On July 12, the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance issued Bulletin No. 22-07 to remind real estate licensees (particularly licensees operating as a “team”), and brokers of record who are responsible for managing and supervising teams, of the requirement to ensure compliance with the Real Estate Broker and Salesperson Act and related regulations. Explaining that real estate “teams” are a growing trend in the industry, the Bulletin warned that while a team may “appear to operate independent of the brokerage firm through which they are licensed,” the team is not actually a separate brokerage, and “teams, their team leaders, team members and their supervising brokers must comply with the act and regulations.” The Bulletin continued that “[l]icensees can only accept compensation, including commissions, from their employing broker, and not a member of their team or their team leader. . . . Further, teams may not operate out of a separate, satellite office, unless such location is properly licensed with the New Jersey Real Estate Commission and maintained and supervised in accordance with the act and regulations.” The Bulletin also addressed advertising and webpage requirements for licensees.
Licensees who fail to comply with the regulations may be subject to fines, potential license suspension or revocation. Brokers who fail to supervise licensees or team members are subject to these penalties as well.
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