Delaware Real Estate Commission Licensure Law and Rules
Structure and licensure
Real estate licensing in Delaware is administered by the Delaware Real Estate Commission within the Division of Professional Regulation. The license ladder is salesperson, associate broker, and broker; a salesperson must be affiliated with and supervised by a responsible broker, who is accountable for the office's advertising, escrow handling, and transaction records. Compensation for brokerage services must flow through the brokerage - a salesperson cannot accept a fee directly from a client or a third party, and paying a referral fee to an unlicensed person for brokerage activity is prohibited. Advertising must identify the brokerage's licensed name; a licensee may not advertise a property in a way that implies a personal listing. Unlicensed assistants may perform clerical and ministerial tasks but may not negotiate, show property, or discuss terms.
Practice rules
Brokers must maintain escrow or trust accounts for other people's money, may not commingle funds, and must keep transaction records available for Commission inspection for the period the rules require. Continuing education hours, renewal dates, and late fees are set by Commission regulation - verify the current cycle and required topic hours on the Division's site before your renewal deadline rather than relying on a study manual.
Discipline and traps
The Commission may investigate complaints and impose reprimands, fines, probation, suspension, or revocation. Answer questions by identifying the specific violation: unlicensed activity, commingling, undisclosed dual agency, misleading advertising, failure to supervise, or failure to disclose a personal interest. Dual agency and transactional roles are permitted only with proper written disclosures under Delaware rules and Commission guidance.
Worked example
A salesperson accepts a $500 "marketing" check directly from a mortgage broker for a referral. That is both an unearned referral fee and compensation outside the brokerage - two violations from one act.