Texas Real Estate Brokerage Sales Apprentice Education (SAE) Practice Exam

What does maintaining the integrity and honor of the profession entail for REALTORS®?

1. Avoiding conflicts of interest

2. Improving their personal sales figures

3. Declining to work with clients who are difficult

4. Engaging only in local real estate

The correct answer is: Avoiding conflicts of interest

Maintaining the integrity and honor of the profession for REALTORS® primarily involves avoiding conflicts of interest. This means that real estate professionals are expected to act in the best interests of their clients without any personal gain interfering with their judgment or actions. Conflicts of interest can jeopardize trust between REALTORS® and their clients, as well as undermine the fairness and transparency essential in real estate transactions. Upholding this ethical standard fosters professionalism and enhances the reputation of the real estate industry as a whole. In contrast, improving personal sales figures may be a goal for REALTORS®, but it does not directly pertain to maintaining professional integrity. Working to increase sales does not guarantee ethical behavior or adherence to the principles of honesty and transparency. Declining to work with difficult clients does not uphold professional standards and may indicate a willingness to sidestep challenging situations rather than address them ethically. It’s important for REALTORS® to handle difficult situations with integrity rather than avoid them. Engaging only in local real estate limits a REALTOR®’s business scope but does not inherently relate to maintaining integrity or honor. The focus should be on ethical conduct and putting the client's best interests first, regardless of the market scope.