First Home - California

Friday, April 3, 2026

Tune in to this episode, The Right Way to Handle Money in Real Estate Transactions, to gain insight around what’s the right way for real estate agents to handle the money that’s moving around in a real estate transaction. You’ll hear best practices that real estate agents should be using and some red flags to be aware of to ensure money is handled responsibly. All helpful information for consumers going through a real estate transaction. 

Topics covered include:

Our guest for this episode:

DRE Assistant Commissioner of Audits Mike Rivera

Wednesday, September 10, 2025

Tune in to learn all about how to become licensed as a real estate salesperson or broker in California. We dive into the steps to earning your license, the benefits of becoming an agent, the various career opportunities available if you have a real estate license, and more! In this episode we chat with the California Department of Real Estate’s Assistant Commissioner of Licensing and discuss everything you need to know to get started on joining the profession. If you’re a consumer looking to use the services of a real estate agent, listen in to learn all about the importance of licensure, how it contributes to consumer protection, and the overall process agents undergo to be equipped to best serve their clients.

Topics covered include:

Our Guest for this episode:

Nos reunimos con el Departamento de Derechos Civiles de California (CRD, por sus siglas en inglés) durante el Mes Nacional de la Vivienda Justa para hablar sobre todo lo relacionado con la vivienda justa, en particular de lo importante que es que conozcas tus como consumidor de bienes inmuebles. Ya seas un posible comprador de vivienda o un inquilino que busca una propiedad para rentar, debes saber que tienes derecho a recibir un trato justo y equitativo. Y si consideras que se han violentado tus derechos civiles en materia de vivienda justa, infórmate sobre cómo puedes denunciar esta situación. Presta atención a los consejos y la importante labor que se está llevando a cabo en torno a la vivienda justa.

Nuestra invitada para este episodio:

          Sitio web del Departamento de Derechos Civiles: https://calcivilrights.ca.gov/

In this episode, we sit down with California Civil Rights Department (CRD) during National Fair Housing Month to talk all things fair housing, in particular how important it is to know your rights as a consumer of real estate. Whether you’re a prospective homebuyer or tenant looking for a property to rent, know that you have the right to be treated fairly and just. And if you believe your fair housing civil rights have been violated, learn how you can report the activity. Listen in as we explore tips and important work happening around fair housing.

Topics covered include:

Our Guest for this episode:

         Civil Rights Department website: https://calcivilrights.ca.gov/

Listen in to learn all about the California Department of Real Estate audits and how they protect consumers.

In this episode, listeners will learn about the DRE audit process, when and why the Department conducts audits, and some of the more interesting and common findings uncovered. Also discussed are consumer protection tips around working with real estate salespersons and brokers.

• Overview of Department of Real Estate audits

Our Guest for this episode:

• Mike Rivera, DRE Assistant Commissioner of Audits – Sacramento, California

Jueves, 2 de mayo de 2024

Fecha del episodio: jueves, 2 de mayo de 2024 

Únanse al Departamento de Bienes Raíces (DRE) de California para conocer una historia real sobre estafa y fraude inmobiliarios, así como consejos para la protección del consumidor. En este episodio: Tratos deshonestos, les contamos un caso lleno de engaño y malas acciones premeditadas que ocurrió en el sur de California en un periodo de dos años. Justo cuando los posibles compradores de viviendas pensaron que sus depósitos de arras estaban en buenas manos y asegurarían la compra de una vivienda, comenzaron a darse cuenta de que algo no andaba bien. Nos acompaña una investigadora especial del Departamento de Bienes Raíces quien nos contará la historia de cómo una agente inmobiliaria estafó a más de cien compradores de viviendas confiados, compartirá información sobre las investigaciones del Departamento y consejos con respecto a cómo los consumidores se pueden proteger durante las transacciones inmobiliarias. 

Se cubrirán los siguientes temas: 

• Depósitos en garantías controlados por agentes inmobiliarios

Nuestra invitada para este episodio: Veronica Kilpatrick, Gerente de distrito/Investigadora especial supervisora II de DRE - San Diego 

Se recomienda la discreción del oyente: Este episodio del pódcast incluye ejemplos reales y algunos términos específicos de un caso anterior de ejecución de bienes raíces que involucra fraude. Para leer el expediente completo del caso de ejecución, visite: https://tinyurl.com/4h2vepfj 

Episode Date: Friday, April 12, 2024 

Join us, the California Department of Real Estate, for a true story of real estate fraud and deception, along with consumer protection tips. In this episode, Dishonest Dealings, we take you through a case full of misrepresentation and calculated wrongdoings that took place in Southern California across two years. Just when prospective homebuyers thought their security earnest money deposits were in safe hands and would secure a purchase of a home – they began to realize something was not right . We sit down with a Department of Real Estate special investigator who will tell us the story of how one realtor defrauded more than one hundred unsuspecting homebuyers, share insight into the Department’s investigations, and provide tips on how consumers can protect themselves during real estate transactions. 

Topics covered include: 

• Broker controlled escrows 

Our guest for this episode: Veronica Kilpatrick, DRE District Manager/Supervising Special Investigator II - San Diego 

Listener Discretion Advised: This podcast episode includes real examples and some case-specific language of a past real estate enforcement case involving fraud. To read the full enforcement case file, visit: https://www2.dre.ca.gov/hearingfiles/H41332LA_200203_P.pdf. 

In this episode we talk about how escrow works. When you’ve made a final offer on a home and reached an agreement with the seller, you start the escrow process in which a neutral third party manages funds and assets, and ensures all conditions of the sale are met before the property changes hands.

Topics covered include:

• When escrow officially starts

Our Guest:

• Lynn Bishop, Escrow Officer at Placer Title Company

In this episode we talk about how home appraisals work. In California, real estate appraisers are regulated by the Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers (BREA), and today we’re joined by BREA’s Bureau Chief Angela Jemmott.

In this episode we talk about what’s likely the most complex and most important part of the homebuying process.

Topics covered include:

• The legal paperwork you’ll need to review and sign before buying a new home.

Our Guest:

• Kevin Burke, Licensed Real Estate Broker and teacher of Real Property Law