Failure to Disclose Brokerage Relationship   This case examines a scenario where the buyer’s agent did not engage in obtaining a written Buyer Brokerage Agreement. It is imperative…

Felony Conviction   This case examines a scenario where the agent was convicted of a felony. Pursuant to Board Regulations, it is a prohibited act to have been:…

Disclosure of Interest This case examines a scenario where the agent fails to take necessary steps when renting out a property that she owns. It is important to…

This case examines a scenario where the agent fails to provide appropriate disclosure and obtain appropriate written consent of all clients to the transaction at the earliest practical…

Earnest Money Deposit and Ordinary Care This case examines a scenario where the agent failed to receive and deposit the earnest money deposit before settlement. It continues to…

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…

Felony Conviction and Failure to Report Disciplinary Action This case examines how serious the Real Estate Board takes felony convictions and the failure to report disciplinary action to…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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.

In this case, an agent performs regulated activities outside of her brokerage firm. Real estate licensees must not perform regulated activities outside of their brokerage firm.

Business continuity planning creates systems and procedures for what happens when the unexpected happens—whether that’s weather, illness, or death. This type of planning is essential to agents, teams, brokers, and firms. The law in Virginia addresses what happens if the sole broker at a firm dies or becomes disabled.

In this case, an agent failed to get an updated signed buyer brokerage agreement with the purchaser in what was supposed to be a dual agency transaction. Virginia requires that all agency agreements be in writing.

Antitrust laws are made up of a series of federal and state laws aimed at preventing unfair business practices that limit or restrain free trade. Learn how to avoid antitrust violations.

In this case, an agent failed to protect the public by hiring an unlicensed contractor, signing over a check to the contractor, and promising work would be complete by the deadline when no work had been performed. Make sure to check the status of any contractors, follow all regulations, and keep clients updated.

In this case, a broker signed her clients’ name to multiple documents, exceeding the scope of her authority and engaging in fraudulent activity. Brokers need to ensure that they are acting within the scope of their agency.

In this case, a broker acted outside of the scope of his license and agency by representing a client in a real estate transaction under an entity that was not a licensed real estate firm in Virginia. It highlights the importance of operating within the scope of your license and firm when representing others in real estate transactions.

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 the importance of disclosing a licensee’s interest in the transaction, regardless of the role he or she plays in the transaction, and engaging in behavior that is honest and not deceptive to the public.