Wisconsin Legislature: Chapter REEB 24

Chapter REEB 24

CONDUCT AND ETHICAL PRACTICES FOR REAL ESTATE LICENSEES

REEB 24.01 Authority and intent.

REEB 24.02 Definitions.

REEB 24.03 Competent services.

REEB 24.04 Advertising.

REEB 24.05 Disclosure of compensation and interests.

REEB 24.06 Unauthorized practice of law.

REEB 24.07 Inspection and disclosure duties.

REEB 24.075 Tie-in arrangements.

REEB 24.08 Agreements to be in writing.

REEB 24.085 False portrayal of interest, prohibited.

REEB 24.09 Securing agency agreements.

REEB 24.10 Net listing prohibited.

REEB 24.12 Confidentiality of offers.

REEB 24.13 Drafting and submission of written proposals.

REEB 24.15 Adequate funds required.

REEB 24.17 Miscellaneous requirements.

Ch. REEB 24 NoteNote: Chapter REB 15 as it existed on February 29, 1980 was repealed and a new chapter REB 15 was created effective March 1, 1980. Renumbered from chapter REB 15, effective March 1, 1983. Chapter RL 24 was renumbered chapter REEB 24 under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 1., Stats., Register November 2011 No. 671.

REEB 24.01REEB 24.01 Authority and intent.

REEB 24.01(1)(1) The rules in this chapter are adopted pursuant to ss. 227.11, 452.01, 452.07, 452.133, 452.138, 452.139 and 452.14, Stats.

REEB 24.01(2)(2) The intent of the board in adopting the rules in this chapter is to establish minimum standards of conduct for real estate licensees and to define conduct that may result in board discipline pursuant to s. 452.14, Stats.

REEB 24.01(3)(3) If a licensee violates rules in this chapter, the licensee has demonstrated incompetency to act as a broker or salesperson in such manner as to safeguard the interests of the public under s. 452.14 (3) (i), Stats. However, the term “incompetency” is not limited in its meaning to violations of this chapter.

REEB 24.01(4)(4) If a licensee violates the rules set forth in s. REEB 24.075, the licensee has engaged in improper, fraudulent or dishonest dealing as used in s. 452.14 (3) (k), Stats. However, the terms “improper, fraudulent or dishonest dealing” are not limited in their meaning to violations of s. REEB 24.075.

REEB 24.01 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, February, 1980, No. 290, eff. 3-1-80; renum. (3) to be (5), (3) renum. from REB 15.02 (2) and cr. (4), Register, December, 1980, No. 300, eff. 1-1-81; renum. from REB 15.01 and am. (2) to (4), Register, February, 1983, No. 326, eff. 3-1-83; am. (1) and (3), r. (5) (intro.) and (d), renum. (5) (a) to (c) to be RL 24.025, RL 24.03 (2) (b) and (c), Register, January, 1987, No. 373, eff. 2-1-87; correction in (4) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 4., Stats., Register, May, 1988, No. 389; am. Register, April, 1995, No. 472, eff. 5-1-95; correction in (2), (4) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 6., 7., Stats., Register November 2011 No. 671; EmR1620: emerg. am. (3), eff. 7-1-16; CR 16-042: am. (3) Register February 2017 No. 734, eff. 3-1-17; CR 21-043: am. (2) Register March 2022 No. 795, eff. 4-1-22.

REEB 24.02REEB 24.02 Definitions.

REEB 24.02(1)(1) “Adverse fact” means any of the following:

REEB 24.02(1)(a)(a) A condition or occurrence that is generally recognized by a competent licensee as doing any of the following:

REEB 24.02(1)(a)1.1. Significantly and adversely affecting the value of the property.

REEB 24.02(1)(a)2.2. Significantly reducing the structural integrity of improvements to real estate.

REEB 24.02(1)(a)3.3. Presenting a significant health risk to occupants of the property.

REEB 24.02(1)(b)(b) Information that indicates that a party to a transaction is not able to or does not intend to meet his or her obligations under a contract or agreement made concerning the transaction.

REEB 24.02(3)(3) “Brokerage service” means any service described under s. 452.01 (2), Stats., provided to a person by a firm and any licensees associated with the firm.

REEB 24.02(4)(4) “Builder” means any person engaged in the business of constructing homes without a buyer under contract or constructing homes under a contract with the buyer.

REEB 24.02(5)(5) “Buyer’s firm” means a firm who has an agency agreement with a buyer.

REEB 24.02(7)(7) “Commonly controlled corporation” means one of 2 or more corporations in which the same person or persons own stock in each of the corporations, possessing at least 80% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock entitled to vote and at least 80% of the total number of shares of all other classes of stock of the corporations.

REEB 24.02(10)(10) “Effectively controlled” means having the power or authority to cause the transfer of an interest in real estate for oneself or another but does not include the authority conferred by a real estate listing contract.

REEB 24.02(12)(12) “Material adverse fact” means an adverse fact that a party indicates is of such significance, or that is generally recognized by a competent licensee as being of such significance to a reasonable party, that it affects or would affect the party’s decision to enter into a contract or agreement concerning a transaction or affects or would affect the party’s decision about the terms of such a contract or agreement.

REEB 24.02(13)(13) “Party” means a person seeking to engage in a transaction.

REEB 24.02(13m)(13m) “Principal firm” means a firm that engages a subagent to provide brokerage services in a transaction.

REEB 24.02(14)(14) “Qualified third party” means a federal, state or local governmental agency, or any person whom the licensee or a party to the real estate transaction reasonably believes has the expertise necessary to meet the industry standards of practice for the type of inspection or investigation that has been conducted by the third party in order to prepare the written report described in s. 452.23 (2) (b), Stats.

REEB 24.02(15)(15) “Secured lender” means an individual or organization originating a loan in a real estate or business opportunity transaction secured by real estate or by the assets of a business or a business opportunity.

REEB 24.02(16)(16) “Real estate practice” means engaging in conduct that requires a license under ch. 452, Stats.

REEB 24.02(16m)(16m) “Right of first refusal” means the right of a person to have the first opportunity to purchase or lease real property.

REEB 24.02(18)(18) “Transaction” means the sale, exchange, purchase or rental of, or the granting or acceptance of an option, exchange, purchase or rent, an interest in real estate, a business, or a business opportunity.

REEB 24.02(19)(19) “Written proposal” means any written document provided by one party to another during the course of a transaction, including notices, offers, counteroffers, options, exchanges, rental agreements, and amendments.

REEB 24.02 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, February, 1980, No. 290, eff. 3-1-80; renum. (1) to be (5), renum. (2) to be REB 15.01 (3), cr. (1) to (4) and (6), Register, December, 1980, No. 300, eff. 1-1-81; renum. from REB 15.02, Register, February, 1983, No. 326, eff. 3-1-83; renum. (4) to (6) to be (7) to (9) under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 1., Stats., Register, September, 1990, No. 417; renum. (1) to (3) to be (2), (4) and (6), cr. (1), (3) and (5), Register, September, 1990, No. 417, eff. 10-1-90; am. (1), Register, January, 1992, No. 433, eff. 2-1-92; am. (1), Register, July, 1993, No. 451, eff. 8-1-93; r. and recr. (1), renum. (2) to (4) to be (4), (5), (7), (6) and (7) to be (8) and (10), (8) to be (11) and am., (a) to be (17), r. (5), cr. (2), (3), (6), (9), (12) to (16), (18), Register, April, 1995, No. 472, eff. 5-1-95; am. (7), r. (11), Register, July, 1998, No. 511, eff. 8-1-98; correction in (3) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register November 2011 No. 671; CR 10-136: am. (2) to (5), r. (8), am. (13), cr. (13m), r. (17), cr. (19) Register April 2012 No. 676, eff. 7-1-12; EmR1620: emerg. r. (2), am. (3), (5), (6), (9), (13m), eff. 7-1-16; CR 16-042: r. (2), am. (3), (5), renum. (6), (9) to REEB 11.02 (3m), (4m), am. (13m) February 2017 No. 734, eff. 3-1-17; CR 21-043: am. (13m), (14), (16), cr. (16m), am. (18), (19) Register March 2022 No. 795, eff. 4-1-22.

REEB 24.03REEB 24.03 Competent services.

REEB 24.03(1)(1) Discrimination prohibited. Licensees may not discriminate against, nor deny equal services to, nor be a party to any plan or agreement to discriminate against any person in any manner unlawful under applicable federal, state or local fair housing law.

REEB 24.03 NoteNote: The primary references for federal and state fair housing laws are the 1988 amendments to the Federal Housing Act (Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968) and Chapter 106, Subchapter II, Stats.

REEB 24.03(2)(2) Competence required.

REEB 24.03(2)(a)(a) Licensees shall not provide services that the licensee is not competent to provide unless the licensee engages the assistance of another person who is competent. Any person engaged to provide such assistance shall be identified and that person’s contribution shall be described in the documents or records related to the transaction.

REEB 24.03(2)(b)(b) Licensees shall act to protect the public against fraud, misrepresentation and unethical practices.

REEB 24.03(2)(c)(c) A licensee shall be knowledgeable regarding laws, public policies and current market conditions on real estate matters and shall assist, guide, and advise the parties on these factors.

REEB 24.03(2)(d)(d) Licensees are not required to have the technical knowledge, skills or training possessed by competent third party inspectors and investigators of real estate and related areas.

REEB 24.03 NoteNote: Paragraph (d) recognizes that licensees are not required to have the knowledge, skills or training possessed by, for example, persons such as home inspectors, plumbers, electricians or land surveyors.