Any real estate broker who contracts for or collects an advance fee from any other person, hereinafter referred to as the “principal,” shall deposit any such amount or amounts, when collected in a trust account with a bank or other recognized depository. Such funds are trust funds and not the funds of the agent. Amounts may be withdrawn therefrom for the benefit of the agent only when actually expended for the benefit of the principal or five days after the verified accounts mentioned hereinafter have been mailed to the principal. Upon request of the commissioner, a broker shall furnish to the commissioner an authorization for examination of financial records of the trust account in accordance with the procedures set forth in § 7473 of the Government Code.

The commissioner may issue such rules and regulations as he or she deems necessary to regulate the method of accounting, and to accomplish the purpose of the provisions of this code relating to advance fees including, but not limited to, establishing forms for and determining information to be included in such accountings. Each principal shall be furnished a verified copy of such accountings at the end of each calendar quarter and when the contract has been completely performed by the licensee. The commissioner shall be furnished a verified copy of any account or all accounts on his or her demand therefor.

Terms Used In California Business and Professions Code 10146

  • advance fee: as used in this part , is a fee, regardless of the form, that is claimed, demanded, charged, received, or collected by a licensee for services requiring a license, or for a listing, as that term is defined in Section 10027, before fully completing the service the licensee contracted to perform or represented would be performed. See California Business and Professions Code 10026
  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Licensee: means any person authorized by a license, certificate, registration, or other means to engage in a business or profession regulated by this code or referred to in Sections 1000 and 3600. See California Business and Professions Code 23.8
  • Trust account: A general term that covers all types of accounts in a trust department, such as estates, guardianships, and agencies. Source: OCC

Where advance fees actually paid by or on behalf of any principal are not handled in accordance with the preceding paragraph, it shall be presumed that the agent has violated Sections 506 and 506a of the Penal Code. The principal may recover treble damages for amounts so misapplied and shall be entitled to reasonable attorney’s fees in any action brought to recover the same.

(Amended by Stats. 2009, Ch. 307, Sec. 99. (SB 821) Effective January 1, 2010.)

  Previous section
Next section  
 Article 1 Contents