The Agency announces proposed rulemaking hearings for advertising and background check rules, and requests comments on proposed escrow rules.

Effective May 23, 2008, Senate Bill 1101 clarifies language pertaining to the withholding of income taxes for certain real estate transactions.

What do you do when checks never clear your bank account or are returned by the Post Office?

How do you handle inactive customer credit balances?

Oregon law (ORS 98.302-436 and 98.991-.992) provides a mechanism for getting these types of liability off your books while ensuring rightful owners can easily claim their money at any time in the future.

The Oregon Department of State Lands administers the state's unclaimed property law, and is offering seminars this spring to help businesses learn about complying

On January 18, 2008, the Agency adopted new temporary administrative rules regarding advertising by real estate licensees.

The licensed name or registered business name of the principal real estate broker, sole practitioner real estate broker, or property manager must be prominently displayed in all advertising.

If advertising includes the licensee's name, the licensee's licensed name must be used or a common derivative of the licensee's first name may be used.

A real estate broker must submit all advertising to the principal real estate broker for approval. A principal real estate broker is responsible for advertising that states the principal real estate broker's licensed name or registered business name.

Advertising in electronic media has specific requirements.

Advertising using the term "team" or "group" has specific requirements.

The Real Estate Agency has stopped publishing Questions and Answers in Real Estate (also known as the "yellow book"). The Agency will continue to sell the book until supplies run out.

We frequently receive questions concerning the issue of "short sales" and sales of properties that are in foreclosure. In general, these types of sales are characterized by a sales price that is not high enough to clear all debt, liens, and costs of sale; and which require approval by a third party or other parties not in title to the property.

Oregon's 150th birthday will be on February 14th, 2009. You can join in on the festivities by submitting your "Oregon Story," share your hopes for Oregon's future with the "Oregon Dreams Blog," or participate in the great events scheduled across the state.

The Real Estate Agency is conducting a review of the administrative rules under its authority. The Agency convened work groups and larger advisory committees to undertake this task. The goals of the review are to ensure that the rules are understandable, protect the consumer, and promote a healthy real estate market.

A "condominium" is a special form of property ownership which is created and governed in Oregon by statute (ORS 100.005 to 100.910 and 100.990), known as the "Oregon Condominium Act."

If you are a new Oregon broker, you must take the 30-hour Advanced Real Estate Practices (AP) course before your first active license renewal.