Ch. 4 Brokerage Relationships and Ethics Flashcards
This chapter begins with a general explanation of the law of agency and then details the various types of brokerage relationships practiced in Florida. The chapter also explains the licensee's duties and obligations to principals and customers. The terms misrepresentation and fraud are defined, and fraudulent activities are discussed. This chapter concludes with a section about professional ethics.
A representative; one who is authorized to act on behalf of another.
Agent
Conducting negotiations on one’s own behalf without being subject to the other party’s control or influence.
At arm’s length
One with whom the broker or sales associate hopes to be successful in accomplishing the purpose of employment. Per Section 475.01, F.S., a member of the public who is or may be a buyer or seller of real property and may or may not be represented by a real estate licensee in an authorized brokerage relationship.
Customer
Two real estate licensees designated to represent the buyer and the seller as single agents in a nonresidential transaction. The buyer and seller must have assets of $1 million or more and sign disclosures stating their assets meet the required threshold.
Designated sales associate
A broker who represents both the buyer and the seller of a transaction in a fiduciary capacity.
Dual agent
A person in a position of trust and confidence with respect to another person.
Fiduciary
The intent to misrepresent a material fact or to deceive to gain an unfair advantage or to harm another person.
Fraud
A representative authorized by the principal to perform only acts related to a business or to employment of a particular nature.
General agent
A false or misleading statement of a material fact; concealment of a material fact.
Misrepresentation
The party employing the services of a real estate broker; amount of money borrowed in a mortgage loan, excluding interest and other charges.
Principal
Comments or opinions not made as representations of fact and thus not grounds for misrepresentation.
Puffing
The sale of improved residential property of four or fewer units, the sale of unimproved residential property intended for use as four or fewer units, or the sale of agricultural property of ten or fewer acres.
Residential sale
Per Section 475.01, F.S., a broker who represents, as a fiduciary, either the buyer or seller but not both in the same transaction.
Single agent
One authorized by a principal to perform a particular act or transaction, without contemplation of continuity of service as with a general agent.
Special agent
A person authorized to assist and represent the agent and whose duties are delegated by the original agent.
Subagent
A broker who provides limited representation to a buyer, a seller, or both in a real estate transaction, but does not represent either in a fiduciary capacity or as a single agent.
Transaction broker
A representative authorized by the principal to perform all acts that the principal can personally perform and that may be lawfully delegated to another.
Universal agent
- Which disclosure notice must be given before a single agent can change to a transaction broker?
a. No brokerage relationship
b. Single agent
c. Consent to transition to transaction broker
d. Transaction broker
C
- A man is so cautious that he refuses to sign all disclosure documents. Your office policy is to include a note in his file indicating the time, date, place, and circumstance under which you made the disclosure that the man refused to sign. You may NOT work with the man under which circumstance.
a. List the man’s home as a single agent
b. Provide limited representation to the man in locating a new home
c. Provide real estate services to the man in a no brokerage relationship
d. Change from a single agent to a transactional broker to show the man’s home to an in-house buyer-principal.
D
- The brokerage relationship disclosure requirements in Chapter 475, F.S., apply to the
a. sale of a 20-unit apartment complex.
b. sale of condominium unit.
c. residential lease agreement in a duplex.
d. sale of a book store business and real property.
B
- Which statement BEST describes the duty of loyalty in a single agent relationship?
a. The broker must act in the best interest of the principal.
b. The broker must disclose all latent defects to prospective buyers.
c. The broker is held to a standard of care that requires knowledge concerning the land and physical characteristics of the property.
d. The broker must be able to account for all funds received on behalf of the principal.
A
- A real estate broker who works in a limited capacity for both the buyer and the seller in the same transaction is
a. a dual agent.
b. a transaction broker.
c. bound to fiduciary duties to both the buyer and the seller.
d. a single agent of both the buyer and the seller.
B
- A licensee of ABC Realty must give the no brokerage relationship notice to
a. a buyer who has a single agent relationship with XYZ Realty.
b. every prospective buyer and prospective seller in all cases.
c. a for-sale-by-owner (FSBO) seller before showing the FSBO home to a buyer customer of ABC Realty.
d. every prospective buyer who walks through an open house listed by ABC Realty.
C
- A broker has listed a seller’s property. The seller has disclosed to the broker that the ceramic tile is loose in the dining room because the cement did not adhere to the tile. The loose tile is not readily visible because it is covered with an area rug to protect the seller’s toddler. The broker has satisfied his legal obligation if he tells the the buyer
a. that the floor plan appears to be in good condition.
b. that ceramic tiles in the dining room are loose.
c. that the buyer can order an inspection at his own expense if he is concerned about the floor.
d. nothing unless he is asked specifically about the title floor’s condition.
B