Let me introduce you to one of the best sources for real estate information on the Web. Her name is Annie Fitzsimmons. She’s the Legal Hotline Lawyer for the Washington Association of Realtors®. Her answers to legal questions are, according to the Association’s YouTube channel, a benefit to Washington Realtor® members.
Not a member of the National Association of Realtors®? NAR? Well, neither am I. Only real estate companies can be members, not individual real estate agents. Since my company – RSVP Real Estate – is not a member, I can’t be. But guess what? The YouTube channel is public, and Annie’s advice is free!
From Nanny Cams to Multiple Offer Scenarios
Many homes have so-called Nanny Cams for watching babies. These devices record sound. That sound may be a crying toddler, but it could also be the comments of an unsuspecting home buyer. This is not what you expect when you tour a home for sale with your agent.
Is this legal? Annie, the legal hotline lawyer, says no. Washington law forbids recording of conversations without written consent. However, she cautions that buyers should assume that their conversations are being intercepted. And she adds that video recording without audio is permitted.
Unless you’ve lived under a rock – to stay cool, perhaps – you know that the Seattle area real estate market is very competitive these days. Multiple offers are commonplace. Annie has advice for listing agents and buyers’ agents. You will benefit from her advice! She covers the legal angles like earnest money, pre-inspections and more.
Did you know that as a buyer you should never assume that your offer is confidential and will not be shared with other buyers or their agents? Did you know that the seller does not have to accept the highest offer, but in doing so might violate the 1968 Federal Fair Housing Act?
Listen to what Annie, the Legal Hotline Lawyer, tells Realtors®.
Many of the subjects covered on the legal hotline by Annie are addressed to real estate professionals. If I were you, I would be interested in what Annie tells them. On July 24th, numerous and significant changes to forms such as the Purchase & Sale contract and related addenda took effect. At the same time, the Seller Disclosure changed again – for the better, I think.
Annie addresses these changes and the legal consequences in several videos. Here is what she has to say about the revised Financing Contingency and here are her comments to the revised Seller Disclosure Statement.
What do these form changes mean to you as a home seller or buyer? Everything because by using the old forms your contract will be invalid if it was written after July 24th, 2015.
What I found curious is that this YouTube channel has fewer than 800 subscribers when there are many thousands of real estate agents/brokers in this state. It makes you wonder.
Next time you have a real estate question contact me. When it comes to legal issues, I always recommend that you seek advice from an attorney with real estate experience. First, and for less money, you may want to check out what Annie, the legal hotline lawyer has to say on the subject.
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