ARDA is proud to share a recent win for our industry and our members operating in Oregon. Thanks to our efforts and longstanding relationships, Oregon has officially created a separate license category for timeshare sales agents—making it easier and more practical for our members to build a strong sales team in the state.
The Challenge
Until now, anyone wanting to join a timeshare sales team in Oregon was required to earn a full real estate license. That meant completing months of education, attending a real estate school, and passing an exam—none of which covered the basics of timeshare or the specific rules around selling it. This created a serious hurdle for our members trying to attract new talent into their sales teams.
ARDA Steps In
One of our members reached out and asked us to help find a solution to this challenge. Thanks to ARDA’s strong relationships and industry reputation, we were well-positioned to take action.
As a long-time member and sponsor of ARELLO (the Association of Real Estate License Law Officials), we’re connected to real estate regulators across the country.
At an ARELLO meeting, we met with the Oregon Real Estate Commissioner to discuss the idea of a separate timeshare license. We shared examples from other states where this system works well, and even connected the Oregon Commissioner with officials from those states. This helped show that a separate license for timeshare sales agents is both practical and effective.
Building Support in Oregon
We didn’t stop there. ARDA also worked with the Oregon Association of Realtors to make sure they had no concerns about the proposal. Then, through our involvement with the Democratic Attorneys General Association, we connected with the Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives, which gave us insight into the political landscape and helped move things forward.
Next, the ARDA Government Affairs team spent time on the ground in Oregon, meeting with lawmakers from both parties. We explained why a new license category was necessary and how it would benefit not just the timeshare industry, but also job seekers.
The Result: A New License Category
Thanks to this work, a bipartisan group of legislators sponsored the bill. The ARDA Government Affairs team continued outreach through every step of the legislative process, educating committee members and answering questions. The result? The bill passed unanimously in both the Oregon House and Senate, and was signed into law by the Governor.
What’s Next
We’re now working closely with the Oregon Real Estate Commission and its testing company to create a new, timeshare-focused education course and exam. The new licensing process will be faster, less expensive, and tailored specifically to the timeshare industry.
This is a great example of how ARDA works on behalf of our members—building relationships, advocating for common-sense solutions, and delivering real results for our industry.