Week 5 - Chapter 5 Discussion - Due Mar 6 by 11:55 p.m.

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This week's chapter in our textbook discusses Ethics, Fraud, Consumer Protection and Fair Lending. Our textbook simply states Ethics are the morals and values that dictate one's choices (and I would also add one's behavior). In all honesty, the initial reason why I studied and went for my real estate brokers license was because I was unhappy dealing with several pushy and even unethical Realtors while house-hunting and purchasing my first home (I didn't have a license during that time). On Pages 90 - 97 our textbook has printed 8 pages of the official National Association of Realtors Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice. Ethics are so important in this industry, it is a required continuing education (CE) course that must be taken every 4 years to renew your state license (once you have your license) !

For this week's discussion, and please make it personal to you (don't take another student's ideas), please tell us what unethical behavior would really bother you from working with a Realtor in buying, selling or renting property. You can give us a personal experience of yours or of a family member, or just look in the Code of Ethics guidelines for something that would bug you.

Here's my example: while buying my first house (before I had a real estate license) the seller's agent absolutely required that we (seller and buyer which was me) use the in-house escrow department located within his real estate firm, which at the time was Re/MAX in Mission Valley on Camino del Rio North close to the Dave and Buster's Restaurant. I even questioned why .... and I was directly told by the seller's agent that I had no choice. Not true ! Buyer and seller always have the right to choose together what escrow, title, or any other service provider they wish to use without undue influence from either real estate agent.

Thanks !