SB533:

Real estate brokers; protection of real estate escrow funds.

Bill Summary:

Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation; real estate brokers; protection of real estate escrow funds. Clarifies that, upon the ratification of a contract, an earnest money deposit received by the principal broker or supervising broker, or an agent of such principal broker or supervising broker, that will be held in the firm's escrow account shall be placed in such account by the end of the fifth business banking day following ratification, unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the principals to the transaction. The bill provides that if an earnest money deposit received by the principal broker or supervising broker, or an agent of such principal broker or supervising broker, will not be held in the firm's escrow account, the principal broker or supervising broker shall ensure that the earnest money deposit is delivered to the escrow agent named in the contract by the end of the fifth business banking day following receipt of the deposit, unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the principals to the transaction.