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Sundown Towns: A Dark Chapter in American History and the Enduring Impact on Real Estate

Kayla Johnson ethics, Fair Housing, Working with Clients 3 Comments

By: Kayla Johnson A number of historic practices in the United States—redlining and housing segregation; exclusion from the labor market and educational opportunities; and denial of voting rights, to name a few—have had lasting impact on Black and Brown communities’ ability to participate in the full breadth of wealth-building opportunities that should have been available to them. One lesser-known tactic …

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Webster’s Word of the Year Applies Directly to Your Business

Jennifer Weinberg Establishing Your Business, ethics, Working with Clients Leave a Comment

By: Jennifer Weinberg Merriam-Webster recently announced their word of the year for 2023: AUTHENTIC According to the long-trusted dictionary resource, authentic has two definitions: 1. Not false or imitation; real, actual. 2. True to one’s own personality, spirit, or character. Authenticity is a great word to reflect on as we move into the last couple of weeks of the year, …

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Microaggressions in Real Estate: How They Hurt Your Client and Your Business

Kayla Johnson communication, Customer Service, Diversity, ethics, Fair Housing 5 Comments

By: Kayla Johnson Microaggressions, or “everyday slights and insults that communicate negative messages to marginalized individuals, often unknowingly perpetuated by well-intentioned people,” as defined by Harvard professor Chester M. Pierce in the 1970s, happen constantly in every industry, even real estate. It’s imperative in real estate that industry professionals understand what they are and how they manifest. Microaggressions could undermine …

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Terms to Avoid: Master Suite

Kayla Johnson Diversity, ethics, Fair Housing 51 Comments

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 3 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 …