What power does the Maine Real Estate Commission have?

The Maine Real Estate Commission possesses the authority to suspend or revoke a real estate license as a means of ensuring compliance with state regulations and maintaining professional standards in the real estate industry. This power is essential for safeguarding the public interest by holding licensed professionals accountable for their actions and ensuring they adhere to ethical and legal guidelines.

By having the ability to impose such penalties, the Commission can address misconduct, such as fraud, misrepresentation, or failure to meet licensing requirements, which might compromise the integrity of real estate transactions. This regulatory framework helps to cultivate a trustworthy environment for consumers and fosters professional accountability among real estate agents and brokers within the state.

The other options refer to powers or actions that are not held by the Maine Real Estate Commission. For example, criminal penalties fall under the jurisdiction of the court system rather than a regulatory body like the Commission, which focuses on professional licensing issues. Similarly, while the Commission can set certain fees, there are limits and guidelines they must follow, preventing them from setting any fee of any amount without oversight.