DRE Compliance
Best Practices to Avoid Risk
The DRE is constantly reviewing agent marketing assets and team names to ensure compliance. Sometimes the regulations are vague so in an effort to avoid any chance of a fine or raising a red flag with the DRE, we consulted with our Broker of Record and Managing Director Compliance & Risk Management, Kathy Mehringer. See below for the DRE guidelines and Kathy’s recommendation for complete compliance.
Team Names
In order to qualify as a Team Name, there must be 2 or more team members.
The name MUST Include:
The legal last name of at least 1 of the team members
The term “group” “associates” or “team” must be included along with the full legal name of at least one of the team members with the corresponding license number
You may not include the term “real estate broker/brokerage” or “partners” in the team name.
Team names do not need to be registered in the county or reported to the DRE
Note: First names are NOT sufficient, i.e, Jane and John Real Estate Group.
Note: Abbreviations are NOT sufficient, i.e., JD Real Estate Group (where JD stands for
Jane Doe).
Examples of compliant team names are listed to the right, more information can be found in the Agent Manual.
Compliant:
The Jones Mehringer Team
John Jones and Kathy Mehringer
DRE # DRE#
Compass
Compliant:
The Mehringer Team
Kathy Mehringer
DRE #
Compass
Compliant:
The Mehringer Team
Bud and Kathy Mehringer
DRE # DRE#
Compass
Non-Compliant:
The Mehringer Team
DRE #
Compass
Non-Compliant:
The Mehringer Team
Kathy
DRE #
Compass
Non-Compliant:
Kathy & Bud Team
Kathy Mehringer
DRE#
Compass
Non-Compliant:
K + M Team
Kathy Mehringer
DRE#
Compass
Agent Registered Fictitious Business Names
If you wish to use a Fictitious Business Names (“fbn”), you must first register the name with LA county (because this is where Compass’ main office is located). Then submit DRE Form #247 to Kathy for submission to the Department of Real Estate in accordance with Section 10159.5 along with the stamped FBNS with purple seal.
Be sure the FBNS is filed as an individual using the licensee name registered with the DRE and the main address reflects the main Compass Address of 9454 Wilshire Blvd. #100, Beverly Hills, CA 90210.
A fictitious business name may not include your legal first or last name, it must be purely fictitious.
Unsure if your FBN has been registered? Click HERE to see a list of all approved FBNs properly registered at Compass. You would check the Los Angeles County Registrar- Recorder/County Clerk website to see if an FBN has been registered, not on the DRE under Compass.
Examples of compliant team names are listed to the right, more information can be found in the Agent Manual.
Compliant:
Luxury Living
Bud and Kathy Mehringer
DRE # DRE#
Compass
Compliant:
Luxury Living California
Kathy Mehringer
DRE #
Compass
Compliant:
Luxury Living
John Jones and Kathy Doe
DRE # DRE#
Compass
Non-Compliant:
Luxury Living California
DRE #
Compass
Non-Compliant:
Luxury Living California
Kathy
DRE #
Compass
Designations and Titles
Using Realtor® as a Title
If you use “Realtor®” as a title you must use the trademark (as required by NAR) –
NAR expressly prohibits the use of descriptive words or phrases, including geographical locations, with the REALTOR® Marks. A Member is allowed to use the REALTOR® Marks in connection with their name and, if the principals, partners and corporate officers of the Member’s firm are all Members as well, then the full legal dba of his/her firm. These rules apply to all marketing collateral including but not limited to print and digital media, including domain names.
Examples of the correct use of the REALTOR® mark follow:
Kathy Mehringer, REALTOR®
Unauthorized Designations or Titles
You may not use unauthorized designations or titles (i.e., attorney, CEO, partner, CPA). For example, if next to your name on real estate marketing materials, you put “Jane Doe, Attorney”, this insinuates that you are a practicing real estate attorney at Compass, which is not the case and constitutes a misrepresentation to the public.
Best Practice to Avoid Risk: If you would like to include your educational background, you may use "J.D. (not practicing)”.
Best Practice to Avoid Risk: If you would like to include that you the Principle or CEO of your team, you must put: “Jane Doe, CEO of Jane Doe Real Estate Group“
You may include these designations in your biographies and part of your overall accomplishments.
Agent Websites
The DRE regulations require:
Ensure that your Team Name or FBM meets the requirements FIRST
Full legal name and license number of at least one Principle team member on the homepage
Best Practice to Avoid Risk: Include on the home page, “above the fold”, meaning name and license number are visible without scrolling.
Brokerage name “Compass" must be in a font size as prominent as the team/agent name/ FBN
Compass logo must be in a size as prominent as the team/agent logo
Best Practice to Avoid Risk: Include on the home page, “above the fold”, meaning Compass logo (in the same size font as agent name/logo) is visible without scrolling.
All agent names and DRE numbers must be included for every agent on the team
The DRE license number must be no smaller than the smallest font included (excluding legal copy/disclaimers).
Best Practice to Avoid Risk: Recommended to be the size of the contact information, not in the footer.
Legal Disclaimer must be included (recommended in the footer):
Compass is a real estate broker licensed by the State of California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. License Number 01991628. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only and is compiled from sources deemed reliable but has not been verified. Changes in price, condition, sale or withdrawal may be made without notice. No statement is made as to accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footage are approximate. If your property is currently listed for sale this is not a solicitation.
Social Media
Each Agent Profile, Post AND Story must include:
DRE license number of each agent
The agent full legal name must be included
Brokerage name “Compass" must be in a font size as prominent as the team/agent name
Best Practice to Avoid Risk: Recommended to include Compass name, agent full legal name, and agent DRE license number as hashtags at the end/bottom of every post, i.e., #Compass #JaneDoe #012345678.
Pro-Tip: Create a note on your phone with common hashtags, including these hashtags, so that you can copy and paste on every real estate related social post.
Note: If you post about both personal and real estate related items on your social channels, you only need to include the above info in posts that are interpreted as a solicitation or that indicate that you are an active real estate agent. For example, if you post about a new listing hitting the market, open house, market update, etc. all the above must be included. If you are posting about your child’s Halloween costume, you do not need to include Compass, agent name, & license number.
Looking for help on how to edit your profile bios on social media? Select the site below for directions.
Print/Digital Marketing Materials & Advertisements
The DRE guidelines require:
Ensure that your Team Name or FBN meets the requirements FIRST
Full legal name and DRE license number of at least one Principle team member
Brokerage name “Compass" must be in a font size as prominent as the team/agent name/ FBN
Compass logo must be in a size as prominent as the team/agent logo
The DRE license number must be no smaller than the smallest font included (excluding legal copy/disclaimers).
Best Practice to Avoid Risk: Recommended to be the size of the contact information
Legal Disclaimer must be included on all marketing materials and advertisements:
Compass is a real estate broker licensed by the State of California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. License Number 01991628. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only and is compiled from sources deemed reliable but has not been verified. Changes in price, condition, sale or withdrawal may be made without notice. No statement is made as to accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footage are approximate. If your property is currently listed for sale this is not a solicitation.