The subject of commissions and other fees generates a lot of confusion.  Real estate licensees face increasingly more difficult questions from consumers requiring them to defend their fees and to contrast them with other firms who advertise their commissions in the marketplace.  “Minimum services companies†and nontraditional firms and brokerages have entered the market in increasing numbers, and they typically charge non-traditional professional fees, such as hourly compensation or menu-driven fees.  Inappropriate answers by licensees regarding fees could lead to price-fixing and antitrust violations. 

Licensees are also confused about paying and receiving referral fees and rebates.  Whether the payment or receipt of fees is lawful depends on a myriad of state and federal laws and rules as well as ethics. Some states permit referral fees to non-licensees; most states do not.  Some states have attempted to regulate minimum services companies but have incurred the wrath of the Department of Justice for doing so.

  It is the intent of this course to familiarize real estate licensees with these complex regulations and issues and to provide them with the information to respond appropriately to consumer questions about their compensation.

ZOOM/ Online
ZOOM/ Online

Long, Debbie