Who do you call to learn about state subsidized first time home buyer home loan programs? Who do you contact to verify the license status of an appraiser? Where do you file a complaint against a pest control contractor who issued a questionable report or bid on a repair job? Who do you call with questions about the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA), Truth in Lending Act (TILA & REG Z), Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), Equal Credit Report Act (ECRA), Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA), or the Real Estate Law? Who will handle a complaint or question about something a bank or Savings & Loan, title or escrow company did during a transaction? Where do you verify the license status of a California Finance Lender (CFL), a Residential Mortgage Lender (RML), or an independent escrow company?
Although we routinely receive calls concerning all of the above, the Department of Real Estate (DRE) only has enforcement authority for the Real Estate Law. This means that we must refer questions about laws or licenses administered or enforced by other federal or state agencies to those agencies. We recognize that it is becoming difficult to keep track of the virtual alphabet soup of laws, regulations and the agencies which administer them. In the hope of helping consumers with their questions, we offer the following list of agencies and the laws they are charged with enforcing.
Federal Agencies
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
The FTC has enforcement authority in the case of mortgage companies for the following laws:
FTC Headquarters/Financial Services Division
6th Street & Pennsylvania Avenue N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20580
(202) 326-3224
FTC Regional Office
901 Market Street, Suite 570
San Francisco, CA 94103
(877) 382-4357
FTC Regional Office
11000 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90024
(877) 382-4357
Website: http://www.ftc.gov
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
HUD has administrative authority for, among others, the following Acts:
- Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA), including Good Faith Estimates
HUD RESPA Division
451 7th Street SW, Room 9146
Washington, DC 20410
(202) 708-0502
Website: http://www.hud.gov
Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC)
The OCC administers in whole or in part and has enforcement authority over national banks for the following Acts:
- Equal Credit Opportunity Act
- Fair Credit Reporting Act
- Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
- Fair Housing Act
- Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act
- Truth in Lending Act
For information regarding the consumer laws, contact the OCC at:
Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
150 E. Street, S.W., Mail Stop 7-8
Washington, D.C. 20219
(202) 874-4428
Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
Western District Office
50 Fremont Street, Suite 3900
San Francisco, CA 94105-2292
(415) 545-5900
Website: http://www.occ.treas.gov
Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS)
OTS administers in whole or in part and has enforcement authority over federally-chartered and state-chartered savings institutions for the following Acts:
- Equal Credit Opportunity Act
- Fair Credit Reporting Act
- Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
- Fair Housing Act
- Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act
- Truth in Lending Act
For information regarding the consumer laws, contact:
Office of Thrift Supervision
1700 G Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20552,
(202) 906-6000
Office of Thrift Supervision
Pacific Plaza
2001 Junipero Serra Blvd., Suite 650
Daly City, CA 94014-1976
(650) 746-7000
Website: http://www.ots.treas.gov
State Agencies
Contractors State License Board (CSLB)
The CSLB licenses and regulates contractors in more than forty license classifications that constitute the construction industry. The CSLB also registers home improvement salespersons and offers arbitration for resolution of disputes that meet certain criteria. The CSLB website provides much consumer information and can be used to verify the license status of a contractor.
Contractors License Board
9821 Business Park Drive
Sacramento, CA 95826
Information Technicians: (916) 255-3900
24 Hour Licensing and Consumer Information: 1-800-321-2752
Website: http://www.cslb.ca.gov
Structural Pest Control Board (SPCB)
SPCB licenses and regulates pest control operators. The SPCB website provides much consumer information and can be used to verify the license status of a pest control operator.
Structural Pest Control Board
1418 Howe Ave., Ste. 18
Sacramento, CA 95825
1-800 952-5210
Website: http://www.dca.ca.gov/pestboard
California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA)
The California Housing Finance Agency’s mission is to finance below-market rate loans to create safe, decent, and affordable rental housing and to assist first-time home buyers in achieving the dream of home-ownership. CalHFA assists low and moderate income home buyers in the realization of their goal of home-ownership in California. CalHFA offers below market interest rate 30-year fixed loans to first-time home buyers who meet the income and sales price limits for the County in which they wish to purchase.
Sacramento Headquarters
1121 L Street, 7th Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814,
Main: (916) 322-3991
Los Angeles Office
100 Corporate Pointe, Ste. 250
Culver City, CA 90230,
Main: (310) 342-1250
Website: http://www.calhfa.ca.gov
Office of Real Estate Appraisers (OREA)
OREA licenses real estate appraisers and ensures adherence to the national Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP), California law and regulations. They also investigate complaints against appraisers. The OREA website provides much consumer information and can be used to verify the license status of an appraiser.
Office of Real Estate Appraisers
1102 Q Street, Suite 4100
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 552-9000 or (916) 447-7878
Website: http://www.orea.ca.gov
Department of Corporations (DOC)
DOC, among other things, has enforcement authority over the following laws:
- California Residential Mortgage Lending Act – This act regulates the activities of Residential Mortgage Lenders or RML licensees.
- California Finance Lenders Law – This law regulates the activities of California Finance Lenders or CFLs.
- Escrow Law – This law regulates the activities of independent escrow companies.
Please note that you can verify the license status of a RML or CFL licensee through the DOC website.
Department of Corporations
Consumer Service Office
1515 K Street, Suite 20
Sacramento, CA 95817
(866) ASK-CORP (866-275-2677)
Website: http://www.corp.ca.gov
Department of Financial Institutions (DFI)
DFI has jurisdiction over state chartered banks and credit unions. For questions or complaints contact:
Department of Financial Institutions
Consumer Information Desk
801 K Street, Suite 2124
Sacramento, CA 95814
1-800-622-0620 or (916) 322-5966
Website: http://www.dfi.ca.gov
Department of Insurance (DOI)
DOI has jurisdiction over title and other insurance companies. For questions or complaints contact:
Department of Insurance
Consumer Services Division
300 South Spring Street
Los Angeles, CA 90013
1-800-927-4357 or (213) 897-8921
Department of Insurance
Consumer Services Division
45 Fremont Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
1-800-927-4357
Website: http://www.insurance.ca.gov
Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA)
DCA licenses over 200 professionals ranging from doctors to accountants to contractors.
Department of Consumer Affairs
400 R Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
1-800-952-5210 or (916) 445-1254
Website: http://www.dca.ca.gov
Better Business Bureau
Provides valuable information to both businesses and consumers to assist in making informed decisions.
1-909-825-0490
Website: http://www.bbb.org
Other Helpful Websites
- http://www.leginfo.ca.gov
The legislative counsel maintains this website. It will allow you to search any of the California Codes. In addition, it provides information on current and past legislative bills.
- http://www.ca.gov
This website is the State of California homepage. This site provides useful links to most all state agencies.
- http://www.bth.ca.gov
This website is the Business, Transportation & Housing Agency (BT&H) homepage. This site provides information about and links to the thirteen departments BT&H oversees, including the Department of Real Estate, Department of Corporations, California Housing Finance Agency, Department of Financial Institutions, and the Department of Housing and Community Development.
- http://ccr.oal.ca.gov
The Office of Administrative Law maintains this site. It will allow you to search all of the California Code of Regulations.
- http://www.firstgov.gov
This website is a centralized place to find information from local, State and US Government agency sites.
- http://www.privatemi.com
This site is geared to consumers and includes five calculators to help buyers make informed decisions about home financing.
- http://www.federalreserve.gov
This site includes questions/interpretations on the meaning of Regulation Z provisions under the Truth in Lending Act, the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, or the Equal Credit Opportunity Act.
- http://www.fanniemaefoundation.org
This site provides information as to how to order helpful home-buying guides and resources.
- http://www.Consumerlawpage.com
Potential homeowners will find a vocabulary list for understanding words and terms in real estate.
- http://www.equifax.com, http://www.myfico.com
Sites which offer consumers information regarding their FICO/credit scores. A fee may be charged.
