Housing Wire

JANUARY 28, 2025

We transfer ownership by private contract between parties; no advance government approval is required. property rights are established under state rather than federal law, making the shift to a centralized, national land registration system unworkable without a significant rewrite of private property law.

Insurance 418

Insurance Legal Government Real Estate 418

Inman

SEPTEMBER 30, 2024

University of Buffalo contracts law professor Tanya Monestier's sample form makes clear the buyer is on the hook for buyer broker compensation so long as they successfully close a deal.

Contracts 190

Contracts Law Buyers Realtors 190

Housing Wire

MAY 6, 2024

and the Fair Housing Center of the Greater Palm Beaches , have filed a lawsuit that contends Florida Housing Law Senate Bill 264 violates the federal Fair Housing Act. We alleged that the law denies access to housing to people from China and these other countries. The suit was filed on Monday in U.S. District Court in Miami.

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Law Real Estate Real Property Contracts 431

Housing Wire

JUNE 25, 2024

A report released Tuesday by the Consumer Federation of America (CFA) found that the California Association of Realtors’ (CAR) buyer representation and broker compensation agreement is “virtually unreadable.” The contrast between the CAR and eXp contracts could not be sharper,” Stephen Brobeck, a CFA senior fellow, said in a statement.

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Realtors Buyers Contracts Realty 418

Housing Wire

OCTOBER 23, 2023

KANSAS CITY, Missouri — The second week of the Sitzer/Burnett class-action buyer broker commission antitrust lawsuit kicked off with a bang. A judgment as a matter of law is permissible if there is no legally sufficient basis for a reasonable jury to find for the nonmoving party (in this instance, the plaintiffs) on the issue.

Law 459

Law Agents Realtors Contracts 459

Appraisal Buzz

FEBRUARY 21, 2025

Lease-purchase arrangements are receiving renewed attention from legislators looking for ways to make homeownership more accessible, and theyre a great way to help buyers who cant qualify for a traditional mortgage or pony up the money needed for a down payment. But that doesnt mean there arent risks involved for potential purchasers.

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Landlords Tenants Contracts Law 221

Housing Wire

NOVEMBER 1, 2024

Real estate agents and real estate brokers are both licensed real estate professionals who can assist buyers and sellers, but you should be aware of some key differences and state-specific distinctions. A real estate agent is a licensed professional who represents buyers or sellers in real estate transactions. Let’s dive in!

Real Estate 448

Real Estate Real Estate Agent Agents Brokerage 448

Appraisal Buzz

AUGUST 13, 2024

While the industry is no stranger to predatory and/or unfair lending practices, new advisory opinion and research study on a type of home seller financing known as a “contract for deed” has been released by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). The CFPB is had a field hearing in St.

Contracts 367

Contracts Investors Sellers Lending 367

Housing Wire

AUGUST 29, 2024

Many state Realtor associations’ new forms —such as buyer representation agreements—are largely incomprehensible to the average homebuyer or seller and have language that seeks to avoid the terms of the National Association of Realtors ‘ (NAR) nationwide commission lawsuit settlement agreement , according to a report released earlier this month.

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Buyers Realtors Agents Sellers 448

Housing Wire

JANUARY 30, 2025

But the scope of the suit is much larger as it seeks class-action status for all persons who listed properties on a Multiple Listing Service in the United States using a listing agent or broker affiliated with one of the brokerage defendants and paid a buyer broker commission between Oct. 31, 2019, and the present.

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Real Estate Real Estate Agent Brokerage Law 322

Housing Wire

AUGUST 1, 2024

When it comes to handling compensation eXp Realty is not mincing its words — it is not sharing its listing fee with the buyer’s broker. However, the firm says this does not mean it is unwilling to work with buyer’s brokers. But it will be their sellers who make the decision on an offer of compensation to a buyer broker.

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Sellers Buyers Agents Law 448

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 14, 2025

When the Department of Justice (DOJ) came out in opposition of buyer representation agreements as they are defined in the National Association of Realtors (NAR) commission lawsuit settlement agreement, Alabama Association of Realtors took notice. So far, the bill is faring pretty well, as it passed the house in a vote on Thursday.

Realtors 221

Realtors Law Buyers Contracts 221

Inman

MARCH 24, 2025

Alabama Association of Realtors CEO Jeremy Walker said the association was in favor of buyer-broker agreements in general, but felt that requiring one for a home tour put buyers under unnecessary duress, and that the new law would be in the consumer's best interest.

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Law Buyers Contracts Realtors 148

Inman

AUGUST 27, 2024

In a new report, University of Buffalo contracts law professor Tanya Monestier details ways in which contracts allow buyer agents to collect more compensation than agreed-to with the buyer.

Law 193

Law Contracts Buyers Agents 193

Housing Wire

MAY 3, 2024

Earlier this week, Zillow launched a new “touring agreement,” a nonexclusive contract for buyers and agents to use for home tours. This agreement must be signed prior to an agent taking a buyer to tour a home. This agreement must be signed prior to an agent taking a buyer to tour a home.

Legal 379

Legal Realtors Law Real Estate 379

Housing Wire

SEPTEMBER 7, 2023

But three multibillion-dollar class action antitrust lawsuits looming over the real estate industry may soon reshape how buyers interact with agents. You’ve got current economic conditions that are not opportunistic for a homebuyer right now, inflation is still out there and it’s all constraining buyers’ ability to spend. “You’ve

Buyers 418

Buyers Agents Loan Officers Real Estate 418

Housing Wire

AUGUST 19, 2024

Several real estate groups recently criticized the Consumer Federation of America’s support for uncoupled buyer and seller agent real estate commissions, writing in HousingWire that, “CFA has seemingly lost sight of its core purpose advocating for those most in need of consumer protection.”

Real Estate 459

Real Estate Sellers Buyers Agents 459

Miller Samuel

APRIL 29, 2020

Throughout my career, I have seen brokerage firms publish pending/contract reports, touting pending trends as more reliable than reports based on closings. The simplistic, uninformed argument for pending sales is that contract dates occur before closing dates, so they are more current. I plan to develop one someday.

Contracts 195

Contracts Real Estate Agent Inspection Law 195

Housing Wire

NOVEMBER 16, 2023

However, not many people may know that when Roostify started over 11 years ago, our initial vision was to empower home buyers to manage as much of the home-purchase journey as they wished on their own through technology rather than working with brokers. In fact, 86% of homes that are sold in the US are listed on the MLS.

Realtors 448

Realtors Contracts Real Estate Agents 448

Housing Wire

AUGUST 1, 2024

With just over two weeks to go until the National Association of Realtors’ (NAR) commission lawsuit settlement agreement will require agents to have a signed buyer representation agreement prior to taking a client on a home tour, Zillow has released 24 state-specific versions of the touring agreement it released roughly three months ago.

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Agents Realtors Buyers Law 459

Housing Wire

DECEMBER 11, 2023

Campbell’s office claims that EasyKnock “engaged in an unfair and deceptive equity-skimming scheme that involved purchasing the homes of cash-strapped consumers at bargain-basement prices and then renting them back to the consumers, at times for unfair rents,” in violation of the state’s consumer protection law.

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Tenants Landlords Law Advertising 429

Housing Wire

OCTOBER 20, 2023

So far, week one of the Sitzer/Burnett bombshell class action antitrust buyer broker commission lawsuit has seen four of the five named plaintiffs testify in front of the jury. The buyer who chose them and who they’re working for should pay them,” Ellis said. She did a good job for him [the buyer], but I had to pay her commission.”

Contracts 435

Contracts Agents Buyers Real Estate 435

Housing Wire

JULY 17, 2024

It means sellers’ agents and brokers should prepare to deal directly with the buyer of an REO property whenever possible going forward. Increasingly in post-foreclosure transactions, this is already being initiated by the buyer. Accordingly, it’s time for sellers’ agents and brokers to prepare to deal directly with buyers.

Real Estate 493

Real Estate Training Agents Buyers 493

Housing Wire

OCTOBER 3, 2023

This is a dramatic and peculiar stance, given that same company a couple of years ago launched a $1 million annual advertising campaign touting a 1% listing fee, but only if the seller turned into a buyer for them. Meaning, they were counting on buyer agent compensation to pay their bills. How, then, will a buyer agent get paid?

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Agents Training Buyers Law 435

Housing Wire

MARCH 7, 2022

Bidders were required to be cash buyers, or more precisely cryptocurrency buyers, or – more precisely still – have a virtual wallet on the Ethereum blockchain. Generally, listing agents extract a commission from the homeseller and then split it with the buyer’s agent. It represented LLC ownership of the property.

Real Estate 501

Real Estate Law Inspection Agents 501

Housing Wire

AUGUST 14, 2024

He sees his role in the transaction as simply ensuring the seller stays in compliance with laws and regulations. Saphire said that he is recommending sellers factor that into their list price and noting that the vast majority of buyers will ask them to help with their buyer’s agent fees, as they won’t be able to afford it out of pocket. “At

Agents 448

Agents Sellers Buyers Contracts 448

Housing Wire

MARCH 29, 2024

In its proposed brief, CMLS writes that in its statement of interest, the DOJ is looking for “an injunction that prohibits offers of buyer broker compensation by MLS PIN participants.” Second, the trade group points out that the practice of sellers and listing brokers paying buyer brokers is lawful throughout MLS PIN’s service area.

Sellers 459

Sellers Real Estate Buyers Contracts 459

Housing Wire

MARCH 14, 2022

As the principal broker for a RE/MAX franchise in coastal Cannon Beach, Oregon, Alaina Giguiere’s typical responsibilities include marketing homes for sellers, touring homes with buyers, generating new business leads, managing client relationships, and drafting and reviewing contracts with buyers and sellers.

Real Estate 435

Real Estate Insurance Law Real Estate Agent 435

Housing Wire

JULY 19, 2023

A typical commission dispute arises when, after signing a listing agreement or buyer-broker agreement: A seller-client “cancels” a valid purchase contract. Similarly, commission disputes can arise when a buyer-client ultimately purchases a property shortly after the relationship with their real estate agent ends.

Real Estate 370

Real Estate Legal Clients Brokerage 370

Housing Wire

MAY 21, 2024

Buying a home in a non-disclosure state, where sale prices are not available to the general public, presents a unique set of challenges and requires home buyers to be more proactive in gathering information. Work with a real estate professional with MLS access In non-disclosure states, the role of real estate agents becomes even more crucial.

Real Estate Agent 488

Real Estate Agent Real Estate Inspection Valuation 488

Housing Wire

MAY 3, 2021

“Employers like Compass violate California employment and labor law every day to make it appear to investors and the general public alike that the company is doing well financially and increasing market share,” reads the complaint. Messages left with Compass were not returned.

Agents 418

Agents Brokerage Real Estate Agent Real Estate 418

Housing Wire

DECEMBER 27, 2022

.” Houses were selling at a fever pitch in a matter of days, with multiple offers, waived contingencies and buyers paying $100,000(!) The Big Chill” or “Frozen,” says Green, principal at real estate law firm Polunsky Beitel Green. over asking price. High octane stuff. But the housing market in the second half of 2022?

Housing Market 529

Housing Market Marketing Real Estate Agent Real Estate 529

Housing Wire

AUGUST 24, 2024

Since the buyer’s commission payout isn’t as transparent as before, I have been anticipating delays in the home-buying process as people adapted to the new rules. 2023: 36% 2022: 39% Weekly pending sales Below is the Altos Research weekly pending contract data year-over-year to show real-time demand.

Inventory 504

Inventory New Listings Sellers Mortgage 504

Housing Wire

AUGUST 1, 2024

Under the terms of the settlement, agents will no longer be allowed to share their seller’s offers of buyer broker compensation on an MLS. They will also have to obtain a signed buyer representation agreement prior to a buyer’s first home tour. Like the athletes in Paris, Realtors and brokers across the U.S.

Real Estate Agent 448

Real Estate Agent Real Estate Agents Business 448

The Robert Weiler Company

JANUARY 2, 2021

In real estate, buyers and sellers must be knowledgeable to make informed decisions. Are you familiar with a land contract in Ohio, as well as the state-specific requirements? What is a land contract in Ohio, really? Essentially, a land contract is an alternative financing option if you’re investing in: Farmland or raw land.

Contracts 143

Contracts Tenants Legal Sellers 143

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 20, 2024

A housing market marked by relatively high interest rates and tight inventory — and punctuated by the practice of home inspection waivers to sweeten offers — are taking a bite out of business for home inspectors, who play a key role in the sales process by ensuring that buyers are not being sold a lemon of a house.

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Inspection Real Estate Agent Real Estate Insurance 435

Housing Wire

DECEMBER 21, 2023

The great news is that the program has undergone significant improvements, particularly after the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act was signed into law in 2019. The VA approves and contracts with local appraisal professionals to ensure a seamless process. A lot has changed and it’s time to remove the stigma.

Mortgage 468

Mortgage Renovations Appraisal Process Finance 468