Real estate brokers, principal brokers, property managers and contining education course providers must meet the new requirements starting January 1, 2011.

The Oregon Real Estate Agency, in collaboration with members of the industry, wrote proposed rules that implement Senate Bill 640 (2009 Oregon Laws, Chapter 502). Effective July 1, 2010, these rules specify what real estate licensees must do to renew and how continuing education providers become certified.

Real estate licensees will take continuing education from certified continuing education providers and maintain their own continuing education records. Licensees will also be required to complete a Board-approved three hour Law and Rule Update course each renewal period.

Continuing education providers will need to be certified by the Agency, develop learning objectives, ensure instructors meet specific qualifications, provide certificates to licensees and maintain records.

These questions and answers represent a majority of the specific issues contained in the questions that were collected at the Foreclosure Fraud Symposium held in March 2010. The answers represent a collaborative effort between the Oregon Real Estate Agency, the Oregon Department of Justice, and the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services.

License examinations will not be offered in Wilsonville until further notice. PSI, Inc., the testing services provider for the Oregon Real Estate Agency, notified the Agency that the testing center would be closed for an undisclosed period of time.

For those individuals who need to take a license exam as part the requirements to obtain a broker or property manager license, PSI still has testing sites in Portland, Eugene, Medford, Bend and Baker City. The Agency apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause.

Check out the newest consumer links to carbon monoxide alarm laws, radon gas information and a well water owner's guide by selecting "Consumer Information" from the menu on the far left.

The Oregon Real Estate Agency has four free e-mail subscription services available.

The Commissioner's Bulletin is published once a month, and contains recent information from the Agency.

The Administrative Rule Update service informs subscribers of pending changes to Oregon Administrative Rule chapter 863.

The Oregon Real Estate News-Journal, the official publication of the Oregon Real Estate Agency, will be availble via e-mail subscription beginning September 2010.

Educators' Informational Updates helps keep real estate educators up-to-date on Agency-related education news.

All forms of advertising by brokers and principal brokers related to professional real estate activity must meet the requirements of Oregon Administrative Rule (OAR) 863-015-0125. Additionally, marketing via electronic media such as Internet, web pages, e-mail, blogs and bulletin boards must include specific content not required for other types of advertising. This requirement applies to Facebook, craigslist, LinkedIn, Twitter, and other electronic bulletin boards and social networking sites used to advertise as part of your professional real estate activity.

The current recession has reduced state revenues, and has forced the legislature to make deep cuts in agency budgets. Coping with these cuts requires us to close our office on the days listed in the link below. Our employees will take unpaid time off on those days. We apologize for any inconvenience these closures might cause, and we look forward to restoration of a full work schedule when the economy improves.

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."