Washington State Real Estate Practice Exam 2025 – Complete Preparation Guide

In Washington real estate, the recognized agency relationships include single agency, dual agency, and limited agency. Each of these relationships delineates how agents represent their clients in various scenarios.

Single agency is where an agent represents only one party in a transaction, either the buyer or the seller, ensuring that their fiduciary duties are solely to that client. Dual agency occurs when an agent represents both the buyer and the seller in a transaction, which necessitates careful navigation of potential conflicts of interest to maintain fairness for both parties. Limited agency is a variation of dual agency where the agent provides less representation and typically does not offer full fiduciary duties to either party.

The term independent agency is not officially recognized in Washington real estate law regarding agency relationships. It does not represent a defined category and thus does not fit within the established framework of agency types. This distinction is key in ensuring that clients understand their agent's role and the level of fiduciary responsibility they can expect.