, Author at CCARToday - Contra Costa Association of REALTORS

From Listing Presentation to Post-Closing: Let the Code Be Your Guide

For listing agents, the transaction begins long before the sign goes in the yard.

There is the first conversation with the seller, the listing presentation, the agreement, marketing decisions, negotiations, inspections, closing—and the responsibilities that continue after the transaction is complete.

NAR’s “The Code of Ethics is Good Business” resource organizes the relevant Standards of Practice around each of these stages, making the Code easier to apply to the work listing agents are actually doing every day.

Start Before You Have a Listing

The listing-agent checklist begins with Pre-Listing.

That’s an important reminder: ethical practice doesn’t begin when you have a signed listing agreement. The professional relationship and the decisions surrounding it can raise ethical considerations from the very beginning.

The checklist then moves into Listing Presentation/Agreement, where the agent continues building the relationship and taking the listing.

Then Comes the Public-Facing Work

Marketing your listing brings another set of ethical considerations into focus.

This is where accuracy, professionalism, representation and other responsibilities intersect with the day-to-day work of promoting a property.

From there, the checklist follows the transaction into Contract Negotiation, Financing/Inspections, Pre-Closing/Closing/Possession, and Post-Closing.

It’s a much more intuitive way to use the Code.

Instead of thinking: “Which Article is this?”

you can begin with: “Where am I in the transaction?”

Then find the relevant section.

Make it Part of Your Process

Here’s a simple challenge:

Pick one upcoming transaction and use the NAR checklist as a companion to your transaction file.

At each major milestone, pause and review the applicable section.

You’re not trying to turn every transaction into a compliance exercise. You’re building the habit of connecting ethical principles with everyday professional decisions.

And that’s really the value of this resource.

The Code of Ethics isn’t just a document to study every few years. It’s a professional standard that can help guide how we communicate, represent clients, market properties, negotiate, cooperate and complete transactions.

NAR’s chronological approach makes that connection easier to see—and easier to use.

Keep the resource handy. Your next transaction may give you a reason to use it.

Explore NAR’s “The Code of Ethics is Good Business” resource here .

PT 2 | First Conversation to Closing: An Ethical Roadmap for Buyer Agents

PT 1 | When You’re in a Transaction, Which Parts of the Code of Ethics Apply?

NAR CODE OF ETHICS

NAR Ethics Complaints, Arbitration Requests & Related Information

C.A.R. ETHICS & ARBITRATION MANUAL

MLS RULES & REGULATIONS

CCAR BYLAWS

CODE OF ETHICS DEMYSTIFIED

Gail Hargis
Professional Standards
925.295.9220
[email protected]

Weekly Jolt – 092926

CONTRA COSTA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS^®

WEEKLY NEWSLETTER | SEPTEMBER 29, 2026

Food, Raffles, and Beer! Oktoberfest Affiliate Faire Next Wed! – Oct. 7

Dust off your lederhosen and join us next Wed, Oct 7, from 5pm–7pm at St. Stephen Church for a FREE evening of Oktoberfest fun!

Raise a stein and unwind with beer, wine, and delicious appetizers, plus raffles and opportunities to win great prizes.

Mix and mingle with local industry partners and fellow CCAR members while enjoying good conversation, great company, and plenty of Oktoberfest spirit.

Best of all, your participation supports CCAR Helping Hands and the CCAR Scholarship Foundation — two great causes making a difference in our community.

O’zapft is! The keg is tapped — come raise a stein with us!

REGISTER FOR FREE TICKETS >>

Preparing for UAD 3.6: Appraisal Seminar & Lunch – Oct. 20

Beginning November 2, 2026, appraisal reports for loans involving Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will transition to the new UAD 3.6 format, bringing changes to property details, photos and supporting documentation.

Join CCAR on Tue, Oct. 20, from 12:00 – 3:00pm at St. Stephen Church for a special seminar with Market Analyst and Appraiser Anthony Young. Learn what the new reports will look like, how the changes may impact REALTORS® and homeowners, and what you can do now to better prepare your clients and transactions.

This FREE event includes lunch and is limited to 100 CCAR members and affiliates. Space is first come, first served, so register today!

REGISTER FREE >>

ETHICS CORNER:

From Listing Presentation to Post-Closing: Let the Code Be Your Guide

Last week we looked at the buyer’s agent’s perspective and how the Code of Ethics can become a practical checklist from first conversation to closing. Let’s do the same now for Listing Agents.

For listing agents, the transaction begins long before the sign goes in the yard.

There is the first conversation with the seller, the listing presentation, the agreement, marketing decisions, negotiations, inspections, closing—and the responsibilities that continue after the transaction is complete.

NAR’s “The Code of Ethics is Good Business” resource organizes the relevant Standards of Practice around each of these stages, making the Code easier to apply to the work listing agents are actually doing every day.

The listing-agent checklist begins with Pre-Listing. That’s an important reminder: ethical practice doesn’t begin when you have a signed listing agreement. The professional relationship and the decisions surrounding it can raise ethical considerations from the…
READ MORE >>

Are You and Your Clients Registered to Vote?

Residents must be registered by Oct. 19th to vote in Nov.
REGISTER TO VOTE >>

Make Homeownership Part of the
Election Conversation

The opportunity to own a home remains central to California’s future. It helps families build stability, supports local economies, and gives communities a stronger foundation for long-term success. Through C.A.R.’s Vote Homeownership campaign, Californians are being encouraged to have conversations with candidates about where they stand on policies that can make homeownership more attainable.

Sharing “Vote Homeownership” information gives your clients useful context about the policies and decisions that affect their ability to buy, sell, or remain in a home. It helps them better understand issues such as housing supply, affordability, first-time buyer support, and community stability, while giving them practical questions to ask candidates during election season. By connecting these issues to their own housing goals, REALTORS® can help clients feel more informed, engaged, and prepared to advocate for solutions that expand homeownership opportunities.

READ MORE AT car.org >>

CCAR ANNUAL SPONSORS

Test mobile

First Conversation to Closing: An Ethical Roadmap for Buyer Agents

A buyer's real estate journey can move quickly.

One conversation leads to a buyer agreement. Then come showings, questions, offers, negotiations, inspections, financing and, eventually, closing.

At every stage, different professional responsibilities come into focus.

That’s why NAR’s “The Code of Ethics is Good Business” resource is worth adding to your everyday toolkit. Rather than organizing the Code solely by its 17 Articles, NAR has arranged the relevant Standards of Practice according to the stages of a typical transaction.

For buyer agents, the roadmap begins before the showing.

Start with the Relationship

The first stage is Pre-Counseling. This is where an agent begins establishing the professional relationship and communicating with a prospective buyer.

From there, the resource moves into Counseling/Buyer Agreement, followed by Showings.

That progression mirrors the actual work of a buyer agent—and makes it easier to ask an important question at each step:

“What ethical responsibilities should I be thinking about right now?”

Then the Stakes Increase

Once a buyer is ready to make an offer, the transaction moves into Purchase Agreement/Negotiation.

This is one of those moments when having the relevant provisions organized in one place can be particularly helpful. Rather than trying to remember which Article or Standard might apply, the resource puts the applicable standards together according to the transaction stage.

From there, the checklist continues through Financing/Inspections, Closing/Possession, and finally Post-Closing.

In other words, the resource follows the client—not the numbering system of the Code.

A Simple Habit to Try

Consider making the checklist part of your transaction routine.

Before moving into a new stage of a transaction, take a few minutes to review that section of the NAR resource.

It doesn’t replace your broker’s guidance, your state or local requirements, or professional legal advice when appropriate. But it can serve as a valuable ethical checkpoint throughout the transaction.

The goal isn’t to memorize every Standard of Practice.

The goal is to develop the habit of asking:

What does professional, ethical REALTOR® conduct look like at this point in the transaction?

NAR has made that question easier to answer.

Explore NAR’s “The Code of Ethics is Good Business” resource here .

PT 1 | When You’re in a Transaction, Which Parts of the Code of Ethics Apply?

NAR CODE OF ETHICS

NAR Ethics Complaints, Arbitration Requests & Related Information

C.A.R. ETHICS & ARBITRATION MANUAL

MLS RULES & REGULATIONS

CCAR BYLAWS

CODE OF ETHICS DEMYSTIFIED

Gail Hargis
Professional Standards
925.295.9220
[email protected]

Weekly Jolt – 092226

CONTRA COSTA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS^®

WEEKLY NEWSLETTER | SEPTEMBER 22, 2026

Fall Into Learning with CCAR

A new season is a great time for fresh ideas! As we head into fall, there’s still time this September to sharpen your skills, explore new tools, and pick up practical tips to help grow your business.

This month’s remaining Education & Events lineup offers something for every stage of your career. From REALTOR® safety and risk management to AI-powered CMAs with RPR, digital business strategies, Realtor.com profiles, Lone Wolf Transact, and Paragon, there are plenty of opportunities to stay informed and work smarter.

Check out what’s coming up and finish September strong with fresh knowledge, new skills, and ideas you can put to work this fall!

Food, Raffles, and Beer! Oktoberfest Affiliate Faire Next Wed! – Oct. 7

ETHICS CORNER:

First Conversation to Closing: An Ethical Roadmap for Buyer Agents

Two weeks ago, we introduced the Code of Ethics re-organized according to the way a typical transaction actually unfolds, highlighting relevant ethical duties based on where you are in the transaction.

This week, we’ll take a closer look at how this resource can help buyer agents use the Code as a practical guide from the first conversation with a prospective client through the closing table.

A buyer’s real estate journey can move quickly. One conversation leads to a buyer agreement. Then come showings, questions, offers, negotiations, inspections, financing and, eventually, closing. At every stage, different professional responsibilities come into focus.

That’s why NAR’s “The Code of Ethics is Good Business” resource is worth adding to your everyday toolkit. Rather than organizing the Code solely by its 17 Articles, NAR has arranged the relevant Standards of Practice according to the stages of a typical transaction.

For buyer agents, the roadmap begins before the showing…
READ MORE >>

Are You and Your Clients Registered to Vote?

Residents must be registered by Oct. 19th to vote in Nov.
REGISTER TO VOTE >>

Fed Rate Hike: What It Could Mean
for Your Buyers and Homeowners

The Federal Reserve raised its benchmark interest rate by a quarter percentage point in September, bringing the target range to 3.75%–4% as it works to bring inflation down.

For REALTORS®, an important distinction to share with clients is that a Fed rate increase does not automatically mean the same increase in mortgage rates. As CNBC explains, fixed-rate mortgages tend to follow the 10-year Treasury yield and broader bond-market conditions rather than the Fed’s benchmark directly. However, inflation pressures could push rates higher on new home loans. Even a small change can matter to a buyer’s budget. CNBC cites an example in which a quarter-point increase in mortgage rates could add approximately $65 per month to a roughly $389,000 mortgage.

Homeowners with existing fixed-rate mortgages will keep their current interest rates, while borrowers with adjustable-rate mortgages could face higher costs when their rates reset. Home equity lines of credit, which typically carry variable rates, may also become more expensive.

For client conversations, the focus is on understanding how the type of loan—and changes in borrowing costs—can affect affordability.
READ MORE ON cnbc.com >>

CCAR ANNUAL SPONSORS

From Listing Presentation to Post-Closing: Let the Code Be Your Guide

PT 2 | First Conversation to Closing: An Ethical Roadmap for Buyer Agents

PT 1 | When You’re in a Transaction, Which Parts of the Code of Ethics Apply?

NAR CODE OF ETHICS

NAR Ethics Complaints, Arbitration Requests & Related Information

C.A.R. ETHICS & ARBITRATION MANUAL

MLS RULES & REGULATIONS

CCAR BYLAWS

CODE OF ETHICS DEMYSTIFIED

Weekly Jolt – 092926

Food, Raffles, and Beer! Oktoberfest Affiliate Faire Next Wed! – Oct. 7

Preparing for UAD 3.6: Appraisal Seminar & Lunch – Oct. 20

Test mobile

First Conversation to Closing: An Ethical Roadmap for Buyer Agents

PT 1 | When You’re in a Transaction, Which Parts of the Code of Ethics Apply?

NAR CODE OF ETHICS

NAR Ethics Complaints, Arbitration Requests & Related Information

C.A.R. ETHICS & ARBITRATION MANUAL

MLS RULES & REGULATIONS

CCAR BYLAWS

CODE OF ETHICS DEMYSTIFIED

Weekly Jolt – 092226

Fall Into Learning with CCAR

Food, Raffles, and Beer! Oktoberfest Affiliate Faire Next Wed! – Oct. 7

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