Staying on the right side of the law is just one of the many responsibilities facing real estate brokers and managers. How do you ensure you’re covering this side of your business? For starters, make sure you’re leveraging the numerous valuable and time-saving resources provided by the legal team at the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR).
Whether you want to stay informed about the latest developments or drill deeper on a specific topic, you’ll always find new and relevant reporting on real estate laws, compliance regulations and risk management issues from NAR at NAR.realtor/Legal.
Following is a small sampling of available resources:
Monthly Videos: Window to the Law
One of the easiest ways to stay current on timely legal topics is via the Window to the Law video series. For example, the video titled “PHH v. CFPB – Important RESPA Decision” discusses a recent ruling by the D.C. Circuit Court, which removed the uncertainty surrounding advertising arrangements between settlement service providers and rejected the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s interpretation of RESPA.
Each edition of Window to the Law is less than five minutes long, providing essential details for brokerage professionals. Segments also include a written transcript, downloadable slides, and, if applicable, related resources. It’s an easy way to share key points with members of your team and take steps to address important legal and compliance issues.
Other recent video topics include:
- Creating a Cybersecurity Program
- Legal Texting Under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA)
- Avoiding Unlicensed Practice of Law
- 2018 MLS and NAR Policy Changes
To access all of NAR’s Window to the Law videos, visit NAR.realtor/videos/window-to-the-law.
Quarterly Updates: Legal Pulse
Initially developed as a quarterly newsletter that analyzes legal trends and tracks cases and statutes, Legal Pulse has grown into a searchable database of hundreds of case summaries, organized by topic and date. It’s an excellent tool for digging deeper into specific legal issues.
If you’re only interested in staying up-to-date on the latest developments, Legal Pulse offers three options:
- The complete quarterly Legal Pulse newsletter (typically 20-30 pages)
- A one-page Executive Summary
- Video highlights (under five minutes)
Select whichever format fits your needs at NAR.realtor/legal-pulse.
Real Estate Brokerage Essentials
Every broker needs a comprehensive legal guide on their bookshelf, and the new fourth edition of “Real Estate Brokerage Essentials®: Navigating Legal Risks and Managing a Successful Brokerage” is the best tool you’ll find for running your offices efficiently and minimizing your risk for legal liability.
Best of all, “Real Estate Brokerage Essentials” is easy to use. It provides step-by-step guidance on the most essential legal and risk management topics, including hiring and training employees, licensing issues, dealing with consumers, complying with intellectual property considerations, and handling tough business issues.
You’ll also find numerous quick tips, helpful summaries and checklists to simplify and streamline your efforts to successfully manage your business, plus several training modules to test your knowledge.
Order the latest edition of “Real Estate Brokerage Essentials” through the REALTOR® Store at Store.realtor/REBE.
Legal Resources at Your Fingertips
Intellectual property issues, namely copyright issues regarding listing content, play a major role in the real estate industry. Explore the many resources NAR offers on copyright issues for real estate professionals at NAR.realtor/copyright.
Whether you’re concerned about copyright infringement, wire fraud, new data security rules, independent contractor status, fair housing issues, or any number of other legal and risk management topics, count on NAR to help you stay current and compliant.
Current and Comprehensive Legal Resources
To access a complete compilation of NAR legal resources, visit NAR.realtor/Legal.
For the latest real estate news and trends, bookmark RISMedia.com.
