to help 
 
is also still available online at no 
 
licensees avoid infractions of the 
 
charge. 
 
License Law, Rules and 
 
Both courses include examples of 
 
Regulations, the Georgia Real 
 
actual cases reviewed by the 
 
Estate Commission has just 
 
Commission describing the actions of 
 
released the second online course 
 
the licensee(s), the reasons a 
 
in the "staying out of trouble 
 
violation occurred and the disciplinary 
 
series." This course is titled "Being 
 
actions taken. 
 
a Broker and Staying Out of 
 
Although the new course, "Being 
 
Trouble," It is written for all 
 
a Broker and Staying Out of 
 
licensees: 
 
brokers, 
 
Trouble," discusses Broker 
 
salespersons, associate 
 
management 
 
issues, 
 
brokers or CAM. 
 
those issues trickle down 
 
The new course is 
 
to all the licensees under 
 
now available on the 
 
the Broker. This new 
 
Georgia Real Estate 
 
online course addresses 
 
Commission School web 
 
Click Here to 
 
the responsibilities of a 
 
site 
 
at 
 
Enroll 
 
Broker and provides 
 
www.jmre.com/grec. You 
 
resources to help Brokers 
 
must enroll to take the 
 
open and manage a 
 
course, but there is no cost and no 
 
brokerage firm. Salespersons or 
 
need for credit card information. 
 
associate brokers who may be 
 
Upon completion of the course, you 
 
interested in becoming a broker of 
 
will receive 3 hours of Continuing 
 
their own firm will find an entire 
 
Education Credit. Just click 
 
section devoted to opening a 
 
"Register Now" on the GREC 
 
brokerage firm. 
 
School site. The first online course, 
 
The course also includes a 
 
"Practicing Real Estate & 
 
summary of critical brokerage 
 
Staying Out of Trouble Course" 
 
...continued on page 2 
 
Page1 
 
 Enroll Now 
For Free 
GREC Online CE Courses 
"Being a Broker & Staying Out of Trouble" 
or "Practicing Real Estate & Staying Out of 
Trouble" Click Here 
To sign up to receive the GREC RENewsletter Click Here 
Comments or Suggestions Click Here 
 
GREC RENews November, Volume 6 Issue 11 
 
Another FREE Online Course from GREC 
 
continued from page 1... 
management issues and provides lists as tools to help the Broker manage the licensees affiliated with the firm. 
Some of the useful resources in the "Being a Broker and Staying Out of Trouble," course include the following:  List of items that must be readily 
available to the Commission in the case of a routine audit  Lists of records required to be maintained  A graphic of the Advertising Requirements Click here to download this tool as a sample.  Minimum requirements for the firm Policies and Procedures Manual  Minimum requirements for the Independent Contractor/Affiliation Agreement 
 
 Ideas for Managing Licensees  Links to specific License Laws, 
Rules and Regulations  Ideas for business planning  Communication issues to be 
addressed for different brokerage business models. The Georgia Real Estate Commission provides several training resources for all licensees. In addition to the online courses, there are several classroom courses available as noted in the Calendar section on page 1 of the GREC RENews. Although all GREC courses cover the license laws, they are all different in the material presented, so that the licensees can attend any and all of them and obtain credit upon successful completion. 
 
Quick Question: Do I have to identify myself as an agent to sell or 
rent my own property? 
Yes. In advertisements, if the property is not listed with a real estate firm; and in sales contracts or leases, regardless of whether you listed the property with a real estate firm. In advertisements, you must use the legend "(seller, buyer, landlord, tenant, etc.) holds a real estate license." or use the legend "Georgia Real Estate License # (insert your six digit number)." See License Law 43-40-25 (a )( 9) and Rules 520-1-.09 (8) & 520-1-.11. (Remember signs are advertising.) 
 
Georgia Real Estate Commission 
Suite 1000 International Tower 229 Peachtree Street NE Atlanta, GA 30303-1605 Phone 404-656-3916 
 
Focus on Terminology: "Formal Complaint" 
For some individuals, to complain seems to be human nature, but for an individual to write a formal complaint, it requires a more serious commitment by the one complaining. In order for the Commission to act on a complaint, it must be a formal complaint in writing submitted on a form titled, "Request for Investigation Form." The form can be downloaded from the Commission web site by licensees as well as consumers. Once the form is submitted, the Commission is required to begin the investigation process. 
The Commission can only investigate issues related to the License Law, Rules and Regulations. For example, the Commission cannot settle such issues as disputes regarding earnest money, repairs to property, or payments of fees to licensees. 
Depending on the case load, an investigator will be assigned to the case within a few weeks. Since records are required to be maintained for 3 years, generally investigations do not go back further than 3 years. 
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