What is a real estate agent's fiduciary duty?

A real estate agent's fiduciary duty is fundamentally about loyalty and trust. This relationship obliges the agent to act in the best interest of their client, whether that client is a buyer or a seller. This duty encompasses several specific responsibilities, including full disclosure, confidentiality, accounting for funds, and reasonably skillful and diligent representation.

By prioritizing the client's needs and interests above their own, real estate agents help ensure that their clients receive the best possible outcomes in transactions. This is essential in building a strong and trustworthy professional relationship, which is why this answer accurately reflects the core principle of fiduciary duty in real estate practice.

The other options, while they may relate to aspects of a real estate agent's role, do not encompass the breadth of the fiduciary duty. For instance, securing the highest possible price for the seller is an important aspect of representation but does not cover all the responsibilities involved in a fiduciary relationship. Limiting communication with other agents does not align with best practices for agents who must work collaboratively to facilitate transactions. Lastly, focusing solely on gaining commission overlooks the essential duty of prioritizing the client's interests, which should always come first in a fiduciary context.