Oregon Real Estate Agency Commissioner Announces Retirement.

SALEM, Ore. -- Oregon State Real Estate Agency Commissioner Scott W. Taylor today announced his retirement after 11 years heading the real estate monitoring and regulating agency.

"Scott has been a valuable partner in improving Oregon's business climate and strengthening consumer protections," said Governor Ted Kulongoski. "I appreciate his tenure and service during this period of strong growth."

Taylor was appointed in 1995 by Governor John Kitzhaber.

"I believe the OREA has admirably performed its mission of protecting consumers of real estate, escrow and land development services while balancing the promotion of a healthy real estate market in our state," said Taylor. "I'm particularly proud of the work we've done modernizing licensing laws, reducing day-to-day paperwork, and strengthening protections for consumers."

Taylor oversaw many issues reflecting a rapidly changing industry during his tenure. From the Internet-fueled shift of power and information away from brokers to consumers to the emergence of licensees operating largely autonomously within large organizations, market changes have forced agents to be better educated and more competitive; at the same time continuing to be aware of the need to assume liability-reducing best practices in the industry.

"In my 11 years at the agency, I've seen more change in the industry than I did in the previous 20 years as a real estate broker, and I believe there will be even more in the next five," said Taylor. "During my tenure, the Agency has had many significant accomplishments, but it's time for me to step back and let somebody else build on this record. I look forward to returning to the private real estate sector and working in this field that I love."

Prior to holding the post of commissioner, Taylor served as managing broker for a two-office brokerage firm in southern Oregon. He is a past president of the Oregon Association of Realtors, served as the regional vice president of the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and was the 1998 chair of the NAR License Law Committee. More recently, Taylor has served on the board of directors of the Association of Real Estate License Law Officials and was the organization's president in 2004.

"I have experienced at least three other Commissioners during my career," said realtor Ruby Brockett of Prudential in Eugene. "Scott Taylor's experience as an active broker enabled him to know what it is like to work in the real estate industry. He has improved the public perception of the Agency and reduced fear of the Agency within the industry."

Phil Querin, a partner at Davis Wright Tremaine, also praised Taylor, stating, "Scott Taylor has always worked for the betterment of the consumer and the real estate industry. I have never seen him depart from that agenda."

Taylor graduated from Southern Oregon University with a degree in Political Science. He received his mediation training from Pepperdine University Law School Dispute Resolution Section, in association with TRG National Associates, and administrative hearing officer training from the National Judicial College in Reno, Nev. Taylor also holds both GRI and CRB professional designations.

The Governor asked the Department of Administrative Services to initiate a search for the next Real Estate Commissioner, with the goal of having a new commissioner in place before the start of the next legislative session.

About the Oregon Real Estate Agency

The Oregon Real Estate Agency was established in 1919. The agency is administered by the Real Estate Commissioner who is appointed by the governor. The agency is responsible for the licensing, education and enforcement of Oregon's real estate laws applicable to brokers, property managers, real estate marketing organizations; licensing and regulation of escrow agents; and subdivision, condominium, timeshare and campground registration/public report issuance. Each biennium the Agency examines, licenses and processes renewals for over 23,000 licensees and registrants and monitors regulated activities in over 4,600 escrow organizations and real estate offices. Land developers with offerings to Oregon citizens have thousands of disclosure filings with the agency. The agency provides educational material and seminars for real estate professionals and conducts investigations and hearings when complaints are filed against licensees, registrants and real property developers.