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Real Estate Seller Disclosures and Working New Listings: ClaimPrevent® Summary 3
This session covers Seller Disclosures, Real Estate Licensee Disclosure Responsibilities, Staging, and Showings from a Risk Management perspective. Use this ClaimPrevent® summary for onboarding new hires or as…
Selling Homes With Rainwater Tanks and Water Barrels
Rainwater tanks and water barrels are an asset to a homeowner. They yield many benefits and are often installed as an environmentally-conscious choice that prevents the wasting of…
When Friendly Competition in Real Estate Can Lead to a Lawsuit
Real estate is a competitive industry. A bit of friendly competition is natural, but what if your licensees take it a step too far and won’t cooperate with…
Natural Hazard Disclosures — What They Are and How They Can Prevent Real Estate Lawsuits
Some locations in the United States are more synonymous with disasters than others — wildfires in California, hurricanes in Florida, and earthquakes along the west coast. However, it…
Who is Responsible for the Actions of Non-Licensed Staff in Your Real Estate Office?
Your real estate office likely has a number of independent contractors working under your brokerage. An independent contractor may have non-licensed assistants helping with answering phones, marketing efforts,…
Know Your Potential Liability Before Turning Away Tenants With Section 8 Vouchers
When prospective tenants ask a real estate licensee if the landlord will take Section 8, they want to know if the landlord will accept part of their rent…
How Using ‘jargon’ in Your Real Estate Business Can Lead to a Lawsuit
Whether you’re assisting a real estate seller or a buyer, your communication skills can create a positive experience or a negative experience for your client. Clear communication is…
Selling a Home That Isn’t As Clean As it Should Be
Some clients are amazing and their properties look like show homes 24/7. These gems are a dream to promote and are easy to sell to prospective buyers. But,…
Property Managers: How Timely Maintenance and Repairs Can Prevent Lawsuits
Many responsibilities come with being a Property Manager. It’s not just about finding great tenants and collecting the rent. Managing property maintenance and repairs is an ongoing job.…
Real Estate Licensee Responsibilities When Creating New Listings: ClaimPrevent® Summary 2
This session covers licensee responsibilities with new listings, information to be gathered with different seller situations, and creating the public listings — all from a risk management point…
Attracting Real Estate Clients and Showing Property: ClaimPrevent® Summary 1
Our new ClaimPrevent® Summary Series explores what brokers should include in inductions for new hires from a risk management perspective. In this first article, we address issues for…
Selling or Buying New Builds or Properties Under Construction
Selling new builds or properties under construction can be challenging for real estate licensees. When dealing with these properties, licensees face risks that are not so common with…
Educate Your Real Estate Appraisal Clients on Appraisals vs. Valuations
One of the greatest challenges for a real estate property appraiser is balancing the expectations of your clients. Sometimes challenges arise because a client asks for an appraisal,…
June 2022 California Forms Update & Possible Changes In December 2022
This Risk Management Article covers changes to the June 2022 CAR forms and some anticipated December 2022 changes to the Residential Purchase Agreement. June 2022 changes Seller Possession…
How Real Estate Licensees Can Avoid Lender Fraud Scams
Even the most astute real estate professionals can find themselves embroiled in lender fraud scams. Here’s what you need to know and steps you can take to protect…
Top Tips for Real Estate Transaction Coordinators: Document Checking to Avoid a Lawsuit
Transaction Coordinators play an important role in real estate transactions. Being organized and paying great attention to detail is critical to your success. You need to stay on…
Real Estate Licensees: How You Can Prevent an Unauthorized Practice of Law Claim Against You
California Civil Code section 2079.16 states that buyers and sellers of real estate are advised that California licensed real estate agents and brokers are not qualified to give…
Property Manager’s Guide to Going on Vacation… and Avoiding a Lawsuit While Away
Taking time out to go on vacation can be difficult for Property Managers if you manage multiple properties simultaneously, it may not be possible to just drop everything…
Procuring Cause and Real Estate Selling Commission Disputes — 3 Things You Need Know
A buyer canceled the purchase contract on a property with her first broker. Then, the buyer went into contract again on the same property, using a buyer’s agent…
CRES Risk Management Webinar: What real estate professionals should do if served with a subpoena in Nevada
Attorney Kathryn Holbert has been defending real estate professionals for more than 15 years. In this webinar, Kathryn provides insight into what you should do in Nevada if…
“Steering” in Real Estate: How to avoid it and stop lawsuits in their tracks
Steering is a method of discrimination in real estate. It happens when a real estate licensee influences a buyer or prospective tenant’s choice of housing because of their…
Managing Risks When Selling or Buying Condos or Properties Covered by a Homeowners Association
Condominiums and other properties covered by a Homeowners Association have specific challenges that ordinary properties don’t have. Often, they have strict rules and regulations that can sometimes be…
How to Sell Older Homes That May Contain Hazardous Materials
Selling older homes can be a challenge. Unlike more modern properties, they may contain a range of hazardous materials that are no longer commonly used in modern construction.…
Your Real Estate Licensees Can Give Home Sellers Breakthrough Disclosure Protection
Many a lawsuit has happened because a buyer finds an issue post-closing and blames the seller for not disclosing key defects. Even when sellers have been honest in…
RESPA Compliance for Mortgage Brokers
RESPA compliance often comes up as an area of concern for real estate licensees, but it’s equally as important to mortgage brokers. As a mortgage broker, you may…
What Real Estate Licensees Need to Know to Ensure Compliance with the New Equality Act
In June 2022, The White House announced that President Biden continues to call on the Senate to pass the Equality Act. The legislation, if passed, will provide long…
Do You Know Your Duties and Liabilities as a Trustee of a Home in a Trust?
Have you ever handled a home in a trust? Property in a trust can bring specific concerns and issues: How do you deal with a non-cooperative owner? What…
Why Your Specific Real Estate Activities in the Past MUST Be Covered in All Future E&O Policies
Real estate licensees can find themselves in a challenging situation if they haven’t read the fine print when switching insurers. Not having current coverage for SPECIFIC past activities…
Can Landlords Impose Mandatory Vaccinations for Tenants?
As a property manager, you may come across landlords that want to impose mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations. The pandemic has caused significant discussion and, in some cases, debate about…
The Pros and Cons of Using Real Estate Broker Management Software
The Pros and Cons of Using Real Estate Broker Management Software There are a variety of tools and software available to help brokers to manage their real estate…
Dual Agency Question: 1031 Exchange Delayed … Who Pays the Buyer’s Rate Lock?
In dual agency, the real estate licensee acts on behalf of both the buyers and sellers, and has fiduciary duty to both parties. Dual agency can be appealing,…
Risks and Benefits to Real Estate Appraisers of Automated Valuation Models and Appraisal Software
Advances in technology are helping businesses around the world to operate more efficiently, smarter, and more effectively than ever before. In the real estate industry, supporters of Automated…
Real Estate Brokers: Commingling of Funds Will Lead You Straight to Court
Many things in real estate can lead a broker straight to court and a costly lawsuit. Commingling of funds is one of those things. Commingling is when a…
How Real Estate Licensees Can Avoid Housing Voucher Discrimination
The Federal government’s Housing Choice Voucher Program assists very low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled to afford safe, decent, and sanitary privately-owned rental housing. In certain circumstances,…
Should the Seller Disclose Murder that Might Have Happened in the Home?
Your sellers just told you they’ve learned there may have been a murder in their home in 1975. The claim hasn’t been verified, but the sellers wonder if…
Transaction Coordinator Fees and RESPA Violations
In recent years, transactions using Transaction Coordinators (“TCs”) have increased. This article examines risk management issues surrounding not only the charging of TC fees but also the scope…
What Insurance Does an Escrow Officer Need?
Escrow Officers have a significant responsibility in real estate transactions. Accuracy and attention to detail are important. There are many risks involved and if something goes wrong, an…
Creating a Slander and Libel-Free Culture at Your Real Estate Brokerage
As a broker, you can be held responsible for something one of your team says or does. Slander and libel are real concerns, and if one of your…
Paranormal Activity — Selling a Home With a Reputation
Failure to disclose is a major reason real estate licensees find themselves facing a lawsuit. But what about things you may not personally believe in, like paranormal activity?…
Real Estate Brokers: Are You Responsible When Others Comment on Your Facebook Page?
With around 2.9 billion users, there’s no disputing that Facebook can offer a great space to promote your real estate brokerage and listings. It offers a level of…
When a Real Estate Seller Doesn’t Disclose a Known Defect
Seller disclosure requirements vary from state to state. However, most state disclosure requirements relate to material defects in the home. Examples of material defects include things such as:…
What Insurance Does a Transaction Coordinator Need?
Transaction Coordinators play an important role in supporting real estate brokers and licensees to close transactions faster and more efficiently. It comes with a huge responsibility, because closing…
8 Most Common Ways for Real Estate Licensees to Avoid Litigation (a CRES Risk Management Webinar)
Learn 8 key ways to avoid the most common areas of litigation in this webinar with lots of examples (complete transcript appears below). Some details are specific to…
What Insurance Does a Mortgage Broker Need?
Mortgage Brokers play an important role in real estate transactions. But, as with other professions in real estate, you face many risks in your everyday business. Oversights, errors…
Mandatory COVID Vaccinations and Your Real Estate Brokerage
With the continued rollout of COVID-19 vaccines to curb the spread of the coronavirus, some employers are making vaccination compulsory for their staff. Some companies are even going…
Property Managers: How to Tackle Evictions and Avoid a Lawsuit
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s nationwide moratoriums on evictions ended in August 2021. This was a key protection for tenants during the pandemic to ensure people…
How to Identify Red Flags in Sophisticated Real Estate Fraud Scams
Criminals are increasingly more sophisticated. They infiltrate real estate transactions to defraud parties out of their money. Most real estate professionals know that wire fraud has been around…
How a Typo Can Cause a Real Estate Lawsuit
Typos happen every day. If your team is busy writing up multiple listings, contracts and property marketing materials, they’re bound to happen. Unfortunately, even the most innocent of…
Real Estate Licensees Still Need the Protection of a Home Warranty
Low interest rates and even lower inventory has created a strong real estate sellers’ market. Sellers listing their properties for sale are receiving multiple offers ̶ and frequently…
Webinar: Nevada Seller’s Disclosure Form
What duties do Nevada real estate sellers’ agents have regarding the Seller’s Real Property Disclosure Form? A new Seller’s Real Property Disclosure Form (SRPD) was released in Nevada…
Everything You Need to Know About Disclaimers for Your Real Estate Business
Disclaimers are a real estate licensee’s best friend. They can help to minimize your risk and can be used in many areas of real estate including listings, emails,…
What Insurance Does a Real Estate Appraiser Need and Why?
Insurance is critical for all real estate professionals. For appraisers, you want to be confident that your insurance covers the exact risks you face in your appraisal business. …
CRES Risk Management Webinar: How to Prevent Fair Housing Complaints with Rental Ads and Application Reviews
In this webinar, James Myer from Chartwell Law, and Dave Miller, Regional Vice President with Fidelity National Home Warranty, talk about how real estate professionals can prevent discrimination…
How Real Estate Licensees Should Properly Conduct a Visual Inspection Before Listing a Property
Real estate licensees aren’t required to do a professional building inspection for your listings. But your state (for example, California) may require you to do a ‘visual inspection’.…
Making Decisions About Dual Agency Arrangements Within Your Real Estate Brokerage
A dual agency arrangement is where the same licensee is representing the buyer and the seller. It also extends to the representation of the landlord and the tenant…
When Omissions Get Real Estate Licensees In Hot Water
Usually, when you say ‘omissions’ in real estate, people think immediately about disclosures. Failure to disclose defects or major issues with a property is a major reason that…
Real Estate Licensees Beware of Zillow Purchase Agreements
In many transactions, Zillow acts as seller and insists on using its own purchase agreement. Below are issues you should consider when advising your buyers whether/how to use…
Rental Ads Cannot Prohibit Applicants Based on Criminal History
IMPORTANT ALERT REGARDING RENTAL ADVERTISEMENTS: UNDER THE FAIR HOUSING ACT, AN ADVERTISEMENT CONTAINING A BLANKET PROHIBITION REGARDING A RENTAL APPLICANT’S CRIMINAL HISTORY CAN CONSTITUTE, IN AND OF ITSELF,…
Selling a Home with a Diving Board
Are you a real estate licensee trying to sell a home with a diving board? While pools and spas are a common property feature, diving boards are not…
Dealing with Real Estate Clients Who Have a Mental Illness
According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), one in five adults living in the United States lives with a mental illness. This includes more common issues…
