A California listing agent holds an exclusive right-to-sell listing under the C.A.R. Residential Listing Agreement (RLA) with a 90-day safety clause. The listing expires without a sale. Sixty days after expiration, a buyer who was shown the property by the listing agent during the active listing period purchases the property — and the seller did not re-list with any other broker. Does the original listing broker have a valid commission claim?

Correct Answer

C) Yes, because the sale occurred within the 90-day protection period to a buyer the broker had previously introduced to the property

The C.A.R. RLA safety clause (broker protection clause) preserves the listing broker's right to a commission for sales that occur within the specified protection period after listing expiration, provided the buyer was introduced to or shown the property by the broker during the active listing period. Because the sale occurred within 60 days of expiration (inside the 90-day window), the buyer was shown the property by the broker during the listing, and the seller did not re-list with another broker — which would trigger the override exception — the original broker has a valid contractual commission claim.