Yesterday, Tom Ferry mentioned that 50% of licensed agents haven’t sold a property in the last year. Enough already!
An excerpt:
The Golden State opened the gates to real estate licensing for undocumented immigrants in January 2016.
Noncitizens are now able to apply for and obtain a real estate license, a leap forward into economic stability for their households — and headlong into significant opposition from many California residents.
California has made significant strides in immigration reform allowing undocumented immigrants to maintain a better quality of life than in other states. California law allows immigrants with an Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN) – for paying income taxes – to obtain driver licenses and work permits, attend California colleges with in-state tuition and purchase homes. Immigrants are even able to apply for ITIN mortgages, although lending standards are higher for financing without a social security number (SSN).
Agents can use the new license eligibility law to expand their brokerages and teams, make new industry connections and reach into new California markets. Licensed immigrants bridge the stigmatic gap between California citizens and noncitizens by having direct contact with members of the public, helping immigrants attain better accommodations and assimilate without facing the pompous attitudes of xenophobic “patriots.”
Read full article here:
http://journal.firsttuesday.us/xenophobia-and-the-california-real-estate-licensee/51918/
Who do you sue for negligence if something goes wrong?
And if you win in court how do you collect on someone that doesn’t have a SSN?
The brokers have the responsibility to properly supervise their agents, and all get sued. But noncitizens could probably get a broker’s license too.
Did you know that there is no obligation for brokers to be incorporated, or have E&O insurance? You can bet there are plenty of individual brokers/agents who, if sued, would have nothing to offer.
What the heck is going on?
I thought all licensees had to be fingerprinted and run through the criminal background check. How do you do that with someone that is “undocumented”?
It’s a new world my friend – anything goes!!
I typed and few paragraphs and then hit delete. Didn’t want to turn your blog into a rant forum.
Want a chuckle? Bode sent in this story about a cop who didn’t take kindly to being foreclosed:
http://media.ca11.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/files/201512529.pdf
Good stuff, but really, being halfway between Atlanta and Macon County, I’m thinking its about par for the course.
On the original topic, check out Senate Bill No. 1159, its not just real estate – its any licensed profession.
Geez….doctors too!
Yep, even those other less important licensed folks. How this slides through the pipes without nary a word speaks volumes…..
@Jim “Anything goes” only if you are an illegal. They are now a protected class. For the rest of us, all rules and penalties apply. And there are more of both than ever.
A new world indeed.