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Practice Of Real EstateLicense LawMEDIUM

Greg, a licensed Rhode Island salesperson, convinces his neighbor — who is not licensed — to refer potential buyers to him in exchange for a $500 payment after each successful closing. Under Rhode Island law, which statement is correct?

Correct Answer

C) This arrangement is illegal because Rhode Island prohibits paying compensation for real estate services to unlicensed individuals

Under R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-20.5, it is unlawful for a licensed real estate professional to pay any compensation, finder's fee, or referral fee to an unlicensed person for services that require a real estate license, including referring clients for the purpose of earning a commission. Greg's payment to his unlicensed neighbor constitutes an illegal commission split and exposes both Greg and potentially his broker to disciplinary action.

Answer Options
A
This arrangement is legal because $500 is below the threshold requiring a real estate license
B
This arrangement is legal if the neighbor discloses the referral fee to the buyers
C
This arrangement is illegal because Rhode Island prohibits paying compensation for real estate services to unlicensed individuals
D
This arrangement is legal as long as Greg's broker provides written approval of the referral agreement

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Related Topics & Key Terms

Key Terms:

unlicensed_referralcommission_splittingillegal_compensationlicense_law

Related Concepts

Florida brokers are required to maintain transaction records and escrow records for a minimum of five years.

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.

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