452.17(1)(1) Any person who engages in or follows the business or occupation of, or advertises or holds himself or herself out as or acts temporarily or otherwise as a broker or salesperson in this state without a license under this chapter shall be prosecuted by the district attorney in the county where the violation occurs or by the attorney general and may be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned not more than 6 months or both.
452.17(2)
(2) Any person who engages in or follows the business or occupation of, or advertises or holds himself or herself out as or acts temporarily or otherwise as, a time-share salesperson in this state without being registered with the department shall be prosecuted by the district attorney in the county where the violation occurs and may be fined not less than $25 nor more than $200 or imprisoned not less than 10 days nor more than 6 months or both.
452.17(3)
(3) Any person who otherwise violates any provision of this chapter may be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned for not more than 6 months or both.
452.17(4)(a)1.
1. Shall, for the first offense, suspend the license or registration of the broker, salesperson or time-share salesperson for not less than 90 days.
452.17(4)(a)2.
2. Shall, for the 2nd offense, revoke the license or registration of the broker, salesperson or time-share salesperson.
452.18
452.18
Court review. Except as provided in
s. 73.0301 (2) (b) 1. a. and
2., orders of the board and department shall be subject to review as provided in
ch. 227.
452.18 History
History: 1981 c. 94;
1997 a. 237.
452.19
452.19
Fee-splitting. No licensed broker may pay a fee or a commission or any part thereof for performing any act specified in this chapter or as compensation for a referral or as a finder's fee to any person who is not licensed or registered under this chapter or who is not regularly and lawfully engaged in the real estate brokerage business in another state, a territory or possession of the United States or a foreign country.
452.19 Annotation
Under s. 452.03 an agreement to pay a real estate brokerage commission to a person not licensed as a broker is void at its inception. Using a licensed broker who provides no actual services as a conduit for a fee to an unlicensed person does not create a co-brokerage arrangement authorized by s. 452.19. Badger III Ltd. v. Howard, Needles, Tammen & Bergendoff,
196 Wis. 2d 891,
539 N.W.2d 904 (Ct. App. 1995),
94-2531.
452.20
452.20
Limitation on actions for commissions. No person engaged in the business or acting in the capacity of a broker, salesperson or time-share salesperson within this state may bring or maintain an action in the courts of this state for the collection of a commission or compensation for the performance of any act mentioned in this chapter without alleging and proving that he or she was a duly licensed broker, salesperson or registered time-share salesperson at the time the alleged cause of action arose.
452.20 Annotation
A foreign corporation that contracts to sell a radio station without being licensed in this state cannot sue for its commission. The licensing requirement is not an unlawful burden on interstate commerce. Chapman Co. v. Service Broadcasting Corp.
52 Wis. 2d 32,
187 N.W.2d 794.
452.20 Annotation
The prohibition against paying a commission to an unlicensed person acting as a broker is absolute and not conditioned on the innocence or lack of sophistication of the other contracting parties. Because a contract for a commission with a person not licensed as a broker is void from its inception, estoppel is not available to avoid the effect of the statute. Greenlee v. Rainbow Auction/Realty Co.
202 Wis. 2d 653,
553 N.W.2d 257 (Ct. App. 1996),
95-1463.
452.20 Annotation
This section not applicable since broker as owners' agent was not attempting to negotiate the lease when conferring with his alleged principal in Wisconsin and therefore was not acting in the capacity of a broker in Wisconsin. Negotiation of lease occurred when broker met and conferred with prospective lessee either in Illinois or Tennessee. Paulson v. Shapiro,
490 F.2d 1.
452.21
452.21
Compensation presumed. In any prosecution for violation of this chapter, proof that a person acted as a broker, agent, salesperson or time-share salesperson is prima facie proof that compensation therefor was received or promised.
452.21 History
History: 1981 c. 94;
1987 a. 399.
452.22
452.22
Certifications as evidence. 452.22(1)
(1) Copies of all documents, orders, resolutions and certificates made, executed or granted by the department or board, and of all papers filed with the department when certified by the secretary or his or her designee, under the official seal, shall be received in evidence in all cases the same as the originals.
452.22(2)
(2) The certificate of the secretary or his or her designee to the effect that a specified individual or business entity is not or was not on a specified date the holder of a broker's, salesperson's or time-share salesperson's license or registration, or that a specified license or registration was not in effect on a date specified, or as to the issuance, limitation, suspension or revocation of any license or registration or the reprimand of any holder thereof, the filing or withdrawal of any application or its existence or nonexistence, is prima facie evidence of the facts therein stated for all purposes in any action or proceedings.
452.23
452.23
Disclosures, investigations and inspections by brokers and salespersons. 452.23(1)
(1) A broker or salesperson may not disclose to any person in connection with the sale, exchange, purchase or rental of real property information, the disclosure of which constitutes unlawful discrimination in housing under
s. 106.50 or unlawful discrimination based on handicap under
42 USC 3604,
3605,
3606 or
3617.
452.23(2)
(2) A broker or salesperson is not required to disclose any of the following to any person in connection with the sale, exchange, purchase or rental of real property:
452.23(2)(a)
(a) That the property was the site of a specific act or occurrence, if the act or occurrence had no effect on the physical condition of the property or any structures located on the property.
452.23(2)(b)
(b) Except as provided in
sub. (3), information relating to the physical condition of the property or any other information relating to the real estate transaction, if a written report that discloses the information has been prepared by a qualified 3rd party and provided to the person. In this paragraph, "qualified 3rd party" means a federal, state or local governmental agency, or any person whom the broker, salesperson or a party to the real estate transaction reasonably believes has the expertise necessary to meet the industry standards of practice for the type of inspection or investigation that has been conducted by the 3rd party in order to prepare the written report.
452.23(2)(c)
(c) The location of any adult family home, as defined in
s. 50.01 (1), community-based residential facility, as defined in
s. 50.01 (1g), or nursing home, as defined in
s. 50.01 (3), in relation to the location of the property.
452.23(2)(d)
(d) Except as provided in
s. 452.24, any information related to the fact that a particular person is required to register as a sex offender under
s. 301.45 or any information about the sex offender registry under
s. 301.45.
452.23(3)
(3) A broker or salesperson shall disclose to the parties to a real estate transaction any facts known by the broker or salesperson that contradict any information included in a written report described under
sub. (2) (b).
452.23(4)
(4) In performing an investigation or inspection and in making a disclosure in connection with a real estate transaction, a broker or salesperson shall exercise the degree of care expected to be exercised by a reasonably prudent person who has the knowledge, skills and training required for licensure as a broker or salesperson under this chapter.
452.23 Annotation
An independent inspection by a qualified third party operates to relieve a broker from liability for disclosures related to the physical condition of the property. Conell v. Coldwell Banker,
181 Wis. 2d 894,
512 N.W.2d 239 (Ct. App. 1994).
452.23 Annotation
Sub. (2) (b) relieves a broker from the obligation to disclose information disclosed in a 3rd party report. Sub. (2) (b) does not apply to a separate affirmative act of negligence and does not preclude a broker's liability for a breach of other duties. Johnson v. Neuville,
226 Wis. 2d 365,
595 N.W.2d 100 (Ct. App. 1999),
98-1680.
452.24
452.24
Disclosure duty; immunity for providing notice about the sex offender registry. 452.24(1)
(1) If, in connection with the sale, exchange, purchase or rental of real property, a licensee receives a request from a person to whom the licensee is providing brokerage services in connection with the sale, exchange, purchase or rental for information related to whether a particular person is required to register as a sex offender under
s. 301.45 or any other information about the sex offender registry under
s. 301.45, the licensee has a duty to disclose such information, if the licensee has actual knowledge of the information.
452.24(2)
(2) Notwithstanding
sub. (1), the broker or salesperson is immune from liability for any act or omission related to the disclosure of information under
sub. (1) if the broker or salesperson in a timely manner provides to the person requesting the information written notice that the person may obtain information about the sex offender registry and persons registered with the registry by contacting the department of corrections. The notice shall include the appropriate telephone number and Internet site of the department of corrections.
452.24 History
History: 1999 a. 89.
