Do's and Don'ts for Teams and Groups - Real Estate Commission

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Teams

 A Team must consist of two or more Associate Brokers or Salespersons or a combination of the two who:

1. Work together on a regular basis;

2. Represent themselves to the public as being part of one entity; AND

3. Designate themselves by a collective name such as "Team or Group."

  All licensed team members must be affiliated with the same broker; and, if applicable, offer brokerage services at the same branch office.

X A licensed broker may NOT be a member of a Team.

X The name of the Team may NOT contain the terms "Real Estate," "Real Estate Brokerage," "Realty," or any other term that would lead the public to believe that the Team is offering real estate brokerage services independent of the Broker.

  Team members must conduct all real estate brokerage activities from the broker's office or the branch office where their licenses are displayed.

X A Team may NOT operate out of an office or location other than the broker's office or the branch office where their licenses are displayed.

Advertising

 All Team advertising must contain:

1. The full name of the brokerage displayed in a meaningful and conspicuous way;

2. The name of at least one of the licensee members of the Team; and

3. The telephone number of the broker or the branch office manager.

 The Team name in the advertisement must be directly connected to the name of the brokerage.

 "Advertise" means the use of any oral, written, or visual advertisement by a licensed real estate salesperson, licensed real estate broker, licensed associate real estate broker, or other person on behalf of a licensed real estate salesperson, licensed real estate broker, or licensed associate real estate broker. "Advertisement" means, unless the context requires otherwise, any oral, written, or printed media advertisement. "Advertisement" includes any correspondence, mailing, newsletter, brochure, business card, for sale or for lease sign and sign rider, promotional item, automobile signage, telephone directory listing, television announcement, radio announcement, telephone solicitation, and World Wide Web and Internet voice-overs. (§17-527.2 Annotated Code of MD)

Team Leaders

 A Team must designate a team member as its Team Leader. The Team Leader must be an Associate Broker or a Salesperson with at least three years' experience.

 The Team Leader must maintain a current list of all members and employees of the Team.

 The Team Leader must provide the list and any revisions to the list to the Broker or the Branch Office Manager where the Team Members' licenses are displayed.

 The Team Leader must exercise reasonable and adequate supervision over the provision of real estate services by members of the Team.

Brokers and Branch Office Managers

 The Broker or Branch Office Manager must maintain copies of the lists of Team Members and Employees, and make the copies available to the Commission on request.

 The Broker and Branch Office Manager must supervise the Team Members, and this supervision is in addition to the supervision responsibilities of the Team Leader.

X The Broker and Branch Office Manager may not delegate their supervisory responsibilities over Team Members to the Team Leader.

Team Leaders and Members

  The Team Leader and all Team Members must adhere to all office rules, practices, and procedures established by the Broker and the Branch Office Manager.

Dual Agency

 The Broker may designate two members of a team as intra-company agents for the Buyer and the Seller in the same transaction if the parties have FIRST been advised in writing that the Licensees are part of the same team and the team could have a financial interest in the outcome of the transaction. The Buyer and Seller must complete the "Notification for Dual Agency within Team" form (Word) required under existing law before Dual Agency may occur.

X The Team Leader may NOT designate Team Members as intra-company agents. Only the Broker may make this designation.

 The Broker must ensure that both parties have acknowledged in writing receipt of a "Notification of Dual Agency within a Team" form PRIOR to designating two Team Members as intra-company agents in a transaction.