Georgia Real Estate Commission (GREC)

Georgia Real Estate Commission &
Georgia Real Estate Appraisers

FRANCES CULLEN, P.C. helps to protect your license, your livelihood, your career, and your reputation if you are investigated or accused of wrongdoing by the Georgia Real Estate Commission or the Georgia Real Estate Appraisers Board.

Under Georgia law, real estate licenses are granted “only to persons who bear a good reputation for honesty, trustworthiness, integrity, and competence to transact the business of a licensee in such manner as to safeguard the interest of the public.”

This means that almost any felony conviction in an applicant’s past may result in a denial of a real estate license as Georgia courts have held that all felonies are crimes of “moral turpitude.” The Real Estate Commission also will deny a license to applicants who report a past conviction for certain misdemeanor crimes such as forgery, embezzlement, obtaining money under false pretenses, theft, extortion, or conspiracy to defraud. Even a conviction for writing bad checks or shoplifting can result in the denial of a license. In the licensing context, the law defines the word “conviction” to include not only guilty pleas but also the entry of a plea of nolo contendere (no contest) and first offender sentencing.

Additionally, the Georgia Real Estate laws require completion of a criminal sentence as a condition of license eligibility, with the requirement that two years have passed since completion of the sentence.  With multiple convictions, an applicant will not be eligible for licensing until five years post-completion of their sentence.

Approximately 10-15% of applicants for a real estate license report a criminal conviction or a past licensing sanction. For about 85% of such applicants, an appeal in which additional documentation is provided will satisfy the Real Estate Commission that, despite the prior record, the applicant possesses the requisite good reputation. These appeals involve an administrative hearing before the Office of State Administrative Hearings (OSAH), which follow legal rules of evidence. In successful cases, a real estate license is issued.

Due to this additional scrutiny has been focused on real estate agents, real estate brokers, and real estate appraisers. Frances Cullen has worked with numerous Real Estate Agents and Real Estate Appraisers to defend against alleged violations related to their trust accounts and charges of fraud.

Frances Cullen, P.C.’s extensive knowledge of the rules and procedures of the Georgia Real Estate Commission (GREC) and Georgia Real Estate Appraisers Board (GREAB) allows us to provide you with competent assistance and guidance prior to submitting your application or if you are contacted by a Commissioner or Board investigator.

If you are contacted by the GREC & GREAB during the investigative process or they send you a proposed Consent Order, call Frances Cullen, P.C. for assistance in challenging the potential sanction. Experience with an agency’s procedures is the first step to successful representation. You have invested time and money in taking real estate courses and in passing real estate examinations, and you need an aggressive and qualified attorney advocating for you and protecting your interests before the Georgia Real Estate Commission or the Georgia Real Estate Appraisers Board.