Final answer:
If a husband signed a broker agreement without his wife's signature on a jointly held property, the broker may not enforce the agreement. Consent of both joint tenants is typically required for binding agreements on jointly owned property. The broker may not be entitled to a commission due to the potentially invalid listing.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a husband and wife owned their home as joint tenants and the husband signed an exclusive listing agreement with a broker without the wife's signature or disclosing the manner of title holding, the broker may face challenges to enforce the listing agreement. In real estate, joint tenancy involves co-ownership where each party has an equal share and right to the property. In most jurisdictions, the consent of both parties is required to enter into binding contracts concerning jointly owned property. In the event of a commission dispute due to the wife not signing the agreement, a broker might find themselves in a legally precarious position, as they arguably lack a validly executed contract with the authority to sell the property. Without her authorization, the listing might be considered invalid, and consequently, the broker may not have a right to receive a commission. This underscores the importance of brokers obtaining signatures from all parties who hold title to the property in joint tenancy before proceeding with any sales effort.