Washington State Real Estate Practice Exam

What is the Washington State law that regulates real estate advertising?

1. Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act

2. Unfair Business Practices Act

3. Washington Consumers Protection Act

4. Fair Housing Act

The correct answer is: Unfair Business Practices Act

The Unfair Business Practices Act is indeed the correct answer because it encompasses the regulation of various unfair and deceptive practices in commercial transactions, including real estate advertising. This law is designed to protect consumers by ensuring that advertisements do not mislead or defraud. In the context of real estate, it regulates how agents and brokers must present their listings, ensuring that all claims made in advertising are truthful and not misleading. This helps maintain fairness in the market and provides a level of trust between consumers and real estate professionals. When considering the other laws listed, while they each address important aspects of real estate and consumer protection, they do not specifically regulate advertising practices in the same comprehensive way. The Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act primarily deals with the disclosure of settlement costs in real estate transactions, while the Fair Housing Act focuses on prohibiting discrimination in housing. The Washington Consumers Protection Act offers broader consumer protections but does not specifically target advertising practices like the Unfair Business Practices Act does.