Buying a home is thrilling. Signing a mountain of paperwork? Not exactly the highlight of the experience. But as one North Carolina homebuyer discovered, skipping the fine print can come back to haunt you in a very expensive way.

A Contract, a New Home and Some Costly Surprises

Galya Mann hired a real estate agent to sell her townhome and help her buy a newly built home near Raleigh, North Carolina. Her agent negotiated some changes to the builder’s contract, and everything seemed to be moving along nicely.

There was just one little problem: Mann didn’t read the entire contract. She later explained that her agent had called it a “standard contract,” so she didn’t think a closer look was necessary.

Unfortunately, the house had other plans.

After moving in, Mann discovered foundation cracks, electrical problems and water damage. The estimated repair bill? A staggering $84,000 to $91,000.

She sued the builder and other parties, including her real estate agent, arguing that he should have advised her to get legal help before signing.

The Court’s Response? Read Before You Sign.

The North Carolina Court of Appeals sided with the agent. Why? Mann’s buyer agency agreement already advised her to seek professional advice on legal, financial and other matters.

The court found that describing the builder’s contract as standard didn’t mean the agent had discouraged her from consulting an attorney. And under North Carolina law, signing a contract generally means you’re responsible for knowing what’s in it, even if you never bothered to read it.

In other words, “I didn’t read it” isn’t much of a legal escape hatch.

The Real Estate Lesson

This case is a reminder that real estate contracts deserve more than a quick glance and a signature scribbled at the bottom.

For buyers, it’s worth slowing down, asking questions and getting legal advice when something doesn’t make sense. A few extra minutes of reading could prevent months of frustration and thousands of dollars in unexpected expenses.

For agents, clear communication and written buyer representation agreements help establish expectations, explain responsibilities and reduce misunderstandings.

Because when it comes to real estate, the most expensive words might just be, “I thought it was standard.”

Source: REALTOR® Magazine
“It Was All in Writing”
National Association of REALTORS®

Want to break into commercial real estate? There’s just one little problem: clients want experience, but how do you get experience without landing clients first?

It’s the classic real estate catch-22. You see exciting opportunities in commercial property, but jumping into unfamiliar territory without the right expertise can put both your business and your clients at risk.

That’s where Article 11 of the NAR Code of Ethics comes in. REALTORS® are expected to provide services within their areas of professional competence. If a transaction is outside their expertise, they must disclose that limitation or bring in someone qualified to help.

Fortunately, you don’t have to go it alone.

Partnering with an experienced commercial agent can be a smart way to learn the ropes while serving clients responsibly. You’ll gain valuable hands-on experience, build relationships, and develop the skills needed to tackle more complex transactions. Just remember to disclose the assisting professional’s involvement.

Education is another shortcut to building confidence. Commercial real estate courses, training programs, and mentorship can help residential agents understand leases, investment properties, and the unique demands of commercial transactions.

The bottom line? You don’t need to know everything to get started, but you do need to know your limits. Be transparent, find the right support, and keep learning. That way, you can grow your business without gambling with your clients’ trust.

After all, the best way to build a new specialty is to start smart, not pretend you’re already an expert.

Source: REALTOR® Magazine
“An Ethical Catch-22”
National Association of REALTORS®

That beautiful vacant lot you just found might be a great investment—or it might be a great setup for a scam.

In 2026, fraudsters are getting increasingly creative when it comes to real estate. One growing scheme involves pretending to be the owner of vacant land, hiring a real estate professional to list it and then trying to walk away with the sale proceeds. For buyers, the scary part is that the listing can look completely legitimate.

Vacant land is particularly attractive to scammers because there may be no house, tenant or neighbor who knows the real owner. Fraudsters can search public records, gather information about an owner and create a convincing fake identity.

How Does the Scam Work?

Imagine this: Someone contacts an agent claiming to own a piece of land. They’re motivated to sell quickly, they’re willing to accept cash and they don’t want to meet in person. Maybe they’re supposedly living out of state.

Everything sounds plausible—until it isn’t.

The scammer may provide forged documents or identification and push for a remote closing. They may even insist on using a particular notary. With today’s AI tools, fake identities, spoofed communications and convincing impersonation attempts can be harder to spot.

According to the American Land Title Association, about 59% of title insurance firms reported encountering at least one attempted seller-impersonation fraud in 2025, with vacant land among the most frequently targeted property types.

Watch for the Red Flags

A supposed seller deserves extra scrutiny if they:

• Want a quick, cash-only sale.
• Offer the property below market value.
• Avoid meeting face-to-face or by video.
• Seem unfamiliar with the property.
• Provide inconsistent identification or ownership information.
• Insist on choosing the closing professional or notary.

Slow Down Before You Sign

The best defense is verification. Real estate professionals should independently confirm ownership and identity and work with a trusted title or closing company. Buyers should remember that a legitimate-looking listing doesn’t necessarily mean the person offering the property actually owns it.

In 2026, a little extra verification can go a long way. When a land deal seems unusually easy, unusually cheap or unusually rushed, slow down and make sure the seller is really who they claim to be.

Source: REALTOR® Magazine
“Scammers Are Plotting to Sell Vacant Land Fraudulently’”
National Association of REALTORS®

You’ve found the perfect house online. You love the kitchen photos, the backyard looks great—and then you spot the floor plan. Suddenly, you know exactly where the kids’ rooms could go, whether your sofa will fit, and if that “open concept” claim is actually true.

But here’s the surprising part: who owns that floor plan—and whether a real estate agent can legally use it—can become a copyright issue.

A 2025 federal appeals court decision brought some important clarity to the question, and its implications are still relevant to real estate professionals in 2026.

In Designworks Homes, Inc. v. Columbia House of Brokers Realty, Inc., the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit considered whether real estate agents could create and publish floor plans of existing homes when the underlying architectural designs were copyrighted. The court ultimately held that, under the specific circumstances of the case, the agents’ use qualified as fair use. (copyright.gov)

So, why did the agents get the green light?

They weren’t using the plans to build another house. Instead, they created simplified floor plans to help prospective buyers understand and evaluate homes being offered for resale. The court considered that a different, informational purpose from the original architectural designs.

The court also weighed the other fair-use factors, including the nature of the copyrighted work, how much of the original design was used and whether the use could harm the copyright owner’s market. In this case, the court concluded that fair use applied. (ecf.ca8.uscourts.gov)

But there’s an important “don’t get too comfortable” here.

This decision does not mean every floor plan is automatically fair game. The U.S. Copyright Office explains that fair use is determined on a case-by-case basis. There isn’t a magic percentage or amount that automatically makes copying legal. (copyright.gov)

For real estate professionals, the 2026 takeaway is straightforward: using a floor plan to help market a home may qualify as fair use in circumstances similar to this case, but the details matter.

So the next time you see a floor plan tucked beneath those listing photos, remember: those little boxes and lines may look simple—but legally, there can be a lot more to the picture.

Source: REALTOR® Magazine
“Federal Court Says Floor Plans Fall Under ‘Fair Use’”
National Association of REALTORS®

You found the co-op you love. You’re ready to make your move. Then comes the application—and suddenly, you’re handing over financial records, paying fees, answering personal questions and waiting for a board’s decision. What happens if you’re turned down and aren’t told exactly why?

For buyers, that uncertainty can be more than frustrating. It can mean lost time, additional expenses and questions about whether the same standards are being applied consistently to every applicant. That’s why transparency in co-op transactions remains an important consumer issue in 2026.

Unlike a condominium, where buyers generally purchase an individual unit, co-op buyers purchase shares in a corporation that owns the building and receive a proprietary lease for their apartment. As a result, co-op boards can play a significant role in approving prospective buyers.

That makes it important to understand the rules before you invest heavily in the process.

NAR has highlighted concerns about co-op boards that reject applicants without providing clear explanations. Greater transparency around financial requirements, application procedures and rejection reasons can give buyers a better understanding of the process and help identify potential fair-housing concerns.

The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing based on protected characteristics, including race, color, religion, sex, familial status, national origin and disability. Federal protections also cover sexual orientation and gender identity.

For buyers, a smart approach starts with questions. What are the board’s financial requirements? What documents will you need? Are there application fees? Is an interview required? How long does approval typically take? And what happens if your application is rejected?

Getting answers upfront can help you avoid surprises after you’ve already invested significant time and money.

And in today’s real estate environment, buyers should also understand representation and compensation. Under NAR’s current rules, compensation remains negotiable, and written buyer agreements may spell out important terms of the relationship.

Buying a co-op is a major commitment. Knowing the process, understanding your rights and getting key requirements in writing can help you move forward with greater clarity and confidence.

Source: REALTOR® Magazine
“Co-op Transactions: Unmasking Hidden Discrimination”
National Association of REALTORS®

Buying a home in 2026? You may have heard that the rules around buyer’s agents, commissions and representation have changed. They have—but that doesn’t mean buyer representation has gone away.

If you’re shopping for a home today, you’ll likely encounter something that may be new to you: before touring a home with a real estate professional, you may be asked to sign a written buyer agreement. That agreement is designed to make the relationship clearer by explaining the services your agent will provide and how that agent will be compensated.

For many buyers, this can actually make the homebuying process easier to understand. Instead of wondering who your agent represents, what services they provide or how they get paid, those details can be discussed upfront and put in writing.

So, Do You Still Need a Buyer’s Agent?

That’s ultimately a decision each buyer needs to make based on their own circumstances. But buyer representation is certainly not a thing of the past.

Real estate professionals continue to work with buyers throughout the homebuying process—helping them find properties, arrange tours, understand market information, negotiate terms and navigate the transaction. What has changed is the emphasis on clearly establishing the relationship and discussing compensation before moving forward.

Under current NAR MLS policy, an MLS Participant working with a buyer generally must have a written agreement with that buyer before touring a home, including in-person and live virtual tours. The agreement must clearly state how the professional will be compensated and that broker compensation is negotiable. (nar.realtor)

What Does That Mean for You as a Buyer?

The biggest takeaway is that you should understand the agreement before you sign it.

A buyer representation agreement can outline the services your real estate professional will provide, the length of the relationship and how compensation will work. Compensation is negotiable, and there isn’t one standard commission rate that every buyer is required to pay.

Under the 2026 NAR Code of Ethics, REALTORS® entering into buyer/tenant agreements must explain compensation, including the amount the client will pay, if any, and the possibility of compensation coming from other sources. (nar.realtor)

That gives buyers an opportunity to have an important conversation before they start seriously shopping.

The Rules Have Changed, But Representation Hasn’t Disappeared

If you’ve been following the headlines about real estate commissions, you may understandably be wondering what all of this means when you’re ready to buy.

The answer isn’t that buyers can no longer have an agent. Instead, the industry has moved toward greater transparency around the buyer-agent relationship, services and compensation.

For buyers, that means asking questions is more important than ever. Before signing an agreement, make sure you understand what your agent will do for you, how long the agreement lasts, how compensation works and whether you could have an obligation to pay compensation yourself.

The homebuying process can already feel complicated enough. Understanding your relationship with your real estate professional shouldn’t be another mystery.

Buyer representation is still here in 2026. The difference is that today’s buyers have more reason to have a clear conversation about the relationship and compensation before they begin the journey.

Source: REALTOR® Magazine
“NAR Attorneys: Buyer Representation Is Not a Thing of the Past”
National Association of REALTORS®