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Terms to Avoid: Master Suite

Kayla Johnson Diversity, ethics, Fair Housing Leave a Comment

By: Kayla Johnson The term “master suite” has been a standard term in the real estate industry for years, commonly used to describe the primary bedroom with an attached private bathroom (en-suite) in a home. However, discussions over the past few years have highlighted the potentially insensitive connotations associated with this term. The use of the word “master” to describe …

What it Means to be an Ethical Real Estate Agent

Lee Davenport, Ph.D Code of Ethics, ethics, Ethics & Policy, Fair Housing 2 Comments

By Lee Davenport, PhD Should the public trust the real estate industry? As quiet as it’s kept, salespeople of any industry can get the nickname of “sleazy” or  “swindler” because that is not just the name of a Netflix show (for those of you that have seen the Tinder Swindler). For some of us, just hearing the words “Used Car …

Are You Ready to Start 2021 as a J.E.D.I. Defender?

Blog Contributor ethics, Fair Housing 6 Comments

By Lee Davenport If 2020 has inspired you to promote fair housing for all, but you don’t know where to begin, then join the J.E.D.I. (Justice + Equity + Diversity + Inclusion) Defender Challenge to kickstart 2021. Learn more about being a fair housing J.E.D.I. Defender in my post, “Take the 4-Week J.E.D.I. Challenge to Promote the American Dream of …

Pocket Listings: An Ethical Conundrum

Blog Contributor Business Challenges, Code of Ethics, ethics 3 Comments

By Dale Swanton You’ve no doubt heard the term “exclusive” or “pocket listing,” referring to a listing that is not promoted on the MLS but is marketed to the listing agent’s brokerage only or to a select group of “in-the-know” agents. Although not illegal or even unethical in and of itself, the practice is rather controversial as it often puts …

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How to Avoid Legal Issues in Real Estate

Blog Contributor Business Challenges, Code of Ethics, Customer Service, ethics, Legal 4 Comments

By Sammer Mudawar First, I would like to start by making it clear: I am not an attorney and nothing herein (legal word) should be construed as legal advice. This is a simple narrative on how common sense and sound business practices can help avoid some very common situations that can lead to legal problems in our profession. These opinions …

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Nevada HOAs Challenged in False Claims Lawsuit

Blog Contributor Arbitration & Dispute Resolution, Business Challenges, ethics, GSEs, Political Action & Involvement, Short Sales & Foreclosures 4 Comments

By Tara Owen Mention Home Owner Associations (HOAs) to any Las Vegas home owner and you are sure to get a passionate love them or hate them response. Many home owners I’ve met with are bitter over the fines imposed by HOAs for seemingly trivial violations. The ongoing controversy of fraudulent practices, excessive assessments, and egregious collection costs of HOA …

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You’re Too Honest: A Recap of My Recent Listing Appointment

Blog Contributor ethics, Sales & Marketing, Working with Clients 5 Comments

By Laura Rubinchuk Schwartz I met with a very nice couple looking to retire and relocate out of the area, which means selling their home of 20+ years. It had been many, many years since they needed the services of a REALTOR® or learned of the new way things are being done to sell a home, prepare for listing, and …

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Fiduciary Duty

Blog Contributor Business Challenges, ethics, Helpful Tools, Professional Development 1 Comment

By Jennifer Klein The current real estate market is tricky to understand. In this video with Steve Ostrom, we discuss who is obligated to whom, both in a short sale and in the case of bank owned homes.  Understanding who our agreements are with as agents will help buyers better navigate the market. Jennifer Klein is a REALTOR® in Northern …

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Volunteer Your Way to Success!

Blog Contributor Code of Ethics, Commitment to Excellence, ethics, Outreach, Personal Fulfillment, Professional Development 2 Comments

By Anand Patel I have a wonderful agent in West Palm Beach, Fla., who decided he wanted to give back by getting involved with his local chapter of Habitat for Humanity. While on site at his first project, he struck up a conversation with a fellow volunteer working along side him. As they carried on their conversations throughout the day, …