maryland Real E Flashcards
No. Maryland Real Estate Commission members
Nine, five licensees and four consumers
How Commission appointed
all appointed by the Governor with advice of MD Sectretary of Labor; Chair elected from Members annually; Executive Director appointed by the MD Secretary of Labor
Guaranty Fund min amount
Must have $250,000 in it.
Guaranty Fund fee to licensees
$20 charged to all new licensees.
License Certificate and Pocket Cards
Has name, broker affiliation, expiration date, registration number. Pocket card with licensee at all times; Certificate with Broker; 15 clock hours of continuing education; initial term of license is 2 years with 2 year renewals.
Maryland Real Estate Commission Powers
Investigate complaints; conduct hearings; issue subpoenas; take depositions; seek injunctions. $5,000 penalty for unlicensed transaction. Issues, renews and revokes licenses; fines; educational courses and administers the Guaranty Fund.
Cooperating Agent
A sub-type of seller’s agent, not affiliated with the listing broker. They represent the seller through or under the listing broker.
Buyer’s Agent
Represent buyers in the acquistion of real estate. Buyer’s agents are not a subagent of the owner-seller.
Dual Agent
Firms that represent not only sellers, but also prospective buyers in the purchase of the same property. All parties must sign the consent to Dual Agency form.
Presumed Buyer’s Agency Relationship
The MD Brokers Act makes a licensee that assists a prospective buyer and is not associated with the listing agent presumed by law to act as the agent of the buyer. Either the licensee or the buyer may decline the relationship. A presumed buyer may not make an offer or negotiate on behalf of the buyer. Buyer does not have an obligation to pay anything to the presumed agent.
Presumed Relationship Ended
one-Licensee or the buyer rejects the presumed relationship. Two– The buyer begins to negotiate or causes an offer to be made for the purchase of a specific propery; three e buyer wishes to be shown property listed with the presumed agent’s broker.
Agency Disclosure
At first contact (preferred) or at the first face-to-face meeting with prospects (required), the licensee should present the MREC form Understanding Who Real Estate Agents Represent. Prospects signature is not required. Presumed clients are free to walk away and purchase through another agency.
Presumed Clients
Have all of the rights to expect client level service, but all of the freedom of customers-prospects.
Form of Brokerage Organization
Corporations,Partnerships or LLC. Note that an individual that provides real estate services through a corporation, partnerhsip or LLC remains liable for the acts, omissions of its agents. Only an individual is licensed.
Limitation on Interests Held
No more tha 50% of the ownership control of any business organization can be held by affiliates.
Office Signs
Signs at each branch must be visible to the public and include the word Realty, Real Estate or if authorized, Realtor.
Change in Office Location
Must notify MREC within 10 days
Advertising
Licensees must show in all advertising the fact that they are licensees, even when selling their own property. Licensees affiliated with a broker must identify the broker under whom they are licensed. A trade name maybe used if registered with the MREC.
Advertising Ground Rent
If property is subject to ground rent, and the price of the leasehold property is stated on an outdoor sign, the ground rent and the capitalization rate must be shown.
Trust Money
Money of others such as earnest money. The owner of the money is the purchaser and the beneficial owner is the seller. Promptly deposited in authorized financial institution in a non-interest bearing account. Promptly is 7 business days by law in MD. Language in the contract may permit deposit to be delayed until seller executes the contract. Authorized institution must be located in the state and deposits insured by FDIC or state equivalent.
Maintenance and Distribution of Trust Money
Stay in account until 1) the transaction is closed, 2) the real estate broker receives prosper written instruction from the owner and the beneficial owner, directing distribution; 3) court order; 4) purchaser or seller fails to complete transaction and notice of intent to distribute has been sent if no protest in 30 days. Notices must be hand-delivered or sent certified mail-RRR; must account and keep secure records in office.
Listing Agreements
Residential must be in writing and signed by the parties; duties of agent; compensation and terms that will make payment due, and MUST have a definite date for termination without further notice from either party. Must set forth if agent is authorized to receive money from persons other than client.
Whose Broker
Payment does not determine whose broker someone is. If the seller pays the buyer’s brokerage fee, the buyer’s broker is still the buyers broker. A promise of a fee is not necessary to create a brokerage relationship.
Buyer’s Broker
Must be disclosed to seller’s broker.
Seller’s Broker
Must disclose no later than first face-to-face meeting with buyer. Could use AgencyRelationship Information Form.
Contents of Residential Brokerage Agreement
Must be in writing; whether agent is authorized to receive compensation from persons other than the client; may not be a “net” agreement; copy given to principal before any services are performed; Must give sellers, Residential Property Disclosure and Dislcaimer; whether open to dual agency.
Disclosure of Residential Sellers
There is a legal requirement that sellers reveal to any purchaser all material defects in a listed property. Could use Property Condition and Disclosure form. Seller should complete at the time of listing property. All houses built before 1979, should provide lead paint disclosure form. The Brokers Act requires licensees disclose material defects they know or could reasonable know to buyers. “As is’ is not an adequate disclosure.
Disclosure of Presumed Buyer’s Agent
Must disclose that status, at least orally to any seller or seller’s agent contacted. Also Presumed Buyers Agent must tell prospective buyer that it is entitled to Property Disclosure and Disclaimer form.
MREC Code of Ethics
Requires licensees to make reasonable efforts to discover material facts about properties listed.
Stigmatized Property
Previous owner being HIV, and the occurance of a homocide or death are not a material defects.
Rescinding Residential Contracts for No Property Disclosure Form
If buyer get Residential Property Disclosure and Disclaimer form before they enter into the contract, buyer may not rescind; If not before contract, a buyer may rescind for 5 days after receipt or until they apply for a loan, or take occupancy. Lenders must advise buyer of the loss of right to rescind. If lender does not advise, may rescind up to occupancy. If contract goes forward, purchaser may not rescind contract based upon any conditions disclosed in the form.
Brokerage Agreement Termination
Must have definite termination date. Broker has no duty after termination unless agreement says otherwise, except accounting and confidentiality. In Maryland, a trustee sale, foreclosure, or condemnation terminates a brokerage agreement.
Commission
Rate negotiated and must be stated in the agreement; Commission is earned when seller accepts and signs an enforceable agreement.
Cooperating Broker
If broker has an exclusive listing, he should cooperate with other firms if in his client’s best interest, and share the commission. Cooperating brokers are subagents of the seller’s agent.
Multiple Listing Service
Common source information system. Licensees who participate in such services are not thereby considered to be the agent or the subagent of any client of another broker by reason of the participation.
Freeholds
Fee simple absolute; fee simple determinable; fee simple conditional and life estates, future estates such as remainder and reversion are all interests in real estate.
Leaseholds
Estate for years, from period to period, at will, at sufferance are all recognized.
Easement by Prescription and Adverse Possession
20 years of open hostile continuous and notorious occupancy even under a claim of right gives rise to ownership.
Riparian Rights
If your property borders a navigable waterway, you have a common law right to make a landing, wharf or pier for your use or public use (subject to federal regualtions). Title to land beyond the average high-water mark of navigable waters belongs to the public. High water mark is the highest elevation of the water in a normal period of ebb and flow.
Agricultural Land Preservation Act
MD Agr. Preservation Foundation purchases easements in land restricting its use to agricultural uses.
Co-ownership
Tenancy in common; joint tenancy, tenancy by the entireties, partnership, and trust. Also includes other forms such as condominiums, time shares and cooperatives.
Tenancy in common
Unless otherwise stated in the deed, a tenancy in common is created. To create a joint tenancy, deed must say “as joint tenant and not as tenants in common.” May be partitioned at any time.
Joint tenancy
Tenants in common with the right of survivorship. Requires the four unities: Time, Title, Interest and Possession. If one tenant conveys interest, conveyed interest is tenant in common with other joint tenants.
Tenants by the Entirety
Joint tenancy between married couple. A deed to husband and wife is presumed to be T/E. Common law marriage can not be established in Maryland, but will be recognized if established in another state. May not petition for partition. Terminated by the death of either spouse. Surviving spouse has the property in severalty (on his or her own); upon divorce considered tenants in common by operation of law; but court may prevent partition for a period not to exceed three years.
Condominium
A regime on property with owned units and a common area and governed by a council of unit owners with each owning their own unit and a percentage interest in the common elements.
Common elements
Everything but the units. Limited common elements may be just for the use of some unit owners. General common elements are available to all unit owners.
Condo Conversion
Record Declaration, Bylaws and Condo Plat. Declaration is indexed with the County land records. POS is required to be registered with the Secretary of State before sale. The Consumer Division of the Office of the Attorney General also enforces the Condominium Act.
Prior to Condo Sale
Must register regime with Secretary of State
Condominium Declaration Amendment
Requires 80% of the unit owners.
Initial Sale of Residential Condominium
Must register Public Offering Statement with Secretary of State.
Condo Buyer’s Right to Rescind
Within 15 days of receipt of the Public Offering Statement for initial sales of condos; or 5 days following the receipt of any amendments to the POS; and entitled to prompt return of the deposit.
Condominium Conversion
Notice to tenant as required by law, after registration with the Secretary of State. Tenant may not be required to vacate for 180 days following notice, except for breach of the lease; but tenant may terminate lease on 30 days notice.
Delaration of Condominium
Recorded declaration must contain the name followed by “a condominium” with a statement of intent to establish a condominium; a description and number for each unit with location; a description of the common elements; percentage interest in common elelments for each unit; and the number of votes for each unit at the condo owners meeting.
Bylaws of Condominium
Must contain the form of administration; whether duties of council may be delegated; mailing address, meeting; and manner of assessing and collecting condominium fee for common element maintenance. Council must be established within 60 days after initial sale of 50% of the units.
Amendment of Bylaws of Condominium
Requires 2/3 vote of unit owners.
Amendment of the Rules of the Condominium
Requires a 50% vote.
Condominium Termination
Requires an 80% vote of the unit owners and unless otherwise provided, the unit owners become tenants in commmon with each owning the same percentage as they had in the condominium.
Common Expenses for Condominiums
Each unit owner is resposible to pay his or her share of common expenses. They are assessed and become a lien on the unit.
Condominium Taxation
Each unit is taxed as a distinct entity.
Condominium Disputes
Under the Consumer Protection Act, the Division of Consumer Protection of the Office of the Attorney General is authorized to provide voluntary mediation of disputes between unit owners and councils of unit owners.
Resale of Unit
Not less than 15 days prior to closing, the unit owner must provide the purchaser with a copy of the declaration, the bylaws, the rules, and a certificate containing monthly expenses, proposed capital improvements, financial statements of the condominium, and insurance coverage. Contact for resale is voidable for 7 days following receipt of the certificate.
Timeshare
Two types: Right to Use or timeshare (license) and purchase of a fractional interest (timeshare estate).
RIght to Use Timeshare
License or right to use timeshare a certain amount of time a year.
Timeshare Estate
Buy a fractional interest for certain designated periods.
Timeshare Sales Regulation
State Securities Commission requires disclosure of the risks of timeshare.
Time-Sharing Act
Provides for creation, sale, lease, management, termination, registration of certain documents, registration of developers, bonding, and advertising.
Timeshare Public Offering Statement
Developers must register timeshares with the Secretary of State prior to sale offered for their own account, including a licensee selling his or her condominium. A timeshare owner not associated with a developer is exempt from filing and dissemination a POS.
Limitation on Creating a Timeshare
At least 34% of condominium unit owners can sign and register a prohibition on timeshares in the condominium project; Residential Community with covenants can limited timeshares with 50% vote.
Timeshare Conversion
If building is more than 5 years old, POS must contain an engineer statemenet on condition, and tenants must get 120 days notice of intention to convert.
Timeshare Sales Cancellation
First time purchasers of timeshares may cancel until the 10th day after, the first to occur of 1) contract date; 2) receipt of all documents required by POS; 3) date unit meets all building code and is ready for occupancy or developer obtains a performance bond and files it with the court–whichever is later.
Timeshare Resale Disclosures
Within 7 days after a resale certificate is received.
Cancellation Periods
Sale of Condo by Developer -15 days after receipt of certificate; condo by Developer 5 days after receipt of amendment; Condo Resale -7 days after receipt of Resale Certificate (given 15 days prior to closing); timeshare by developer- 10 days after receipt of contract, disclosure document or occupancy permit whichever is last; timeshare resale- 7 days after receipt of Certificate. Condo is 15-5-7 and Timeshare is 10-7
Timeshare deposits
Held in escrow for 10 days; may be released to developer if developer maintains a bond. No claim against Real Estate Guaranty Fund if covered by a bond.
Tmeshare Warranty
If sold by a developer, there is an implied warranty of 3 years on common elements and 1 year on structural components and heating and cooling system.
Timeshare Sales Contracts
Must disclose cancellation right, and if there is an exchange program must file required information with the MREC.
Timeshare Registration
Developers, with certain exceptions, are required to register with the MDREC, and receives a certificate of registration and no sales before receipt of certificate.
MREC Timeshare Powers
Issue regulations; investigate violations; bring lawsuits; order violations corrected; revoke certificate of developers;May not make false statements;may not induce the purchaser to leave the state for the purpose of executing a contract in order to circumvent Maryland law.
Maryland Cooperative Housing Act
Coop owners get a proprietary lease, and agreement with the association that gives the co-op member an exclusive possessary interest in a unit and a possessory interest in common elements with other members of the co-op.
Maryland Homeowners Association Act
Must disclose that property is subject to HOA, and gives a right of recission if information is not provided. Time periods for recision varies.
Legal Descriptions
Two Methods-Metes and bounds and recorded plats and must identify the land with reasonable certainty. Metes and bounds must return to the beginning.