Amanda

The rise of deepfake technology is making waves, and unfortunately, not the good kind. For real estate brokers, these ultra-realistic fake videos, audio, and images have become a…

Whether you’re just stepping into the mortgage broker or escrow field or expanding your services, it’s important to understand how surety bonds work. Who Needs Them? Many professionals…

As a real estate licensee, you’ve undoubtedly come across unrepresented buyers. The number of purchasers who act without any representation from buyer’s agents is on the rise. In…

Agent-owned property (AOP) is real estate owned by a real estate licensee. Even if it’s just a small personal stake, it would still be considered agent-owned property.  Whether…

Bait-and-switch tactics might seem harmless at first — until you’re the one on the receiving end.  Imagine this: a buyer or renter comes across an amazing deal, only…

Emergencies can strike when you least expect it and, as a property manager, you don’t just need to react, you need to lead. Wildfires, hurricanes, flooding — each…

In the fast-paced, highly regulated world of real estate, brokers and agents are tasked with more than just facilitating transactions between buyers and sellers. One crucial responsibility that…

Your buyers have questions. You want to be helpful and answer them, but should you?  Surprisingly, answering many seemingly innocuous real estate questions — Is this a safe…

Have you or one of your team members ever had a buyer back out of a purchase? Did a  seller back out of a sale for a better…

As a real estate professional, do you ever lie awake worrying about whether you need to disclose something? Or how to handle a non-cooperative owner? Or whether that…

As a real estate professional, the language you use can have a significant impact on the quality of offers your sellers might receive. Carelessly worded property listings can…

Picture this — a real estate licensee who works for you uses a relentless, high-pressure sales pitch to corner a client so they can’t possibly say no. The…

Broad Form Endorsement provides more comprehensive coverage compared to basic real estate errors and omissions policies. It extends protections to a wider range of risks and potential liabilities…

If you’re a real estate broker, you or your team members have probably encountered your fair share of investor groups or syndicates as clients. These types of clients…

For certain states, escrow is the process where parties transfer funds to a neutral third party and they are held in trust until specific conditions are met before…

As a real estate professional, you face risks in your work every day that, iIf not managed well, could result in lawsuits. Often these are centered around claims…

According to the National Association of REALTORS®, there is a growing demand for eco-friendly housing. Sustainable homes are rising in popularity not only for their positive environmental impacts but…

For other members of your family, summer may be a great time to take some vacation days, soak up the sun, spend time with the kids, or get…

In this webinar, Dave Miller, Regional Vice President with Fidelity National Home Warranty, and Kathryn Holbert, a Nevada-based real estate attorney, talk about the challenges of working with…

Risk Management is the first line of defense against potential errors and omissions claims for real estate professionals. Reach out as soon as you think a dispute or…

When Does a Real Estate Professional Need a Business Owner’s Policy? Real estate professionals face a multitude of risks every day. A Business Owner’s Policy protects your real…

Do you or your team members ever pay referral fees? Do you have a list of preferred contractors that you give to clients? Do other companies to whom…

More and more California property owners are confronted with individuals who have taken up habitation on their land and refuse to leave, called “squatters.” A squatter is a…

As a real estate broker, your team is one of your greatest assets. However, as your team and business grow, you also face increased risks that must be…

It seems like every day there is a new tool that comes out with a promise of productivity, time-saving, and improved customer experience. It can be tempting to…

Not all real estate Errors & Omissions (E&O) insurance policies for real estate companies, brokers, and licensees are created equal. The differences between policies and what different insurers…

Short-term vacation rentals have been very popular in California the past ten (10) years or so. With such popularity, challenges arise for the property owner wishing to undertake…

When you receive an offer on a property, it’s exciting, right? But, when you receive multiple offers, the situation can become complex — rapidly. How you deal with…

*Comparison based on base policy cost for licensees performing activities requiring a license. Read each policy for a full comparison of coverage and benefits. Certain restrictions apply. All…

An accessory dwelling unit (ADU) is a secondary housing unit on a single-family residential lot in California that is a separate and distinct living unit than the main…

High-value real estate transactions bring bigger commissions, but also bigger risks for real estate brokers. The stakes are high and any oversight or negligence (actual or perceived) can…

Real estate licensees around the world are facing increasing threats from wire fraud scammers. These scammers are becoming more sophisticated as they try to obtain financial benefit from…

A Colorado court recently ruled in favor of dismissing personal injury claims against a listing broker and her brokerage. The claimant alleged that she slipped and fell on…

As a real estate professional, you need to be aware of the risks within your business – and take advantage of the vital tools to mitigate those risks…

If you filed a Schedule SE and reported positive net income in 2020 or 2021, you could be eligible to receive up to $32,200. But you only have…

Real estate brokers are always telling their clients to do their due diligence when it comes to real estate transactions. But, when was your last due diligence audit…

Co-marketing listings can be a win/win for real estate professionals. It’s an effective way to increase exposure and reach new prospects. It’s also a value-for-money proposition as you’re…

As a real estate professional, you must protect both yourself and your real estate business from potential risks and liabilities. Real Estate Errors and Omissions (E&O) insurance can…

In California, there are distinct differences between an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) and an accessory living quarter (ALQ).  This article explains the differences. ADUs and ALQs increase the…

Real estate brokers have an ethical and legal responsibility to ensure your business complies with antitrust laws. Avoiding anti-competitive behavior, or anything that may be perceived as anti-competitive,…

California has several new laws affecting real estate and housing coming into effect at various dates in 2024: Tenants’ Rights Assembly Bill 12 Landlords in California have been…

In real estate, many licensees choose to give closing gifts as a thoughtful gesture to wrap up a client’s home sale or purchase. It’s one of the many…

In our latest webinar, Kathryn Holbert from Nevada Real Estate Law and Dave Miller, Regional Vice President with Fidelity National Home Warranty, talk about the latest risk management…

Most real estate Errors and Omissions insurance policies are “Claims Made” policies. They provide coverage for claims made and reported during the policy period. Claims Made policies cover…

As a real estate broker, you can be held responsible for the things your licensees say. If they say the wrong thing to a client or prospect, you…

Penthouse apartments sound sexy and exciting, but they present a unique set of risks that real estate licensees need to navigate carefully if selling or renting them. This…

As a real estate licensee, you will likely encounter clients whose first language isn’t English. Working with a diverse range of clients is positive for your business, but…

In this webinar, Mark Carlson from Carlson Law Group, and Dave Miller, Regional Vice President with Fidelity National Home Warranty, talk about how real estate professionals can add…

As the real estate landscape evolves, so do the challenges faced by licensees. At CRES, we try to keep you informed about issues that could lead to a…

Maintaining confidentiality is important for any business. In real estate, confidentiality helps to build trust between licensees and clients. But, sometimes a real estate licensee’s duty of confidentiality…

Are you noticing a slowdown in your market due to the higher interest rates? The increased cost of borrowing can deter potential homebuyers from entering the market,and higher…

As a real estate broker, there may come a time when you might consider expanding your business into unfamiliar territory. This could involve venturing into new geographic locations…

Did you pay attention to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) policy statement on abusive acts and practices? If you are a real estate agent in a joint…

Having an accessible website is not just a matter of being inclusive — real estate licensees have a legal obligation. You must ensure your website complies with the…

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) was established in March 2020 to provide paid sick and family leave benefits related to COVID-19. Initially, only companies with W-2…

Mortgage brokers often rely on the expertise of third-party vendors, such as transaction coordinators, in the course of your work. The use of these additional real estate professionals…

It is essential that Real Estate Brokers have an understanding of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA). RESPA is a federal law governing real estate transactions involving…

The stakes are often high with commercial transactions. To help real estate licensees avoid commercial claims,  we discuss the risks, as well as  real-life cases and our top…

A growing number of locations are introducing tighter restrictions on short-term rentals. This is posing significant challenges for property managers, especially those who work across different districts. And…

Termed "The Great Resignation" by the media, more than 47 million Americans left their jobs in 2021. This phenomenon reflects the increasing desire of many employees to achieve…