In response to comments posted on the GAAR Member Facebook page after the NMREC Meeting on 11/18/24, Commissioner President DeVlieg Killman responded and permitted us to publish her comments.

Clearing Up the Confusion About Changes at the NMREC

Hi everyone,

There’s been a lot of talk lately about changes happening with the New Mexico Real Estate Commission (NMREC), and I want to clarify a few things. Some of the recent frustrations are shared by many of us, including the commissioners, and I want you to know we hear you.

Here’s what’s going on:

The new phone system is frustrating.
Instead of being able to directly reach someone who can answer NMREC-specific questions, there is now one general phone number for the entire Regulation and Licensing Department (RLD). This is not something the NMREC wanted or decided—we understand how this makes getting answers harder. This includes even US. Like I stated in the meeting, it's like calling Xfinity to find out about your bill and it takes hours and you probably won't get a real answer.

No trained investigators.
RLD no longer has investigators trained specifically for real estate matters. Instead, investigators are shared across multiple boards and may not fully understand the unique issues in our industry. This change has slowed down investigations and created challenges for everyone. You can't call an investigator to ask a simple question about a rule or statute; RLD counsel has advocated for everyone to get an attorney to decide the answer. This is ridiculous.

San Antonio vs. Santa Fe offices.
While the San Antonio office address is still open, the real decision-making and directives are now coming from the Santa Fe office. This shift can make it harder to know where to turn for help.

Standardization isn’t working.
RLD is pushing a “one-size-fits-all” approach across all boards they oversee. This might work for some industries, but it’s been a disaster for the NMREC. Real estate is complex, and trying to force the same processes on every board is setting the system up to fail. We are different than barbers.

NMREC didn’t choose this.
It’s important to know these changes weren’t made by the NMREC. They were decisions made by RLD, and we’re doing our best to work within the system while advocating for better solutions.

Thank you to those who have attended our meetings or reached out with concerns. We appreciate your engagement and your efforts to make your voices heard. However, there is only so much we, as commissioners, can do in a public forum. Many of these issues are beyond our direct control, but we are committed to continuing the fight for changes that better serve the public and our real estate industry.

Please voice your concerns directly to RLD leadership. If you need that contact information, I can help.
We value your input and share your frustrations. The NMREC is committed to protecting both the public and the real estate industry, and we will continue to push back against changes that don’t serve those goals.

While I am not speaking here as the entire Commission, I felt it very important to explain that we are not happy with these events and I am personally working around the clock to try to find solutions, sometimes at my own peril.

Thank you for your patience and for being part of this conversation. Feel free to share your thoughts or questions with RLD at 505-476-4500 or RLDRealEstate.Comsn@rld.nm.gov. I can also be reached at 505-440-7200.

Understanding the Difference Between RLD and NMREC

Many REALTORS® wonder how the Regulation and Licensing Department (RLD) and the New Mexico Real Estate Commission (NMREC) fit together and what roles they play in our industry. Here’s a simple breakdown:

RLD – The "Parent" Department
The RLD is a large state agency that oversees multiple professions in New Mexico, not just real estate. (Barbers, Tatoo Artists, Appraisers, Accountants, to name a few.). Think of it as the umbrella organization that manages the administrative side of licensing and compliance for various boards and commissions, including NMREC.

What RLD Does: Provides staff and resources to the NMREC.
Oversees budgets and handles administrative logistics.

Sets policies for shared personnel across multiple professions.
However, recent conflicts have arisen as the RLD has implemented personnel and procedural changes that impact NMREC’s ability to focus exclusively on real estate matters. Shared staff, reduced transparency, and administrative directives have strained this working relationship.

NMREC – The Real Estate Experts
The NMREC is specifically focused on the real estate industry in New Mexico. It’s a group of appointed commissioners (many with real estate backgrounds) who create and enforce rules, set professional standards, and protect the public interest in real estate transactions.

What NMREC Does: Creates and updates the rules REALTORS® must follow.

• Reviews complaints and enforces disciplinary actions when needed.
• Issues licenses and ensures continuing education standards.
• While the NMREC relies on the RLD for staff and administrative support, in a perfect world it is an independent decision-making body when it comes to setting the rules and policies for real estate professionals.

The Relationship and Current Challenges RLD provides essential administrative support but manages staff as part of a larger system that includes other professions, not just real estate.
NMREC is tasked with overseeing the specific needs of our profession, but RLD’s recent personnel policies and lack of collaboration on budgeting and personnel have created significant challenges for the NMREC’s operations.

Think of it like this: RLD is the landlord managing the building, and NMREC is the tenant running the business of real estate regulation inside that building. However, when the landlord starts making decisions about how the tenant’s staff should work or where resources should go, it complicates the tenant’s ability to do its job effectively.

It’s important that REALTORS® understand this dynamic because the NMREC’s ability to advocate for professionalism and protect the public is directly impacted by how these two groups work together.

Getting through these challenges is part of our job and the real estate community's input to be certain that things can work smoothly.

Thank you for your input. Again.

Linda DeVlieg Killman
NMREC President