When working toward your California real estate license, you would have learned about the code of ethics to which you need to adhere. The code is updated regularly. If you have not looked at it since qualifying, you could fall afoul of something without realizing it.
Here are some of the ethics violations you need to know about. Failure to meet them could lead to needing to defend your professional license:
- Equality: You cannot refuse to work with a client or broker due to race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation or gender identity. You cannot advertise properties excluding specific sectors of society.
- Disclosure: You are allowed to represent both the buyer and seller in the same translation but only with their approval. You are required to disclose any potentially conflicting interests such as this or if you or a family member have an interest in a property.
- Honesty: Giving misleading information, making false claims or deliberately hiding information is unethical.
- Confidentiality: You need to comply with state laws regarding privacy and confidentiality of information.
- Financial transparency: You may not accept commissions or favors from a third party when working on behalf of a client. You must also keep client money in a separate account, reserved only for this.
If you need to defend your California real estate agent license, it is essential to seek legal help. Claims made against you could ruin your reputation. If the California Department of Real Estate suspends or revokes your license, you will not be allowed to work. All that training and all those years of experience helping people find their dream property will go to waste.
