In California this is not considered illegal or unethical in and of itself, but since the law requires an agent to put their client's interest above their own, pocket listings warrant close scrutiny. A pocket listing is a listing with limited exposure to the general market place.
An exclusive right to sell listing is the most widely-used listing agreement. Under this agreement, the broker has the exclusive right to market the property for a specified period of time.
The brokerage agreement is in place to clearly define to both parties the expectations, responsibilities, applicable laws, and obligations agreed to by both parties. Having a broker agreement in place helps minimize the risk of misunderstandings that may result in legal action or the loss of business.
The settlement required real estate licensees to have a written agreement with a buyer before showing properties listed on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). AB 2992 expands this requirement to all properties, whether it is listed on an MLS or not, and also imposes several additional requirements.
Under California Civil Code Section 1624, certain contracts – including marriage, real estate, broker, lender, debt repayment, sales agreement, and agreements that take over a year to complete – must be in writing.
Types of Listing Agreements Exclusive Right-to-Sell Listing: The most common type. It grants the broker the exclusive right to sell your home, regardless of who finds the buyer.
Often, smaller, less valuable transactions, or short-term services, may not require a written agreement at all. Depending on your comfort level, however, a written agreement can make sure both buyer and seller are on the same page.
This Practice Note considers the specific situations where a contract is required by law to be in writing: assignments, contracts for the sale of land, equitable mortgages, assents, transfers of shares, transfers of intellectual property rights, and guarantees.
"Exclusive right to sell listing agreement" means a listing agreement whereby the owner grants to a seller's agent, for a specified period of time, the exclusive right to sell, find, or obtain a buyer for the real property, and the seller's agent is entitled to the agreed compensation if, during that period of time, ...