Consumer Protection 2.0: Can real estate agents really see / do that?

Insert What’s wrong with dual agency?

Regardless of how you access the MLS, did you know that real estate agents can see every property you view on their website?  Seen by the right eyes, that’s a powerful tool; but what if your “click stream” is seen by a listing agent negotiating against you?  That “privacy violation” could undermine your negotiating position — think that conflict of interest should be disclosed upfront?

It’s been nearly 20 years since agency disclosure regulations were updated in Massachusetts, but less than 20 days since the White House called for a Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights.  What are the implications for real estate? In this era of participatory democracy online, we’d like YOUR idea starters.  Here are two of our own:

IDEA STARTER #1:  Create “Smart Disclosures” to guarantee informed consent

Past studies and a “sting operation” 15 years ago this week in Massachusetts revealed that real estate agents routinely ignore their obligation to inform buyers of whether they are acting as a buyer’s agent, seller’s agent, or facilitator.  On the seller’s side, listing contracts seek permission to engage in a conflict of interest BEFORE agreeing to represent a seller, but some fail to present a second disclosure (see Mass.gov) at the actual time of conflict so both buyer and seller can avoid the conflict of interest and be represented by their own adviser / agent / advocate. Think “smart disclosures” and mobile technologies can improve on that?

State regs re Double disclosure

IDEA STARTER #2:  Require digital disclosures online

Existing regulations required disclosure at the first personal meeting to discuss a specific property.  Because that language was written twenty years ago, it does not protect DIY home buyers online and their privacy rights are routinely ignored.  If a listing agency is trying to get the highest price for their seller clients, and as a DIY home buyer, you’re trying to buy at the lowest price, do you think that conflict of interest should be disclosed UPFRONT BEFORE that breach of confidentiality undermines your negotiating position?

A decade before the White House called for a Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights, the Real Estate Cafe and fellow real estate consumer advocates called for a Real Estate Consumer Bill of Rights in Congress.  Unfortunately, not only are existing agency disclosure regs functionally obsolete and non-compliance widespread, but residential brokerage practices are outside the existing regulatory scope of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.  So don’t look to them to protect you.

What can YOU do to protect yourself NOW?

New technologies have the potential to create “Smart Disclosures” which could have profound implications for day-to-day business. The Real Estate Cafe is excited about conversations were having with others about new product to protect DIY home buyers and sellers. Until those are ready, we’ll simply invite you to empower yourself by presenting your own “Terms of Service” to potential buyer agents and listing agents.

  1. Download the Pledge of Allegiance form below, developed nearly twenty years old ago to see what’s possible when a regulatory agency is serious about protecting real estate consumers.
  2. Don’t wait until your first meeting offline ask a real estate agent to sign it.  Email the document orcontract language to an agent BEFORE you sign-up to use their web site or visit their listing — particularly “luxury listings” — on any real estate portal like Zillow.com, Trulia.com, or Realtor.com, etc.
  3. See what happens when you exercise your right to their “undivided loyalty,” and please share your story with us and your social network!

If both the real estate agent and their brokerage firm agree to sign this Pledge of Alligience, then you’ve protected both your right to privacy and ability to save money!  Congratulations!

Got Real Estate Agent Pledge of Allegian

Related Articles

Whos Agent are you?

Sameoffice1_2See anything wrong with this picture?  Too many brokerages in Massachusetts don’t; that’s why home buyers and sellers need to protect their financial interest by asking "their" real estate agency whom they represent.  Yes, Massachusetts law requires real estate licensees to disclose their ageny relationship at the first personal meeting to discuss a specific property, but too often agents fail to comply with this mandatory regulation.  Even when they do, those brokerages who see nothing wrong with designated agency have no obligation to explain potential conflicts of interest so buyers and sellers can make truly informed decisions. 

That’s why The Real Estate Cafe has argued, for years, for a public information campaign at the start of the Spring homebuying season to protect real state consumers.  Why not use the Ides of March to warn buyers and sellers that designated agents can betray their financial interests?  Why not use April Fool’s Day to caution consumers not to fooled by designated agents? 

Edit for publication

If the NJ bubble blog post is correct and listing agents are being rewarded for getting sellers to drop their asking prices, industry regulators should begin asking serious questions about conflicts of interest and breaches of fiduciary duty. Isn’t the listing agent’s legal obligation to get the highest price for the seller? Wonder if the dual agency or designated agency — a form of brokerage where a single agency tries to represent both buyers and sellers — could be at work behind this anecdote. If so, my guess is that industry critics and a few class action lawyers will be watching this trends closely.

The authors of _Freakonomics_, or some other economists should also take note of this trends, and take a look at a trend we saw last year in Boston. Some sellers would rather drop their agents than drop their price, or more specifically their net profit after paying real estate commissions. If they can drop their price by the amount of the commission, why not say goodbye to the listing agent and their newest conflict of interest?

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