Finding out about real estate broker misrepresentation after a home sale in Maryland is beyond frustrating, especially when it costs you money. Because brokers have a fiduciary duty to their clients, and are responsible for the actions of their real estate agents, you can hold brokers responsible for negligence or fraud. When you contact a real estate lawyer, you can file a lawsuit against the broker for misrepresentation.
Whitney, LLP’s real estate lawyers help home buyers bring claims and file lawsuits against dishonest and negligent home sellers, house flippers, real estate agents and termite inspection companies across Maryland. Our attorneys recover compensation for buyers to repair hidden damage and defects and for emotional distress. We offer legal consultations.
If you need a real estate lawyer near me to help with hidden damage, failure to disclose defects, negligence or fraud in the purchase of a house, call us at 410 583 8000 or use our Online Quick Contact Form.
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Holding Real Estate Brokers Responsible for Misrepresentations
A real estate broker is expected to have a wealth of experience in the business. Thus, it is even more upsetting and wrong when they misrepresent a property to you as the buyer. However, you can take some comfort in knowing that the broker can be held legally responsible for misrepresentation under certain circumstances.
First, it is important to understand the distinction in the types of broker misrepresentations. Not every single wrong thing that comes out of their mouth or that they put in writing may be grounds for a lawsuit; there may be a very limited category of misrepresentation that would be considered innocent. Nonetheless, even an innocent misrepresentation could still form the basis for a lawsuit against the real estate broker.
An innocent misrepresentation is one that the person who utters the statement has a reason to believe is true. In other words, while they are still telling you something that is factually wrong, they are not flat-out lying to you. Here, the broker could have relied on information that was in the MLS but was incorrect. Alternatively, they could have relied on information from the seller, such as the square footage, and not verified it. Your real estate attorney still be able to hold the broker liable in court for these mistakes that end up costing you.
A negligent misrepresentation is when a broker breaches its duty and provider wrong information. Real estate brokers owe you the duty of care to make reasonable efforts to verify that what they are telling you is true.
Fraudulent Misrepresentation by a Broker
Your broker could have made a fraudulent misrepresentation. This is clearly the worst kind of behavior in the sales process. In this case, they would have lied and purposely provided you with wrong information. If your broker lied to you, they could be in a world of legal trouble as the allegations against them would include fraud.
Not only might they be liable to you for significant damages, but their reputation and livelihood would take a severe hit when word gets out about what they did. This is where you and your real estate lawyer should take aggressive legal action to ensure that the broker faces repercussions for their behavior.
Real Estate Lawyer Suing Maryland Brokers for Misrepresentation
If you need to hold a real estate brokerage responsible for negligence, fraud or other conduct, Whitney, LLP attorneys can help.
If you were the victim of a dishonest seller, real estate agent or broker, or WDI/termite inspection company in Maryland, contact Whitney, LLP’s real estate lawyers at 410 583 8000, or use our Online Quick Contact Form, for your Legal Consultation.
We represent homebuyers throughout Maryland, including Baltimore, Columbia, Germantown, Silver Spring, Waldorf, Frederick, Ellicott City, Glen Burnie, Gaithersburg, Rockville, Bethesda, Dundalk, Towson, Bowie, Aspen Hill and Wheaton.