A California real estate licensee is retained solely to locate a buyer for one specific parcel of commercial property. Once that transaction closes, the agency relationship ends. Under California agency law, this licensee is best classified as which type of agent?
Correct Answer
B) Special agent
A special agent is authorized to perform a single, specific act or transaction on behalf of the principal, after which the agency terminates. California real estate licensees acting under a listing or buyer-representation agreement are classic examples of special agents — their authority is confined to the defined purpose (e.g., marketing one property or locating one property for purchase) and does not extend to binding the principal in other matters. This classification is foundational to California agency law and is reflected in the limited authority structure of standard CAR listing and representation agreements.
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Previous Question
A buyer's agent in California, working for a different brokerage than the seller's agent, discovers during due diligence that the subject property is located in a FEMA-designated flood zone. This information does not appear anywhere in the seller's disclosures. What is the buyer's agent's primary obligation under California law?
Next Question
A California licensed property manager is retained under a written management agreement to oversee a 20-unit residential building for an indefinite term. The agreement authorizes the manager to collect rents, enforce lease terms, hire and pay vendors, and approve routine repairs up to $500 without prior owner approval. Under California agency law, how is this property manager classified?