Client in real estate

A client is the person the licensee represents. Illinois uses that direct definition in the Real Estate License Act. Client status carries representation, not merely help with a transaction. The designated agent must promote the client's lawful interests, perform the brokerage agreement, protect confidential information, account for money and property, exercise reasonable skill and care, and satisfy the other duties in Section 15-15.

Illinois considers a licensee to represent the consumer the licensee is working with as a designated agent unless a written sponsoring-broker agreement provides a different relationship. Current law also requires brokerage agreements to be written. The compliant file identifies the sponsoring broker, client, designated agent or agents, services, compensation, duration, and other terms required for that agreement type.

No. A client is represented. A customer is a consumer whom that licensee does not represent. The client receives advocacy and confidentiality within legal limits. The customer does not receive that advocacy, but still receives honest, good-faith, reasonably careful service, protection from false information, and disclosure of specified known latent material adverse physical facts.

The written agreement specifically designates one or more sponsored licensees as the client's legal agents to the exclusion of other licensees affiliated with the sponsoring broker. The sponsoring broker is the party to the brokerage agreement and must use ordinary and necessary care to protect the client's confidential information, but every licensee in the office is not automatically the client's designated agent.

Section 15-15 requires performance of the agreement; pursuit of acceptable price and terms; timely presentation of offers unless waived; disclosure of actually known material transaction facts unless confidential; timely accounting; obedience to lawful specific directions; promotion of the client's interest over self-interest; reasonable skill and care; confidentiality; and compliance with all applicable law, including fair-housing and civil-rights requirements.

Current Illinois law requires brokerage agreements to be in writing, and Rule 1450.770 supplies timing and content requirements. A seller or owner agreement comes before marketing or listing. A buyer or tenant agreement comes before licensed assistance with a purchase or lease, or as soon as reasonably practical after that activity. Section 15-50 still preserves possible court enforcement of an oral agreement, but that is not permission for a licensee to ignore the writing requirement.

No. The agent obeys specific directions only when they do not conflict with statutes, ordinances, or rules and when they fit the agent's authority. A client cannot require discrimination, concealment of a fact that law requires disclosed, false advertising, forged documents, improper escrow release, or unauthorized legal practice. The licensee should refuse unlawful instructions and document the response.

Yes, but the same designated agent must give written disclosure to all affected clients when preparing or making contemporaneous offers or contracts on the same parcel or unit and knows or has reason to know the owner will consider them at the same time. If a client requests referral, the licensee must refer that client to another designated agent. Neither client's offer terms or strategy may be revealed without authority.

Yes. Every client must give informed written consent before the same licensee represents both sides, and the licensee must obtain the transaction-specific written confirmation required by Section 15-45. Consent is voluntary and does not eliminate the conflict. The dual agent cannot provide the full one-sided negotiating advocacy available in single agency.

Unless the written agreement provides otherwise, Section 15-30 ends further duties after termination, expiration, or completed performance except accounting for transaction money and property and preserving confidential information received during the relationship. Compensation protection periods, recordkeeping, pending escrow, executed transaction duties, and other contract or legal obligations can also continue.

No. The practice questions are original. The PSI Illinois outline, current Illinois statutes, and current administrative rules were checked through August 1, 2026, including Rule 1450.770 as amended July 13, 2026. This is exam education, not legal, brokerage, compensation, disclosure, agency, ethics, fair-housing, or transaction advice. A live relationship requires the signed brokerage agreement, agency disclosure, designation, compensation policy, consents, instructions, transaction records, and sponsoring-broker supervision.