What distinguishes exclusive buyer agency from exclusive agency within a buyer representation?

• A. Exclusive buyer agency pays regardless of who finds the property; exclusive agency pays only if the licensee locates the property
• B. Exclusive buyer agency requires multiple brokers
• C. Exclusive buyer agency means no representation for the buyer
• D. Exclusive buyer agency applies only to rental properties

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is how the commission is triggered by who finds or introduces the property. With exclusive buyer agency, the buyer has one broker who represents them exclusively and that broker is paid no matter who finds the property—the broker’s role is to represent the buyer’s interests throughout the search and purchase, so the commission is earned even if the buyer themselves locates the property or someone else brings it to the table. With exclusive agency within a buyer representation, the buyer can work with other brokers and also find properties on their own, and the buyer’s broker only earns a commission if the broker actually locates or introduces the property to the buyer. If the buyer finds the property independently, the broker isn’t paid under that arrangement.

That’s why this distinction matters: it defines who is obligated to pay the broker and under what circumstances the broker earns a commission. The other options don’t capture this payment-trigger difference, since they describe things like needing multiple brokers, having no representation, or applying only to rentals, which aren’t the defining factor here.