I'm about to get licensed, question relating criminal background that might deny one.

**EstateTech** · 03-13-2007, 07:32 PM

Hello,

I'm in a real estate school, and about to take the license exam soon.
I was reading thru someone of the qualifying sheet from the school.
It said if someone had any convictions, misdemeanor or felony you might get denied.

When I was eighteen, I remember getting into a fight with a guy that kept groping my sister. I punched him in the face a few times, I got arrested for that. In court i got charged with 'misconduct' and was told to do 2 weeks of community service, cleaning up local parks.

I'm now 33yrs old. Is the above a misdemeanor conviction?? Will I get denied? I'm now so full of anxiety I'm about to just stop the real estate school because of this. No sense in wasting all this money if I'll get denied.
Is there a way I can really find out? This is in NJ USA.

Thanks a lot in advance.

**Codythebest** · 03-13-2007, 08:27 PM

That's a good one.
I suggest to email directly to your state real estate commission and explain your case to find out...
Google it to find the site...

**Kep** · 03-13-2007, 08:28 PM

Estate Tech you will be fine. Read the following link for the NJ real estate commission, you'll see people that lost their license for a few years for comitting serious offense like wire fraud and bribery.

Those that lied about past criminal convictions got caught, lost their license for 6 months and paid a fine. After their suspension they are back selling real estate. So just tell the truth and their shouldn't be a problem and also in my book for the course the offenses they mention are serious offenses like forgery, murder, fraud, kidnapping, criminal conspiracy and so on.

I can not add a link, not enough posts yet, shoot me a PM and I will send it to you.

**Thesa** · 03-13-2007, 11:36 PM

Most cases like that after you have done your community service and the like never come back to haunt you unless you kept bad behavior.

When you complete you background check paperwork there should be a place for you to explain - you might write it up now so that you have it clear and make them understand you were standing up for your sister's honor.

And by the way... I would give you the license just because you did that... we need more people that take care of their sisters.

**stock_post** · 03-14-2007, 08:34 AM

Hi EstateTech,

You are OK, with that.

It would have been nice, if that never happened.

The issue they look for licensing is if you cheat some one related to money. (Basically if you have done goofy transactions related to money or cheating some one with money or financial matter, and were in trouble for that.)

Getting into fight is very normal, but you may have gone one step further.
And you served your 2 weeks.. You may need to put that on the paper.

But for sure you will get your license.
Note: I am not a Realtor, but went school as you are doing, and this did come up in the class, and there was discussion about this. Instructor gave this info.

Thanks

**FlaGal** · 03-14-2007, 05:57 PM

We were told (in Florida) that the purpose of asking for convictions is not so much to outright deny anyone that ever did come in conflict with the law but to see if applicants are honest about it. Honesty is expected from you as a real estate agent.
Be honest and state what happened.