Bill Williamson, after spending 32 years at the Arkansas Real Estate Commission, retired from his position as executive director of the commission at the end of February.

Williamson was succeeded by Gary Isom, who started at the AREC as an investigator in 1987 and became deputy executive director in 1996, after Williamson recruited him for that position.

Isom said he learned a lot from Williamson over the years. We at the Arkansas Realtors Association can’t help but think the AREC is in good hands. Isom said he’s passionate about protecting the public and, to that end, hopes to expand educational opportunities for real estate licensees.

Since the AREC is in the business of regulating real estate agents in Arkansas, it’s probably a good thing that Isom has a definite interest in consumer protection. There are times when people assume that the ARA and the AREC are connected, but that’s not the case.

While all Realtors are real estate licensees, not all licensees are Realtors. The AREC is in charge of making sure licensees follow state law and commission rules, while the ARA seeks to offer additional protection to the public by making sure its members observe the Realtor Code of Ethics that was created by — and is regularly updated and interpreted by — the National Association of Realtors.

Both the ARA and the AREC want to make sure the public deals with competent agents. Isom has some great ideas on how to approach that particular issue. Isom said he is a firm believer in education — letting agents know what they can and can’t do under Arkansas law and AREC rules.

Isom said he wants to help put together a system through which brokers are offered specialized educational opportunities. Real estate agents typically pay close attention to their brokers and rely on them for counsel in how to run a successful real estate business.

Isom said arming those brokers with the information they need to advise agents about Arkansas law and AREC rules — and represent clients competently — will go a long way toward protecting the public.

There are some problems in building that system, however. There are 9,663 active real estate licensees in Arkansas and 2,219 brokers, which means there are also 2,219 real estate offices in the Natural State. Since most education providers are independent, they offer courses that appeal to as many people as possible. That means at this point, few providers could feasibly put together programs that target just brokers and not real estate licensees in general.

Isom said that’s a problem that has a solution. Arkansas is lucky to have quality instructors who can help the AREC come up with a good broker education system.

Isom has a number of challenges ahead, of course, but we’re confident he’ll work out just fine at the AREC. His former boss, after all, achieved a lot at the AREC — and Isom was paying attention.

House to House is distributed by the Arkansas Realtors Association.

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