As a newbie, you don’t want to find yourself amid an ethics violation, lawsuit or worse, but it can happen to even the most earnest of agents. Here are 10 hypothetical situations that help illustrate how you can avoid some very real problems.
Source: Inman News
10 scenarios that can get new agents ethics violations, lawsuits or worse
More from AgentMore posts in Agent »
- This team is jumping on the private listing platform trend (EXCLUSIVE)
- Redfin on 2026: Affordability improves, sales rise only slightly
- Dual licensing is on the rise. Is it the right move for your business?
- Future-proof your digital footprint for 2026 (and beyond)
- Change strategy as the market shifts to win the listings long game
More from agent commissionsMore posts in agent commissions »
- Why commissions have risen since the 2024 NAR settlement
- Looking back at Aug. 17: Are agents better off than we were a year ago?
- Ed Zorn and Phillip Cantrell to agents: Stop sharing commissions
- More sellers are taking a hard-line approach with commissions: Intel
- Agent anxiety over commissions falls as negotiations continue: Intel
More from agent steeringMore posts in agent steering »
- Zillow hit with new class-action suit over alleged broker kickbacks
- From fringe to forefront? What agent ‘steering’ will look like now
- What should I tell clients? Question leads to free-for-all at NAR midyear
- More than 700 agent steering calls suggest price-fixing, lawyers charge
- Appeals court rejects NAR class certification challenge in lawsuit
More from automated text message campaignsMore posts in automated text message campaigns »
More from Barbara BettsMore posts in Barbara Betts »
- Loathe public speaking? 25 tips to get past the fear
- Broker Spotlight: Barbara Betts, The RECollective
- 22 common ways agents violate the Realtor Code of Ethics
- Ethics violation, lawsuit or worse: 10 situations that get agents in trouble
- This broker CEO’s agents are winning against the competition. We want to know how
More from buyer agent commissionsMore posts in buyer agent commissions »
- RMLS launches an AI use agents can get behind: getting paid
- Real estate still adapting to new normal a year after new NAR rules
- How has being a buyer’s agent changed in the past year? Pulse
- Agent anxiety over commissions falls as negotiations continue: Intel
- How to take advantage of ‘the new normal’ post-NAR settlement
More from buyer love lettersMore posts in buyer love letters »
- Caution! 3 ways your buyer’s love letter could violate Fair Housing
- Barbara Corcoran on the $418M NAR settlement: It’s ‘not a big deal’
- Forget buyer love letters. Craft a perfect offer instead
- You owe it to yourself to challenge buyer love letter misinformation
- WATCH: The right lender can make buyer love letters obsolete
More from California Association of Realtors (C.A.R.)More posts in California Association of Realtors (C.A.R.) »
- Ed Zorn and Phillip Cantrell to agents: Stop sharing commissions
- Vacant, foreign-owned homes draw criticism in LA post-wildfires
- CAR publishes open letter to support LA wildfire victims
- Helpful resources and a call to action for California wildfire victims
- NAR hit with new 3-way agreement suit as enrollment imbroglio builds
More from crmMore posts in crm »
- 5 lead-generation metrics you must review before 2026 begins
- Everything you need to know about social media in under 1,100 words
- Dispatches from NAR NXT as real estate grapples with AI
- 41 years, 8 lessons, 1 truth about real estate that never changes
- AI basics for agents: How to get started with confidence
More from failing to disclose a property defectMore posts in failing to disclose a property defect »
More from Fair Housing ActMore posts in Fair Housing Act »
- Amid MRED feud, Zillow says private listings ‘reinforce segregation’
- Government shutdown nails housing programs in Week 2
- How Charlie Kirk’s assassination could impact real estate
- Appraisal bias suit against Rocket Mortgage, Solidifi moves forward
- Texas bans some foreign buyers from purchasing real estate
More from FCCMore posts in FCC »
More from federal communications commissionMore posts in federal communications commission »
More from home accessMore posts in home access »
More from liability issuesMore posts in liability issues »
More from MLSMore posts in MLS »
- 5 lead-generation metrics you must review before 2026 begins
- Real CEO talks growth in hard times — and how everyone loses in real estate ‘wars’
- More MLSs are moving to provide non-Realtors with access
- The right calendar is an easy button for your listing process
- The IDX lie agents still believe: 5 common misconceptions about real estate websites
More from NAR Code of EthicsMore posts in NAR Code of Ethics »
More from National Association of Realtors (NAR)More posts in National Association of Realtors (NAR) »
- NAR scores a victory in buyer commission lawsuit
- American Real Estate Association hires Mary-Frances Coleman as inaugural executive director
- Northeast sees strongest price gains in Q3 as median single-family home price hits $426,800
- Is the housing market in the midst of a recession? Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent thinks so
- Pending home sales remain stuck in the mud in September
More from neighborhood crime ratesMore posts in neighborhood crime rates »
More from New Agent MonthMore posts in New Agent Month »
More from Pacific West Association of RealtorsMore posts in Pacific West Association of Realtors »
More from Realtor Code of EthicsMore posts in Realtor Code of Ethics »
- After failed NAR vote, brokerages beef up referral disclosures
- This week was all about NAR: Inman’s Top 5 stories
- Realtors reject proposal to require disclosure of more referral fees
- Las Vegas Realtors removes incoming board member following inflammatory Charlie Kirk posts
- Texas bans some foreign buyers from purchasing real estate
More from Rex Real EstateMore posts in Rex Real Estate »
- Zillow scores final win as Supreme Court declines to take up REX case
- Supreme Court just might give REX another shot at NAR, Zillow
- ‘Zillow made the wrong choice’: REX seeks full appeals court review
- DOJ raises concerns with Nosalek settlement in latest court filing
- REX loses appeal in long-running lawsuit against NAR, Zillow
More from SelectMore posts in Select »
- This team is jumping on the private listing platform trend (EXCLUSIVE)
- Redfin on 2026: Affordability improves, sales rise only slightly
- Dual licensing is on the rise. Is it the right move for your business?
- Future-proof your digital footprint for 2026 (and beyond)
- Change strategy as the market shifts to win the listings long game
More from theme-month-202107More posts in theme-month-202107 »
More from video toursMore posts in video tours »
- Zillow, Redfin sent video user data to Meta, Alphabet, lawsuits charge
- 7 types of videos every real estate agent should master
- Video marketing gets new entry in affordable, versatile REVideos app: Tech Review
- Why Century 21 CEO believes tech is overrated in the industry
- Inman Review: Holofy Spaces is leading the vertical video tour revolution
Be First to Comment