Renowned Broker Faces Fresh Conflict of Interest Allegations

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Renowned Broker Faces Fresh Conflict of Interest Allegations

A prominent real estate broker in Sherbrooke, Jacinthe Dubé, faces renewed allegations of conflict of interest. This case marks her second reprimand within a few months from the disciplinary committee of the Organisme d’autoréglementation du courtage immobilier du Québec.

Details of the Allegations

Dubé has been accused of acting against the interests of her clients to secure a commission of $33,975. She has over 40 years of experience, selling more than 6,000 properties in the Sherbrooke area. The recent incident involved a transaction that occurred in 2020.

Background of the Case

Upon signing a brokerage contract with a couple selling their home, Dubé mentioned having a “potential client.” This client was an individual she had just facilitated a property sale for and whom she also represented as a mortgage broker. The couple listed their house for $454,000.

  • The house underwent several weeks of “home staging.”
  • Before the listing appeared on platforms like Centris, the potential buyer submitted an offer at the asking price.

However, shortly after this offer, the sellers received a more lucrative bid of $502,500 from another buyer. Dubé informed the sellers that the other buyer increased their offer to match $502,500, claiming this was necessary to secure the property.

Findings of the Disciplinary Committee

Throughout the negotiations, Dubé advised the sellers to consider her client over others, despite the competing buyers being pre-approved for loans up to $585,000. This raised significant ethical concerns regarding her motives.

In concluding the sale, Dubé retained the full commission of $33,975, leading the discipline committee to conclude that the conflict of interest was not only evident but detrimental to one party involved. The case underscored that Dubé had a financial stake that influenced her professional judgment.

Previous Sanctions

In May, Dubé was previously penalized with a suspension and a $10,000 fine for similar conduct. In that case, she was accused of presenting an offer before officially listing a property, thereby denying her clients the opportunity for a better price while keeping the entire commission for herself.

Conclusion

The upcoming weeks will determine the disciplinary action against Dubé for these recent violations. Her repeated conflicts of interest paint a troubling picture for ethical practices in real estate brokerage.