Arizona Real Estate Notebook

by Phoenix attorney Christopher A. Combs, partner with Combs Law Group, P.C.

Question: The buyer’s agent (a female) has shown the buyer (a male) several homes. The buyer makes an offer on a home, but the offer is rejected by the seller with no counter-offer. The listing agent then contacts the buyer’s agent and states that the reason that the buyer’s offer was rejected without a counter-offer, was that the buyer is a registered sex offender. The buyer’s agent now wants to immediately terminate the representation of the buyer. Can this representation of the buyer be immediately terminated?

Answer: Yes. Registered sex offenders are not a protected class, and the female buyer’s agent (or a male buyer’s agent) is not required to continue to show homes to the buyer.