Association News
Buyer Broker Agreements
September 10, 2024
In compliance with the NAR settlement, Lake Country Board of REALTORS® updated its policies on Buyer Broker Agreements (BBAs), effective August 5, 2024.
What is Required?
All members of the Lake Country Board of REALTORS® Multiple Listing Service are now required to have a signed Buyer Brokerage Agreement (BBA) with their customers before they can tour a property.
To clarify, property touring occurs when a buyer and/or the agent from the brokerage working with a buyer physically enters a home, or when the agent physically delivers a live virtual tour where the buyer isn’t present. In this case, a home is defined as a residential property of one to four dwelling units. Please note: a Buyer Broker Agreement is not required for any other property class, including rentals.
Requirements of a BBA
A Buyer Broker Agreement formalizes the working relationship between you and your client, outlining roles, responsibilities, and expectations. It establishes an exclusive relationship, protects both the client and the brokerage, and fosters transparency and trust. The National Association of REALTORS® requires the following components in any Buyer Broker Agreement:
- The specific amount or rate of compensation and how it will be determined must be disclosed. The amount must be specific, easily verifiable, and not open-ended.
- A clause prohibiting the brokerage from receiving more compensation services than the agreed amount or rate in the BBA.
- A clear statement that broker fees and commissions are not set by law and are fully negotiable.
Compliance with Buyer-Broker Agreements
While the Lake Country Board of REALTORS® will not collect Buyer Broker Agreements, we must ensure that they exist and contain all required components. Similar to listing contracts, we will request a copy of the original agreement if improper use is reported.
More to Explore
Lake Country Board of REALTORS® is proud to support you in the important work you do. We work diligently to keep you informed about how these changes will impact your business and ours. Please explore our resources, designed to support you and your real estate business through these changes.
About the ARA Market Brief
The Atlanta REALTORS® (ARA Market Brief is compiled by First Multiple Listing Service (FMLS) and provides the only regionally focused synopsis of monthly sales and home prices for single-family residential properties. The Market Brief covers the following 11 counties: Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Paulding, and Rockdale.
The data in this report was compiled by First Multiple Listing Service (FMLS). For more information on details of this month's report, please contact the Association at 404.250.0051.
*Each month, the numbers reported for the previous month are updated to reflect additional recordings.
About the Atlanta REALTORS® Association
The Atlanta REALTORS® Association (ARA) has been an instrumental factor in the growth of real estate in the state of Georgia for more than a century. With over 14,000 members, Atlanta is the largest association in Georgia and is considered to be one of the strongest and most successful REALTOR® organizations in the nation. ARA serves as a central source of information for its members, mainly focusing on real estate education, the promotion of professionalism in the industry, and representing REALTORS® members with legislative initiatives to create positive change for the real estate community.
About First Multiple Listing Service
First Multiple Listing Service (FMLS) is the premier data services provider for real estate professionals in Georgia. FMLS was founded in 1957 by a group of Brokers who wanted to share their listings and connect buyers and sellers. Today FMLS is the largest MLS in Georgia & the 4th largest MLS in the United States, serving nearly 54,000 real estate Agents & Brokers. For additional information or to start a discussion about how to partner with FMLS please contact join@fmls.com.