If you are buying or selling a home and you are talking to a real estate agent(s), the MN law says you must read/discuss this with each agent.


How-to-find-a-realtor-to sell-a-house-in-the-twin-cities

Here is the wording on the disclosure (UPDATED 8/2019):

AGENCY RELATIONSHIPS IN REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS
Page 1
MINNESOTA LAW REQUIRES MINNESOTA LAW REQUIRES that early in any relationship, real estate brokers or salespersons discuss with consumers what type of agency representation or relationship they desire. The available options are listed below. This is not a contract. This is an agency disclosure form only. If you desire representation you must enter into a written contract, according to state law (a listing contract or a buyer/tenant representation contract). Until such time as you choose to enter into a written contract for representation, you will be treated as a customer and will not receive any representation from the broker or salesperson. The broker or salesperson will be acting as a Facilitator (see paragraph IV on page two (2)), unless the broker or salesperson is representing another party, as described below.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT: I/We acknowledge that I/we have been presented with the below-described options.
I/We understand that until I/we have signed a representation contract, I/we am/are not represented by the broker/salesperson. I/We understand that written consent is required for a dual agency relationship.
THIS IS A DISCLOSURE ONLY, NOT A CONTRACT FOR REPRESENTATION.
___________ ______________
(Signature) (Date) (Signature) (Date)

I. Seller’s/Landlord’s Broker: A broker who lists a property, or a salesperson who is licensed to the listing broker,
represents the Seller/Landlord and acts on behalf of the Seller/Landlord. A Seller’s/Landlord’s broker owes to
the Seller/Landlord the fiduciary duties described on page two (2).(2) The broker must also disclose to the Buyer
. material facts as defined in MN Statute 82.68, Subd. 3, of which the broker is aware that could adversely and
significantly affect the Buyer’s use or enjoyment of the property. (MN Statute 82.68, Subd. 3 does not apply to
rental/lease transactions.) If a broker or salesperson working with a Buyer/Tenant as a customer is representing the
Seller/Landlord, he or she must act in the Seller’s/Landlord’s best interest and must tell the Seller/Landlord any
information disclosed to him or her, except confidential information acquired in a facilitator relationship (see paragraph
IV on page two (2)). In that case, the Buyer/Tenant will not be represented and will not receive advice and counsel
from the broker or salesperson.
II. Buyer’s/Tenant’s Broker: A Buyer/Tenant may enter into an agreement for the broker or salesperson to represent
and act on behalf of the Buyer/Tenant. The broker may represent the Buyer/Tenant only, and not the Seller/Landlord,
even if he or she is being paid in whole or in part by the Seller/Landlord. A Buyer’s/Tenant’s broker owes to the
Buyer/Tenant the fiduciary duties described on page two (2).(2) The broker must disclose to the Buyer material facts
as defined in MN Statute 82.68, Subd. 3, of which the broker is aware that could adversely and significantly affect
the Buyer’s use or enjoyment of the property. (MN Statute 82.68, Subd. 3 does not apply to rental/lease transactions.)
If a broker or salesperson working with a Seller/Landlord as a customer is representing the Buyer/Tenant, he or
she must act in the Buyer’s/Tenant’s best interest and must tell the Buyer/Tenant any information disclosed to him
or her, except confidential information acquired in a facilitator relationship (see paragraph IV on page two (2)). In
that case, the Seller/Landlord will not be represented and will not receive advice and counsel from the broker or
salesperson.
III. Dual Agency - Broker Representing both Seller/Landlord and Buyer/Tenant: Dual agency occurs when one
broker or salesperson represents both parties to a transaction, or when two salespersons licensed to the same
broker each represent a party to the transaction. Dual agency requires the informed consent of all parties, and
means that the broker and salesperson owe the same duties to the Seller/Landlord and the Buyer/Tenant. This
role limits the level of representation the broker and salesperson can provide, and prohibits them from acting
exclusively for either party. In a dual agency, confidential information about price, terms and motivation for pursuing
a transaction will be kept confidential unless one party instructs the broker or salesperson in writing to disclose
specific information about him or her. Other information will be shared. Dual agents may not advocate for one party
to the detriment of the other.(3)
Within the limitations described above, dual agents owe to both Seller/Landlord and Buyer/Tenant the fiduciary
duties described below.(2) Dual agents must disclose to Buyers material facts as defined in MN Statute 82.68, Subd.
3, of which the broker is aware that could adversely and significantly affect the Buyer’s use or enjoyment of the
property. (MN Statute 82.68, Subd. 3 does not apply to rental/lease transactions.)
I have had the opportunity to review the “Notice Regarding Predatory Offender Information” on
(initial) (initial)
page two. (2)
-------------------------------
Page 2
IV. Facilitator: A broker or salesperson who performs services for a Buyer/Tenant, a Seller/Landlord or both but
does not represent either in a fiduciary capacity as a Buyer’s/Tenant’s Broker, Seller’s/Landlord’s Broker or Dual
Agent. THE FACILITATOR BROKER OR SALESPERSON DOES NOT OWE ANY PARTY ANY OF THE FIDUCIARY
DUTIES LISTED BELOW, EXCEPT CONFIDENTIALITY, UNLESS THOSE DUTIES ARE INCLUDED IN A
WRITTEN FACILITATOR SERVICES AGREEMENT. The facilitator broker or salesperson owes the duty of
confidentiality to the party but owes no other duty to the party except those duties required by law or contained in
a written facilitator services agreement, if any. In the event a facilitator broker or salesperson working with a Buyer/
Tenant shows a property listed by the facilitator broker or salesperson, then the facilitator broker or salesperson
must act as a Seller’s/Landlord’s Broker (see paragraph I on page one (1)). In the event a facilitator broker or
salesperson, working with a Seller/Landlord, accepts a showing of the property by a Buyer/Tenant being represented
by the facilitator broker or salesperson, then the facilitator broker or salesperson must act as a Buyer’s/Tenant’s
Broker (see paragraph III on page one (1)).
_______________________________________
(1) This disclosure is required by law in any transaction involving property occupied or intended to be occupied by
one to four families as their residence.
(2) The fiduciary duties mentioned above are listed below and have the following meanings:
Loyalty - broker/salesperson will act only in client(s)’ best interest.
Obedience - broker/salesperson will carry out all client(s)’ lawful instructions.
Disclosure - broker/salesperson will disclose to client(s) all material facts of which broker/salesperson has knowledge
which might reasonably affect the client(s)’ use and enjoyment of the property.
Confidentiality - broker/salesperson will keep client(s)’ confidences unless required by law to disclose specific
information (such as disclosure of material facts to Buyers).
Reasonable Care - broker/salesperson will use reasonable care in performing duties as an agent.
Accounting - broker/salesperson will account to client(s) for all client(s)’ money and property received as agent.
(3) If Seller(s)/Landlord(s) elect(s) not to agree to a dual agency relationship, Seller(s)/Landlord(s) may give up the
opportunity to sell/lease the property to Buyer(s)/Tenant(s) represented by the broker/salesperson. If Buyer(s)/
Tenant(s) elect(s) not to agree to a dual agency relationship, Buyer(s)/Tenant(s) may give up the opportunity to
purchase/lease properties listed by the broker.
_____________________________________
NOTICE REGARDING PREDATORY OFFENDER INFORMATION: Information regarding the predatory offender
registry and persons registered with the predatory offender registry under MN Statute 243.166 may be
obtained by contacting the local law enforcement offices in the community where the property is located,
or the Minnesota Department of Corrections at (651) 361-7200, or from the Department of Corrections Web site at
www.corr.state.mn.us.
MN:AGCYDISC-2 (8/14)

Individual Pages





DOWNLOAD and SIGN



Realtor.com and Realtor.org also have articled about agency relationships and how it applies to buyers and sellers but keep in mind they are written on a national level and real estate laws and regulations may vary from state to state. This article specifically addresses MN representation in real estate.

Other Commonly Asked Questions:

• What is the home buying process?
• What is the selling process?
• Should I work with the Listing Agent (the ph# on the sign in the yard) to buy a house?
• Why are some houses showing available online but when I call they are sold?
• What does a real estate agent do for a buyer?
• What mistakes should I avoid making when buying a home?
• What questions should I ask when looking for an agent to sell my house?
• Are online house values accurate?
• What are some core services of a Twin Cities Realtor?
• How can I Sell Faster and For More Money?
• What is my house worth?
• Where can I learn more about selling my house?
• Can I sell my home myself?
• What do those letters mean after an agent’s name? (GRI, CRS, ePRO, SRS, etc)
• How much do agents get paid?