More Than a Trip to Hawaii
By: J. David Chapman, PhD, / September 18, 2026
By the time you read this, I will likely be somewhere over the Pacific headed to Maui, Hawaii. I know, public service can be tough.
But while Hawaii makes for a pretty good destination, the reason for the trip is serious. I will be attending the annual conference of the Association of Real Estate License Law Officials, better known as ARELLO, an organization that brings together the people responsible for regulating real estate throughout the United States and beyond.
This trip is particularly meaningful to me because I was recently reappointed by Governor Kevin Stitt to my third four-year term on the Oklahoma Real Estate Commission. It is an appointment I don't take lightly.
Most Oklahomans will buy, sell, lease or invest in real estate at some point in their lives. For many, purchasing a home will be the largest financial transaction they ever make. Yet few probably give much thought to the state agency working quietly behind the scenes to help ensure that the people involved in those transactions are properly educated, licensed and accountable.
That is the Oklahoma Real Estate Commission. OREC's mission is to safeguard the public interest through regulation, education and oversight of Oklahoma's real estate industry. That means establishing licensing and education standards, investigating complaints, addressing violations of the Oklahoma Real Estate License Code and Rules, and taking disciplinary action when necessary.
Sometimes protecting the public means enforcement. Just as importantly, however, it means education, helping Oklahoma's real estate professionals understand the rules before problems occur.
That is one reason ARELLO matters. This year's conference includes discussions about common license violations, education, case law, artificial intelligence and fair housing in an age when algorithms increasingly influence real estate decisions. We have an opportunity to learn what other states are experiencing, share what Oklahoma is doing and bring good ideas home.
I am also fortunate to serve alongside six commissioners who bring very different perspectives to the table: Larry DeWitt, Mary Terry, Susan Beach, Peggy Wright, Julie Smith and Angela Tinsley. We don't always approach every issue from the same perspective, and that is probably a good thing. Good regulation requires discussion, experience, judgment and an unwavering understanding of who we ultimately serve: the people of Oklahoma.
After eight years on the Commission, I have learned that good regulation is not about creating more rules. It is about creating trust. Consumers need to trust the professionals handling some of the largest transactions of their lives. Licensees need to trust that the rules will be applied consistently and fairly. And Oklahomans need to trust that their government is protecting the public without unnecessarily getting in the way of honest business. That balance isn't always easy. It is, however, worth working for - even when the meeting happens to be in Hawaii.
Dr. J. David Chapman is the Chair of Finance and Professor of Real Estate at The University of Central Oklahoma (jchapman7@uco.edu)