Statewide Professional Standards Enforcement Update

The WRA’s Statewide Professional Standards Enforcement Program is one of the many benefits of your WRA membership. By providing enforcement of the REALTOR^® Code of Ethics, the program helps advance professional excellence, safeguard consumers and uphold the integrity of the real estate profession. Now that all local boards and associations have participated in the statewide enforcement program for more than a year, we have valuable data on the program’s impact. This article looks at what we learned, the results we’ve seen, and what’s next as we continue strengthening professional standards across Wisconsin.

2025 program recap

Ethics complaints

With all local REALTOR^® associations participating in the WRA’s Statewide Professional Standards Enforcement Program by early 2025 — the final additions were the Greater Milwaukee Association of REALTORS^® in late 2024 and the Commercial Association of REALTORS^® Wisconsin in early 2025 — the number of ethics complaints received by the WRA increased 150% in 2025. About 55% of the ethics complaints filed in 2025 were filed by consumers; the rest were filed by REALTOR® members.

Violations

Of the 70 ethics complaints filed in 2025, 21 members were found in violation of the Code of Ethics. The articles most frequently violated were:

• Article 3: Failing to cooperate with other brokers and unauthorized access to property (cooperating agent)

• Article 1: Failing to protect the client’s interest, treat all parties honestly and unauthorized access to property (listing agent)

• Article 12: Advertising violations

• Article 2: Misrepresentation and failure to disclose pertinent facts

• Article 16: Interference with exclusive agency

Discipline

The discipline imposed for these infractions included fines ranging from $500-$2,500, completion of education that cannot be counted toward continuing education requirements, and letters of reprimand in membership files for one to five years. Most cases resulted in a combination of these sanctions rather than a single disciplinary measure. Members found in violation are also assessed a non-disciplinary administrative fee of $500.

Citations

Only two citations were issued in 2025 in large part because most complaints alleged violations of both articles in the citation schedule and articles that are not included in the citation schedule. Per citation policy, a citation can only be issued if the complaint alleges violations exclusively of articles listed in the citation schedule. Both citations were for Article 3 violations, in which cooperating REALTORS^® permitted access or allowed access to property on terms other than those agreed upon by the owner or seller.

As previously reported, the WRA board of directors approved revisions to the ethics citation policy and schedule of fines in spring 2026. The revisions increase citation amounts for all violations, but most significantly for violations involving unauthorized access to listed properties. The citations for these violations include:

• First violation of Article 1: $5,000 fine

• Second violation of Article 1: $10,000 fine

• Third violation of Article 1: $15,000 fine for violating Article 1 (Standard of Practice 1-16) or Article 3 (Standard of Practice 3-9)

Fines for all other articles and SOPs subject to the citation policy were increased to $500 for a first violation, $1,000 for a second violation and $3,500 for a third violation.

Most frequently alleged articles

The articles most often cited in ethics complaints in 2025 were:

• Article 1 duty to clients and customers: Protect and promote interests of clients and treat all parties honestly.

• Article 2 duty to clients and customers: Avoid exaggeration, misrepresentation or concealment of pertinent facts relating to property or transaction.

• Article12 duty to the public: Be honest and truthful in communications and present a true picture in advertising, marketing and other representations.

• Article 15 duty to REALTORS^®: Do not knowingly or recklessly make false or misleading statements about other real estate professionals, businesses or business practices.

• Article 16 duty to REALTORS^®: Do not engage in any practice or take any action inconsistent with exclusive representation or brokerage relationship agreements.

Arbitration

WRA members are required to participate in mediation for mandatory arbitrable issues, which are monetary issues, prior to arbitration. Mediation and arbitration proceedings declined slightly in 2025.

What’s next for professional standards

Based on current trends, the WRA is on pace to receive approximately 86 complaints this year, representing a projected 23% increase over the 70 complaints received last year. Requests for mediation and arbitration have also increased this year.

This year also marks a new chapter for the professional standards program with the onboarding of Sarah Norberg as the new WRA Director of Professional Standards and Legal Affairs. Norberg joined the WRA in March 2026 after nearly 16 years working with the Real Estate Examining Board at the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services.

Over the coming months, Norberg will take a deeper dive into each article of the Code of Ethics to examine what each article means and what every REALTOR^® should know to confidently uphold the code. Stay tuned!

Conclusion

By understanding the most frequent violations identified through the program, you have an opportunity to take a proactive approach to your own professional practice. Awareness of these common issues can help you avoid similar situations, strengthen compliance with professional standards, and reinforce the ethical conduct expected within the real estate profession. By learning from these trends, we can strengthen the profession together — protecting consumers, building public trust and preserving public confidence in our profession.

Learn more about WRA dispute resolution services

Ethics complaint process

The WRA uses the online CasePro case management system for ethics complaints and mediation and arbitration requests. CasePro streamlines the submission, tracking and management of the complaints and requests.

Ethics complaints must be filed within 180 days from the time a complainant knows, or reasonably should know, of potentially unethical conduct. The complaint should include a description of the circumstances that led the complainant to believe the Code of Ethics may have been violated. The complaint must cite one or more of articles of the Code of Ethics that may have been violated, and supporting documentation should be included with the complaint.

Once submitted, a complaint will be reviewed by a grievance panel consisting of three members of the WRA Professional Standards Committee. If the panel finds that the allegations could constitute an ethics violation, the panel refers the complaint for a hearing by an ethics hearing panel comprised of different members of the Professional Standards Committee. Both the complainant and the REALTOR^® respondent will have an opportunity to present their cases to a hearing panel during a hearing conducted via Zoom. After the hearing, the panel will issue a recommended decision. Both parties then have the opportunity to appeal the recommendation. If no appeal is filed, the recommendation will be presented to a ratification panel of five members of the Professional Standards Committee for final approval.

Alternative dispute resolution options

In addition to the ethics complaint process, the WRA offers several other dispute resolution services:

• Ombudsman services: These informal services are available through local associations and provide an opportunity to address and resolve concerns before they escalate.

• Mediation: This confidential process involves a neutral mediator who facilitates discussions to help the parties reach a mutually acceptable resolution.

• Arbitration: This option is available for contractual and certain non-contractual disputes between REALTORS^®, and in some cases between REALTORS^® and their clients. During an arbitration hearing, an impartial panel reviews evidence and testimony presented by both parties and issues a binding decision.

Learn more

To learn more about the professional standards program and to submit your requests for enforcement of violations, visit the WRA professional standards webpage.