A buyer in Oakland, California, receives an NHD report that does not indicate any natural hazard zones. Three months after closing, the buyer learns from a neighbor that the property is actually within a Seismic Hazard Zone for liquefaction. The buyer sues the third-party NHD company. Under California Civil Code §1103.4, what is the NHD company's potential liability?
Correct Answer
B) The NHD company may be liable if it failed to exercise reasonable care in researching and reporting the hazard zone information
Under California Civil Code §1103.4, while agents can rely on third-party NHD reports in good faith, the NHD company itself can be liable if it failed to exercise reasonable care in preparing the report. The standard is negligence — if the company's research was inadequate or careless, it may be liable for resulting damages.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Deep Analysis of This Practice Of Real Estate Disclosures Question
Background Knowledge for Practice Of Real Estate Disclosures
Real World Application in Practice Of Real Estate Disclosures
Common Mistakes to Avoid on Practice Of Real Estate Disclosures Questions
Related Topics & Key Terms
Key Terms:
Related Concepts
Violating fair housing laws can lead to significant penalties, including fines, civil liability, and professional discipline.
Death on property disclosure addresses whether sellers must inform buyers about deaths that occurred on the property, including natural deaths, suicides, and murders. Requirements vary significantly by state.
Environmental hazards disclosure involves informing buyers about environmental contamination or hazards affecting or potentially affecting a property, including underground storage tanks, contaminated soil, hazardous waste, and proximity to Superfund sites.
More Practice Of Real Estate Disclosures Questions
Under California law, a real estate agent owes a duty of honest and fair dealing to all parties in a transaction, not only to the agent's own client. Which provision most directly establishes this duty?
A landlord is required to provide a copy of the written lease to the tenant within:
A California-licensed salesperson uses the title 'Real Estate Consultant' on business cards and marketing materials without holding any special certification or designation. Under DRE regulations, this practice is:
Barnard made an offer to buy a vacant residence. The offer was accepted by the seller. Prior to the close of escrow, Barnard requested permission from the broker to enter and make minor repairs to the house. Which of the following is true?
Most common business structure for one individual:
- → A developer proposes a new eight-unit condominium building in San Francisco on a parcel that an NHD report shows lies within a delineated Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zone. Under the Alquist-Priolo Act, what must happen before the city may approve the project?
- → At a DRE administrative disciplinary hearing in California, what standard of proof must the Department meet to sustain a finding against a licensee?
- → The Transfer Disclosure Statement requires sellers to disclose various known property conditions under California Civil Code §1102 et seq. All of the following must be disclosed on the TDS EXCEPT:
- → California's Holden Act (Housing Financial Discrimination Act, HSC §35800) addresses lending discrimination. All of the following lending practices are prohibited by the Holden Act EXCEPT:
- → A salesperson receives a $2,000 cash earnest money deposit from a buyer during a property showing. Under California trust fund rules, what is the salesperson's required next step?
- → A California salesperson receives a $3,000 earnest money deposit from a buyer on Tuesday morning. The salesperson does not deliver the funds to the broker until the following Monday. Under California trust fund rules, has a violation occurred?
- → A California property owner in a Mello-Roos CFD discovers that the bond proceeds were mismanaged by the CFD administrator and the planned community park was never built, even though property owners have been paying the special tax for 10 years. What legal recourse does the property owner have?
- → The Real Estate Commissioner may discipline a licensee for the conduct described in Business and Professions Code §§10176 and 10177. Which of the following would NOT be grounds for disciplinary action?
- → Which of the following correctly describes California's mandatory fair housing continuing education requirement for real estate license renewal?
- → The main purpose of the Uniform Commercial Code is to:
People Also Study
Buyer Representation Agreement
8% of exam
Property Ownership
10% of exam
Land Use Controls and Regulations
8% of exam
Valuation and Market Analysis
10% of exam
Related Articles
Property Flyer Generator — 2026 Guide for U.S. Agents: Step-by-Step + Best Practices
Learn how Property Flyer Generator works and how U.S. real estate agents use it in 2026. Includes setup steps, practical examples, and best-practice tips.
Why Real Estate Exam Notes Stop Helping Once You Avoid Mixed Practice
A topic that feels clear in notes can still fail in practice if recall has not caught up with recognition. If you are searching for real estate exam notes...
Real Estate Exam Practice Questions by Topic (2026): Free Sets for Contracts, Agency, Financing
Get topic-based real estate exam practice sets and a simple sequence to move from learning to timed mocks.
Previous Question
A listing agent in Redding, California, orders an NHD report from a third-party company. The report indicates the property is in a State Fire Responsibility Area (SRA). The seller asks what this means. What is the correct explanation?
Next Question
A seller in Santa Cruz, California, provides the NHD to a buyer. The NHD shows the property is in both a Seismic Hazard Zone and a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone. The buyer wants to know who created the maps used to determine these zone designations. Which answer is correct?