Can a realtor mark up my deal to his clients?

Can a realtor mark up my deal to his clients?

Issaquah, WA · Member since 2012 · 9 posts · 1 vote
I have a wholesale deal (my first) and I have a realtor who found the buyer for me. This is his first wholesale also. The realtor marked it up a few thousand and contracted his clients. In this case, he is not charging a commission and is not charging me. Is it okay for him to do it this way?
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Real Estate Investor · Audubon, PA · Member since 2009 · 13k+ posts · 8k+ votes
12y

Isn't that what you did with your seller? Did you think that was OK?

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  • Real Estate Investor · Audubon, PA · Member since 2009 · 13k+ posts · 8k+ votes
    12y

    Isn't that what you did with your seller? Did you think that was OK?

  • Jay HinrichsBusiness Member
    Real Estate Consultant · Summerlin, NV · Member since 2014 · 45k+ posts · 66k+ votes
    12y

    @Glenn Bravy 

      are you selling it to the Realtor ?   if you are then its like anyone else they bought a property from you and are now selling for a profit. In Wa. as long as they disclose to you in your contract that they are licensed and then disclose to the new buyer. Then all is good.

  • Jean BolgerPro Member
    Aurora, CO · Member since 2012 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    12y

    I understand why you're asking the question. A realtor does have a fiduciary duty to the buyer, and a situation like that seems to have the potential for some "grey areas". From my understanding, disclosure is the key element here. While it is more common for a realtor to be paid a commission from the selling side of the transaction, it's perfectly legal to have the buyer pay for the realtor's service; it just depends on what's in the contract.  If they disclose how they are getting their compensation (and they're bound to be- it would become obvious at the closing I'd think), and the buyer is getting a property at a price they are happy with, then all is fine. 

  • Jay HinrichsBusiness Member
    Real Estate Consultant · Summerlin, NV · Member since 2014 · 45k+ posts · 66k+ votes
    12y

    @Jean Bolger 

      this agent may have a buyers brokers agreement.  Or is just flipping it.. As long as they disclose they are a broker to the seller and to the buyer  then all is good, especially in this case were the seller is a bird dog or flipper,

  • Issaquah, WA · Member since 2012 · 9 posts · 1 vote
    12y

    @Jean Bolger 

    Right. I was wondering about fiduciary responsibility. It seems that everything is being disclosed properly.

    He's creating an intermediate position between me and the buyer so that he makes his fee.

  • Jean BolgerPro Member
    Aurora, CO · Member since 2012 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    12y

    yes, @Jay Hinrichs I'm probably overthinking it! And perhaps there are some slight differences from the Colorado rules.

  • Real Estate Investor · Audubon, PA · Member since 2009 · 13k+ posts · 8k+ votes
    12y

    There are a lot of realtors who are also wholesalers, just like the OP. And they are just doing the same thing that the OP is doing. 

  • Investor, Entrepreneur, Educator · Springfield, MO · Member since 2009 · 21k+ posts · 12k+ votes
    12y

    And such Realtors need to understand "Net Listing" arrangements as all may not be good at all. Sounds like that's what the Realtor could be doing if there is a Realtor/broker contract involved.  It's usually best to convert the fee to a % of the sale price as a commission or charge a flat fee as a Realtor, disclosed to all necessary parties. Disclosing that you're doing something does not give you leeway to do something wrong, it's still wrong. :)

  • Jay HinrichsBusiness Member
    Real Estate Consultant · Summerlin, NV · Member since 2014 · 45k+ posts · 66k+ votes
    12y

    @Bill Gulley 

     I this scenario I don't think the Realtor has done anything wrong.. If what is being described is simply

    1. wholesaler got a property under contract

    2. Realtor is going to buy it for X and Realtor on the purchase contracts divulges  license status.

    3. Realtor then goes into contract with buyer subject too the property closing and divulges he license status to the buyer. 

    sounds like a triple escrow ... End buyers funds will be used to purchase the property from the original seller.. wholesaler gets paid and then Realtor gets paid.

    But really need more specific information on the transaction to really know whats going on.

  • Investor, Entrepreneur, Educator · Springfield, MO · Member since 2009 · 21k+ posts · 12k+ votes
    12y

    The catch 22 is having a listing agreement in the mix with any agency, a Realtor may buy on his own account, but jacking the price for the seller isn't the way to do it without taking title unless it's a Realtor fee as mentioned. That is where you can get into net listing issues. And, you're correct, we don't have enough information to know what's going on which is usually the case in forums and our speculations as to what might be going on.

  • Jay HinrichsBusiness Member
    Real Estate Consultant · Summerlin, NV · Member since 2014 · 45k+ posts · 66k+ votes
    12y

    @Bill Gulley 

      agree on all your points.

  • Jean BolgerPro Member
    Aurora, CO · Member since 2012 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    12y

    @Bill Gulley did a better job than me at describing what would make me potentially uneasy about such a transaction. I was assuming that the final buyer was already a client of the realtor. If so, the % or flat fee for service is really a much cleaner way to do the deal. 

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