{"id":31135,"date":"2023-09-14T07:00:58","date_gmt":"2023-09-14T14:00:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/?p=31135"},"modified":"2026-03-24T07:33:09","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T14:33:09","slug":"unethical-realtor-behavior","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/unethical-realtor-behavior\/","title":{"rendered":"Signs Your Real Estate Agent Is Acting Unethically (And What You Can Do)"},"content":{"rendered":"

For many home buyers and sellers, finding a trustworthy real estate agent<\/a> is top of mind, since unethical real estate agent behavior could endanger one of the largest financial transactions they will ever make. HomeLight<\/a> can help you find a top-rated real estate agent local to you \u2014 someone with quality reviews and a track record of integrity.<\/p>\n

Most real estate agents do act ethically. Kara Stachel<\/a>, a Florida-based real estate and title attorney who works with agents nationwide, says, \u201c99% of the agents we have worked with, if not more, are absolutely ethical, very hard-working, and very transparent. They are on their clients\u2019 side.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nonetheless, as in any profession, there are a few unscrupulous characters. And working with an agent who operates unethically may put you at legal risk, as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

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\n \"homelight\n <\/div>\n \n

Find Your Perfect Real Estate Agent<\/h3>\n

Take the guesswork out of finding a great real estate agent in your area. We analyze over 27 million transactions and thousands of reviews to determine which agent is best for you based on your needs.<\/p>\n \n

\n Find a Top Agent Now<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Learning a few basics can help you discern whether your agent is above board \u2014 and, better yet, help you avoid working with an unethical real estate agent in the first place. We\u2019ll discuss what\u2019s unethical, who sets and enforces the rules, how to spot shady behavior, and what recourse is available if you feel your affairs have been mishandled.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer:<\/strong> Information in this blog post is meant to be used for educational purposes only and is not to be taken as legal advice. HomeLight always encourages you to reach out to a legal advisor regarding your own situation.<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

What\u2019s legal and what\u2019s not?<\/h2>\n

While some laws and rules apply across the United States, every state has its own real estate commission, which sets licensing requirements, as well as rules for professional conduct and honesty in real estate. When necessary, real estate commissions can also dispense discipline, including revoking agents\u2019 licenses.<\/p>\n

The Fair Housing Act<\/h3>\n

Regardless of state, every real estate agent must comply with the Fair Housing Act<\/a>, a federal law prohibiting discrimination in housing based on someone\u2019s race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, familial status, or disability.<\/p>\n

RESPA<\/h3>\n

Another law applying nationwide is the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act<\/a>, or RESPA. To protect consumers, RESPA prohibits certain perks (such as kickbacks and referral fees) that may incentivize unethical behavior among real estate professionals and harm buyers or sellers.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Does it matter whether I choose a Realtor\u00ae or a real estate agent?<\/h2>\n

Many real estate agents commit to even higher standards of ethics than those required by law when they choose to join the National Association of Realtors (NAR).<\/p>\n

Often the label Realtor<\/a><\/em> is bandied about to describe any agent \u2014 like Kleenex<\/em>\u00ae for any facial tissue \u2014 but in actuality, it refers to an agent who is a member of the NAR and has therefore agreed to be bound by the Realtor Code of Ethics<\/a>, which goes beyond baseline ethical requirements. To join, agents also have to meet certain qualifications, like maintaining active licenses and showing no civil judgments against them in the previous seven years.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s in the NAR Code of Ethics?<\/h3>\n

The full code<\/a> is lengthy \u2014 17 articles, in fact, and each with multiple, detailed standards of practice. The Code of Ethics requires that Realtors act in their client\u2019s best interests, serve customers fairly and without discrimination, market homes honestly, refuse kickbacks, and more. Realtors also agree to cooperate when their local chapter of the NAR investigates complaints against them and to allow the association to mediate contractual disputes.<\/p>\n

So, yes, working with a Realtor could make a difference.<\/h3>\n

Any real estate agent regardless of affiliation can choose to handle your affairs either ethically or unethically. However, since Realtors voluntarily agree to higher standards, choosing a Realtor may increase your chances of landing an agent with impeccable ethics, and thereby increase your peace of mind.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The basics of ethical and unethical real estate agent behavior and tips on how to find a real estate agent you can trust.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":328,"featured_media":38127,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[238],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-31135","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-working-with-agents"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nSpotting Unethical Real Estate Agent Behavior<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The basics of ethical and unethical real estate agent behavior and tips on how to find a real estate agent you can trust.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/unethical-realtor-behavior\/\" 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