(a)Written brokerage agreements. —Nothing in this chapter obligates a buyer, tenant, seller or landlord to pay compensation to a broker or brokerage organization unless that party has entered into a written brokerage agreement with the broker or brokerage organization specifying the compensation terms. The compensation agreement may specify that the licensee may cooperate with other licensees. Brokers or brokerage organizations may compensate other brokers or brokerage organizations participating in the transaction without further permission of the party. The source of compensation does not by itself determine brokerage relationships. If a brokerage agreement contemplated one type of transaction such as a sale, but then through the course of continuous negotiations the initial transaction
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(a)Written brokerage agreements. —Nothing in this chapter obligates a buyer, tenant, seller or landlord to pay compensation to a broker or brokerage organization unless that party has entered into a written brokerage agreement with the broker or brokerage organization specifying the compensation terms. The compensation agreement may specify that the licensee may cooperate with other licensees. Brokers or brokerage organizations may compensate other brokers or brokerage organizations participating in the transaction without further permission of the party. The source of compensation does not by itself determine brokerage relationships. If a brokerage agreement contemplated one type of transaction such as a sale, but then through the course of continuous negotiations the initial transaction changes to another type of transaction such as a lease, the broker is still entitled to compensation; however, if the initial transaction was a lease which later became a sale, the broker is not entitled to compensation unless the listing agreement, other compensation agreement, or lease provided for compensation for a later sale.
(b)Additional terms. —Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit consumers from entering into written brokerage agreements with a broker or brokerage organization which contain duties, obligations, or responsibilities which are in addition to those specified in this chapter.
(c)Different relationships permitted for different transactions or jurisdictions. —A licensee or brokerage organization may work with a single party in separate transactions pursuant to different brokerage relationships including but not limited to selling 1 property as a seller’s agent and working with that seller in buying another property as buyer’s agent, or seller’s sub-agent where permitted; provided, however, that the licensee or brokerage organization complies with this chapter in establishing the relationships for each transaction. A licensee who is licensed in another jurisdiction may function as a licensee for properties in that jurisdiction even if the brokerage relationship is different in that jurisdiction such as a “transaction broker”, without being considered that status in Delaware.
(d)Compensation to licensee or entity of licensee. —All compensation relating to a real estate services transaction to be paid to a licensee shall be paid through the broker or brokerage organization. The broker or brokerage organization may pay the licensee’s individual compensation to an entity created by the licensee to receive compensation providing the entity is either already approved by the Commission as a brokerage organization or the entity does not need to be approved because it does not engage in the brokerage business but is only established for business purposes to receive the licensee’s compensation. The licensee paid by the broker or brokerage organization may employ licensed or unlicensed staff or team members who shall be paid an hourly wage, salary, or commission according to their agreement with the employing licensee. Nothing in this chapter shall authorize unlicensed personal assistants, independent contractors, or employees to engage in real estate services activities which by statute or regulation of the Commission must be performed by a licensee.