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Practice Of Real EstateLicense_lawMEDIUM

Broker Sandra maintains a trust account for her real estate brokerage in New Orleans. At the end of the month, she notices the trust account balance is $800 higher than the total of all client deposits she is holding. Which of the following best describes this situation under Louisiana license law?

Correct Answer

C) The overage constitutes commingling, meaning Sandra has mixed personal or brokerage funds with client funds in the trust account

When a trust account balance exceeds the total of client deposits being held, the excess funds represent personal or brokerage funds that have been mixed with client funds — a practice known as commingling. Under Louisiana license law, commingling is a serious violation. Trust accounts must contain only client funds, and brokers must perform regular reconciliations to ensure the account balance matches the total of all client deposits held.

Answer Options
A
The overage is permissible as long as Sandra can explain the discrepancy in her monthly reconciliation notes
B
The overage constitutes conversion, which is the unauthorized use of client funds and a serious violation of Louisiana license law
C
The overage constitutes commingling, meaning Sandra has mixed personal or brokerage funds with client funds in the trust account
D
The overage is only a violation if it exceeds $1,000; small overages under that threshold are within acceptable tolerance under LREC rules

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Related Topics & Key Terms

Key Terms:

trust_accountcomminglingconversionbroker_obligationslicense_requirements

Related Concepts

A tie-in arrangement is an illegal antitrust practice in which a seller conditions the purchase of one product or service on the buyer's agreement to purchase a separate product or service.

A trust account, also called an escrow account, is a separate bank account maintained by a broker to hold funds belonging to others, such as earnest money deposits, security deposits, or other client funds.

Advertising regulations govern how real estate licensees may market properties and services, requiring truthful, non-deceptive advertising that includes proper identification of the brokerage.

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