Walking Away Scot-Free: Trust, Expert Advice, and Realtor Responsibility
Real Estate Law Journal, Vol. 40, p. 312, 2011
68 Pages Posted: 13 Mar 2011 Last revised: 16 Dec 2011
Date Written: December 15, 2011
Abstract
Real estate agents benefit from the trust associated with portraying themselves as real estate experts, yet are generally not legally responsible for the advice that they give. This lack of legal responsibility is at odds with psychological propensity of individuals to trust perceived experts. It also creates a genuine moral hazard, fueled the housing market bubble and contributed to the suffering of homeowners whose real estate agents encouraged them to buy as the market began to burst. This article proposes that real estate agents be required to accept legal responsibility for their advice or be required to represent themselves as mere salespersons.
Keywords: real estate, experts, trust, realtors
JEL Classification: K11, K13, K23
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation