Legal Hotline Year in Review

Louisiana REALTORS • July 8, 2021

By: Patricia B. McMurray, JD and Melissa M. Grand, JD
Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC

450 Laurel Street, Chase Tower North, 21st Floor

Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70801


The following document is a summary of the questions and answers from the 2020 and 2021 Hotline. The Louisiana REALTORS® maintains a hotline for their Brokers to answer questions affecting the real estate industry as a whole. The hotline does not provide legal advice but provides general information. It is important to note that the laws and court decisions affecting these responses to these questions may change as new laws are passed and new court decisions are published. The topics commonly asked fall into the below categories:


  • Commission & Commission Liens Inquiries
  • Deposit Inquiries
  • Ethics Inquiries
  • Listing Agreement Inquiries
  • MLS Inquiries
  • Procuring Cause Inquiries
  • Property Disclosure Inquiries
  • Purchase Agreement Inquiries
  • Lease & Property Management Inquiries
  • RESPA Inquiries
  • Service Animal Inquiries


Please click on the link below to access a fully-indexed summary of the questions and answers from the 2020 and 2021 hotline.

Legal Hotline Year in Review


DISCLAIMER: These materials are to be used for informational purposes and should not be construed as specific legal advice. These materials are not designed to cover every aspect of a legal situation for every factual circumstance that may arise regarding the subject matter included. This publication is for reference purposes only and association members or other readers are responsible for contacting their own attorneys or other professional advisors for legal or contract advice. The comments provided herein solely represent the opinions of the authors and is not a guarantee of interpretation of the law or contracts by any court or by the Louisiana Real Estate Commission.

When is the best time to move in Louisiana

A Louisiana Homeowner's Guide to Deciding When to Buy, Sell, or Move

By Louisiana REALTORS® • July 2, 2026
Thinking about buying, selling, or moving in Louisiana? Explore key factors that can help you decide when the time is right.

Consumer Guide Update: Defining Home Buying Needs vs. Wants

By Louisiana REALTORS® • July 1, 2026
It’s not unusual for people to enter the homebuying process with a priority list that needs to be whittled down once they see what’s on the market. NAR’s latest consumer guide, “Defining Home Buying Needs vs. Wants,” is a decision-making tool that can help. It’s a simple checklist to help home buyers identify their needs, wants and deal-breakers. Using the form, or something like it, will help buyers remember what’s most important to them as they view and compare homes. There’s even a fillable PDF available for download. As a reminder, all guides in this series are available for download—in both English and Spanish—on facts.realtor . Please allow up to two weeks for the Spanish version of the latest resource to be translated and uploaded. For ease of reference, below is a list of the most recent guides: NEW: Defining Home Buying Needs vs. Wants NEW: 10 Tips For Unpacking Smartly After A Move UPDATED: Multiple Listing Services Overcoming Roadblocks to a Sale or Purchase How Solar Impacts a Real Estate Transaction Thank you for your continued engagement with the “Consumer Guide” series and for sharing the resources with prospective clients to ensure they have the information they need to find success in their home buying or selling journey. Remember that these guides are for informational purposes only and are not meant to enact or change any existing NAR policy. Check out the next consumer guide for sellers on how to ease the transition for the new owners.

Consumer Guide Update: 10 Tips for Unpacking

By Louisiana REALTORS® • June 18, 2026
NAR’s latest consumer guide, “10 Tips for Unpacking Smartly After a Move,” was developed to help ease the burden buyers may feel when surrounded by boxes. For your clients on the cusp of a move, the guide suggests establishing a priority unpacking order, wiping down each room before unpacking, discarding boxes quickly, having garbage and donation bags at the ready, and more. Share the new guide along with the companion guide “10 Tips for Packing Smartly for a Move.” As a reminder, all guides in this series are available for download—in both English and Spanish—on facts.realtor . Please allow up to two weeks for the Spanish version of the latest resource to be translated and uploaded. For ease of reference, below is a list of the most recent guides: NEW: 10 Tips For Unpacking Smartly After A Move UPDATED : Multiple Listing Services Overcoming Roadblocks to a Sale or Purchase How Solar Impacts a Real Estate Transaction Navigating Interest Rate Shifts Thank you for your continued engagement with the “Consumer Guide” series and for sharing the resources with prospective clients to ensure they have the information they need to find success in their home buying or selling journey. Remember that these guides are for informational purposes only and are not meant to enact or change any existing NAR policy. Check out the next consumer guide on identifying homebuying wants vs. needs.
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