Washington REALTORS®

In this week’s episode, Washington REALTORS® Legal Hotline Lawyer Annie Fitzsimmons breaks down the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) Clear Cooperation Policy and its recent amendments, alongside the Northwest MLS (NWMLS) listing policy. Both policies aim to ensure that residential listings receive broad exposure through the MLS, supporting fair housing laws and helping to eliminate discriminatory practices in real estate marketing.

Annie explains the historical significance behind these rules, the concept of “office exclusive” listings, and a newly introduced middle-ground option for sellers who want limited public exposure without sacrificing MLS visibility.

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Starring Annie Fitzsimmons (WR's Legal Hotline Lawyer)

Disclaimer: Legal Hotline services, including videos, articles, and access to the Hotline, are a Washington REALTOR® member-only educational benefit and do not constitute legal counsel. If you’re a primary member in good standing, visit warealtor.org with your M1 ID and password to access more features.

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Copyright © 2025 Washington REALTORS®.

Please contact Washington REALTORS® (1-800-562-6024)

before using this video outside of YouTube.

April is Fair Housing Month—and in this powerful conversation, Sandy McKenzie, Chair of the DEA Committee at Washington REALTORS®, sits down with Adria Buchanan, Executive Director of the Fair Housing Center of Washington, to talk about what fair housing means today and why it’s still critically important.

From hidden biases in housing algorithms to real stories of disability discrimination, Adria shares the latest challenges facing renters and homebuyers—and the innovative ways her team is making a difference across 23 counties in Washington State.

Don't forget to share with other agents and subscribe!

Helpful Fair Housing Information:

Fair Housing Center of Washington: fhcwashington.org

Washington REALTORS® Fair Housing and DEI: warealtor.org

Starring: Sandy McKenzie, Chair of the DEA Committee at Washington REALTORS®, and Adria Buchanan, Executive Director of the Fair Housing Center of Washington

Disclaimer: Updates, including videos, articles, and access to our website’s content, are Washington REALTOR® member-only educational benefits and do not constitute legal counsel. If you’re a primary member in good standing, visit warealtor.org with your M1 ID and password to access more features.

__________________

Copyright © 2025 Washington REALTORS®.

Please contact Washington REALTORS® (1-800-562-6024)

before using this video outside of YouTube.

This week, Annie Fitzsimmons, Washington Realtors Legal Hotline Lawyer, is back with another installment of the latest Legal Hotline series: “You Mean I Actually Have to Read the Title Commitment?” Annie is joined by Jake Mensinger, A Title Officer with First American Title Insurance Company. Join them as they discuss what Brokers need to look for and need to know when it comes to issues with the title commitments.

This week: Monetary Encumbrances, figuring out what is Owed?

Starring Annie Fitzsimmons (WR's Legal Hotline Lawyer)

Guest: Jake Mensinger (Title Officer with First American Title Insurance Company

Disclaimer: Legal Hotline services, including videos, articles, and access to the Hotline, are a Washington REALTOR® member-only educational benefit and do not constitute legal counsel. If you’re a primary member in good standing, visit warealtor.org with your M1 ID and password to access more features.

__________________

Copyright © 2025 Washington REALTORS®.

Please contact Washington REALTORS® (1-800-562-6024)

before using this video outside of YouTube.

Welcome to another installment of our Designated Broker Video Series: DBrief! This series is dedicated to keeping our Designated Broker/ Owners and industry leaders well-informed and providing you with ongoing support from the association.

Tune in today as WR's Government Affairs Director, Mary Hull-Drury, and our 2025 Washington REALTORS® president, John Blom, give you a rundown of the 2025 legislative session. Learn about where our association’s legislative priorities stand and where the opportunities exist as this biennium session enters its final month.

We would also like to invite our members to attend this year's Spring Business Conference at Tulalip Resort Casino Resort on April 23-25, 2025.

You can register here: warealtor.org/education-events

If you'd like more information about our legislative priorities or have a question for our government affairs team, visit our Government Affairs page at warealtor.org

For more information on Washington REALTORS®, visit warealtor.org

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Copyright © 2024 Washington REALTORS®.

Please contact Washington REALTORS® (1-800-562-6024)

before using this video outside of YouTube.

This week, we’re switching gears a bit as Mary Hull-Drury, your Washington REALTORS® Government Affairs Director, joins us for a Friday Government Affairs update. Listen in as Mary breaks down the 2025 Washington State Legislative session so far and what is coming up in the home stretch of session.

Don't forget to share with other agents and subscribe!

Starring Mary Hull-Drury (Washington REALTORS® Government Affairs Director)

Disclaimer: Updates, including videos, articles, and access to our website’s content, are Washington REALTOR® member-only educational benefits and do not constitute legal counsel. If you’re a primary member in good standing, visit warealtor.org with your M1 ID and password to access more features.

__________________

Copyright © 2025 Washington REALTORS®.

Please contact Washington REALTORS® (1-800-562-6024)

before using this video outside of YouTube.

This week, Annie Fitzsimmons, Washington REALTORS® Legal Hotline lawyer, reiterates the fact that not only are brokers responsible for using the statewide form system, but the selection of specific forms within the statewide system is equally important, especially when you consider the fact that real estate brokers are held to the standard of care of a lawyer and that forms selection constitutes the practice of law in Washington state.

Don't forget to share with other agents and subscribe!

Starring Annie Fitzsimmons (WR's Legal Hotline Lawyer)

Disclaimer: Legal Hotline services, including videos, articles, and access to the Hotline, are a Washington REALTOR® member-only educational benefit and do not constitute legal counsel. If you’re a primary member in good standing, visit warealtor.org with your M1 ID and password to access more features.

__________________

Copyright © 2025 Washington REALTORS®.

Please contact Washington REALTORS® (1-800-562-6024)

before using this video outside of YouTube.

This week, Annie Fitzsimmons, Washington Realtors Legal Hotline Lawyer, is back with another installment of the latest Legal Hotline series: “You Mean I Actually Have to Read the Title Commitment?” Annie is joined by Jake Mensinger, A Title Officer with First American Title Insurance Company. Join them as they discuss what Brokers need to look for and need to know when it comes to issues with the title commitments.

This week: Figuring out who holds the title if the title holder(s) are recently deceased.

Starring Annie Fitzsimmons (WR's Legal Hotline Lawyer)

Guest: Jake Mensinger (Title Officer with First American Title Insurance Company

Disclaimer: Legal Hotline services, including videos, articles, and access to the Hotline, are a Washington REALTOR® member-only educational benefit and do not constitute legal counsel. If you’re a primary member in good standing, visit warealtor.org with your M1 ID and password to access more features.

Copyright © 2025 Washington REALTORS®.

Please contact Washington REALTORS® (1-800-562-6024)

before using this video outside of YouTube.

This week, Annie Fitzsimmons, Washington Realtors Legal Hotline Lawyer, is back with another installment of the latest Legal Hotline series: “You Mean I Actually Have to Read the Title Commitment?” Annie is joined by Jake Mensinger, A Title Officer with First American Title Insurance Company. Join them as they discuss what Brokers need to look for and need to know when it comes to issues with the title commitments.

This week: identifying who is the correct Fee Simple Holder of Title.

Starring Annie Fitzsimmons (WR's Legal Hotline Lawyer)

Guest: Jake Mensinger (Title Officer with First American Title Insurance Company

Disclaimer: Legal Hotline services, including videos, articles, and access to the Hotline, are a Washington REALTOR® member-only educational benefit and do not constitute legal counsel. If you’re a primary member in good standing, visit warealtor.org with your M1 ID and password to access more features.

--------------------------

Copyright © 2025 Washington REALTORS®.

Please contact Washington REALTORS® (1-800-562-6024)

before using this video outside of YouTube.

Annie Fitzsimmons, Washington Realtors Legal Hotline Lawyer, is back with a new Legal Hotline series: “You Mean I Actually Have to Read the Title Commitment?” Annie is joined by Jake Mensinger, A Title Officer with First American Title Insurance Company. Join them as they discuss what Brokers need to look for and need to know when it comes to issues with the title commitments.

This week: Importance of Ordering the Preliminary Commitment of Title.

Starring Annie Fitzsimmons (WR's Legal Hotline Lawyer)

Guest: Jake Mensinger (Title Officer with First American Title Insurance Company

Disclaimer: Legal Hotline services, including videos, articles, and access to the Hotline, are a Washington REALTOR® member-only educational benefit and do not constitute legal counsel. If you’re a primary member in good standing, visit warealtor.org with your M1 ID and password to access more features.

__________________

Copyright © 2025 Washington REALTORS®.

Please contact Washington REALTORS® (1-800-562-6024)

before using this video outside of YouTube.

Do you mean I Actually Have to read the Title Commitment?

Annie Fitzsimmons, Washington Realtors Legal Hotline Lawyer, is back with the final episode of "You Are Practicing Law: Is It Authorized?"

This series explores the 1985 Washington State Supreme Court case, Cultum vs. Heritage House, a cornerstone for understanding the legal boundaries of real estate brokers' authority to draft contracts. Annie discusses why interpreting contact language is beyond the broker’s legal abilities, and why brokers should never take it upon themselves to interpret the language in a client's contract as stipulated by the Washington State Supreme Court in the 1985 Cultum vs. Heritage House case.

Starring Annie Fitzsimmons (WR's Legal Hotline Lawyer)

Disclaimer: Legal Hotline services, including videos, articles, and access to the Hotline, are a Washington REALTOR® member-only educational benefit and do not constitute legal counsel. If you’re a primary member in good standing, visit warealtor.org with your M1 ID and password to access more features.

Copyright © 2025 Washington REALTORS®.

Please contact Washington REALTORS® (1-800-562-6024)

before using this video outside of YouTube.