“Winning Offer” This case study highlights the importance of understanding your clients’ objectives, expectations, and failing to safeguard your client. The damage done in this case illustrates why…

This case study highlights the importance of accuracy in your real estate advertisements. When real estate licensees and brokers think about accuracy we usually hear about the importance of accurately describing the property or facts related to the transaction. This Virginia Real Estate Board case illustrates the importance of accurately identifying your role in the transaction.

This case study highlights the importance of providing accurate and updated information in listings and advertisements. When a licensee learns new information that would make a prior advertisement…

Misrepresentation / Omission & Failing to Provide Reasonable Assistance to Client “Follow the Contract” This case study highlights the importance of agents hired by clients to follow…

“Delivering Reports Unasked” This case study highlights the importance of providing principals to the transaction written notice of any material changes to the transaction in a timely manner.…

Fake Lease, Real Consequences.   This case study shows the consequences of forging signatures on real estate documents. While the agent seemingly had good intentions, the Board takes…

“Who’s your client?” This case study highlights the importance of understanding who your client is. While this may seem obvious, when third parties (generally family members) are involved,…

This case study highlights the importance of accurate written brokerage agreements, and a licensee’s obligation to comply with such agreements. When property managers bring existing clients to a…

In this case study, an agent is found to have furnished substantially inaccurate or incomplete information to the Real Estate Board in obtaining a license. It is imperative…

Improper Delivery of Instruments In this case study, an agent is found to have failed to provide written notice of material changes to all principals to the transaction…

Ordinary Care In this case study, an agent forgot to deposit the earnest money deposit in a timely manner. Even though the agent was not responsible for the…

Complying with the Property Management Agreement In this case study, a property manager is found to have failed to perform in accordance with the terms of the property…

Complying with the Lease In this case study, a property manager is found to have engaged in improper, fraudulent, or dishonest conduct when she modified the terms of…

Failing to Report Criminal Convictions In this case study, an agent is found guilty of multiple felonies and fails to report the conviction to the Board. The real…

EMD This case examines an escrow case where the agent neglected to turn in an Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) and failed to notify all principals to the transaction…

Prompt Delivery of Documents In this case study, a broker is found to have improperly delivered instruments when he failed to provide copies of a lease to an…

Improper Management In this case study, a broker is found to have engaged in improper, fraudulent, and dishonest conduct by signing a document on a client’s behalf without…

In this case study, an agent takes funds that are supposed to be put into an escrow account and deposits them into her personal bank account without letting her broker know of her actions. Immediately upon learning of her actions, the Principal Broker reports the behavior to DPOR and returns her license, demonstrating her commitment to safeguarding the public and supervising the agents in her firm.

In this case study, the agent failed to make a timely deposit of the escrow funds. Despite having signed an acknowledgment of the Broker’s Policy and Procedure Manual, the agent still failed to input the contract and timely deposit the funds. Nevertheless, because of these policies and procedures, the Principal Broker was still able to discover the error and report the escrow violation to DPOR, ensuring that she properly supervised the agents in the firm.

This case examines an escrow case where the agent neglected to check certain boxes on the contract. While this does not void the contract, it does create an escrow violation for the real estate licensee. It highlights the importance of verifying the completeness of contracts and paying attention to details.

This case study highlights how agents must access property only on the terms provided, and not in a fraudulent or dishonest manner. In this instance, the broker was not held liable for the agent’s actions, and it is important to note that the firm took immediate action to prevent future occurrences from happening.

This case study highlights how brokers may be held responsible for errors of their employees in the handling of earnest money deposits (EMD). It again demonstrates the importance of following the regulations pertaining to earnest money deposits.

This case study highlights the importance of performing licensed activities under a licensed business entity and exercising ordinary care in your management of properties.

This case study highlights the importance of reporting disciplinary action taken against a licensee who holds real estate licenses in multiple states to the real estate board in a timely manner.

This case study highlights the importance of following the real estate regulations when holding earnest money deposits.