Question

Chris is the broker hired to sell Erin's house. Chris shows the house to the Martin's, who want to put in an effort on it. At this point, what duties does Chris legally owe to the Martin's?

1) Confidentiality and fairness
2) Fairness and honesty
3) Obedience and disclosure
4) Confidentiality and honesty

Answer 1

The broker, Chris, owes the duties of fairness and honesty to the potential buyers, the Martins. Confidentiality is owed to the seller, Erin, and does not extend to the buyers. Obedience is specific to the client-seller relationship and also does not apply to the buyers.

Step-by-step explanation:

Chris, the real estate broker, owes specific duties to Erin, the seller, as Erin is Chris's client. However, when showing the house to potential buyers, like the Martins, Chris has a duty to treat the Martins fairly and honestly. This means that option 2) Fairness and honesty is the correct answer regarding the duties Chris legally owes to the Martin's, who are the buyers in this situation.

It's important to note that while a broker may owe some duties to a buyer, their primary obligation is to the seller. Confidentiality, for instance, is a duty owed to the seller to keep their personal information and motives private unless given permission to disclose. Obedience, on the other hand, refers to the duty of following the lawful instructions of the client (the seller in this case) and does not apply to the buyers.