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Practice Of Real EstateState_specificMEDIUM

A buyer's broker in Washington State is representing a client purchasing an irrigated vineyard in Walla Walla County. The listing agent mentions that the property has 'water rights,' but provides no documentation. Which of the following actions reflects the broker's most appropriate duty to the buyer client regarding the water rights issue?

Correct Answer

A) Recommend that the buyer verify the existence, validity, and terms of the water rights through the Department of Ecology's water rights database and consult a water rights attorney before closing.

A buyer's broker in Washington owes fiduciary duties to the client under RCW 18.86, including the duty to disclose material information and to exercise reasonable care. Water rights are a critical and material feature of an irrigated agricultural property — without valid, documented water rights, the vineyard's irrigation system may be useless. The broker should recommend that the buyer independently verify the water rights through the Department of Ecology's publicly accessible water rights database, review the actual permit documents, and consult a water rights attorney to assess the validity, seniority, and transferability of the rights before closing.

Answer Options
A
Recommend that the buyer verify the existence, validity, and terms of the water rights through the Department of Ecology's water rights database and consult a water rights attorney before closing.
B
Advise the buyer that water rights are a standard feature of all Eastern Washington agricultural properties and no further investigation is needed.
C
Request that the listing agent provide a verbal confirmation of the water rights and include that confirmation in the transaction file.
D
Advise the buyer to proceed with closing and address any water right issues with the seller after the sale is complete.

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Related Topics & Key Terms

Key Terms:

water_rightsbuyer_agencydue_diligencefiduciary_dutyagricultural_property

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