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A buyer purchases an agricultural property in the Tualatin Valley and discovers after closing that the property has a certificated water right for irrigation but the seller never mentioned it in the listing or the purchase agreement. The Oregon broker representing the buyer failed to ask about water rights. Which of the following best describes the broker's potential liability?

Correct Answer

B) The broker may have liability for failing to investigate and disclose a material fact affecting the property's value and use.

Oregon brokers have a duty to disclose material facts affecting a property's value or desirability to their clients. Water rights are a significant material fact for agricultural properties in Oregon, given the prior appropriation doctrine and the importance of water access for farming. A broker representing a buyer of agricultural land should investigate and inquire about water rights as part of their professional duty. Failure to do so could expose the broker to liability for failing to disclose a material fact under ORS 696.805.

Answer Options
A
The broker has no liability because water rights are the seller's responsibility to disclose, not the broker's.
B
The broker may have liability for failing to investigate and disclose a material fact affecting the property's value and use.
C
The broker has no liability because the buyer could have discovered the water rights through due diligence.
D
The broker has liability only if the seller intentionally concealed the water right from the broker.

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Related Topics & Key Terms

Key Terms:

water_rightsmaterial_factbroker_dutydisclosureagricultural_property

Related Concepts

The bundle of rights describes the rights associated with property ownership, allowing owners to use, control, enjoy, exclude others from, and dispose of the property.

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