2015 Oregon Revised Statutes
Volume : 15 - Occupations
Chapter 696 - Real Estate and Escrow Activities
Section 696.290 - Sharing compensation with or paying finder’s fee to unlicensed person prohibited; exceptions.

(1)(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this subsection, a real estate licensee may not offer, promise, allow, give, pay or rebate, directly or indirectly, any part or share of the licensee’s compensation arising or accruing from any real estate transaction or pay a finder’s fee to any person who is not a real estate licensee licensed under ORS 696.022.

(b) A real estate broker or principal real estate broker may pay a finder’s fee or a share of the licensee’s compensation on a cooperative sale when the payment is made to a licensed real estate broker in another state or country, provided that:

(A) The state or country in which the nonresident real estate broker is licensed has a law permitting real estate brokers to cooperate with real estate brokers or principal real estate brokers in this state; and

(B) The nonresident real estate broker does not conduct in this state any acts constituting professional real estate activity and for which compensation is paid. If a country does not license real estate brokers, the payee must be a citizen or resident of the country and represent that the payee is in the business of real estate brokerage in the other country.

(2) A real estate broker associated with a principal real estate broker may not accept compensation from any person other than the principal real estate broker with whom the real estate broker is associated at the time.

(3) A principal real estate broker may not make payment to the real estate broker of another principal real estate broker except through the principal real estate broker with whom the real estate broker is associated.

(4) Nothing in this section prevents payment of compensation earned by a real estate broker or principal real estate broker while licensed because of the real estate broker’s or principal real estate broker’s association with a different principal real estate broker or because of inactivation of the real estate broker’s or principal real estate broker’s license.

(5) Nothing in subsection (1) of this section prohibits a real estate licensee who has a property management agreement with the owner of a residential building or facility from authorizing the payment of a referral fee, rent credit or other compensation to an existing tenant of the owner or licensee, or a former tenant if the former tenant resided in the building or facility within the previous six months, as compensation for referring new tenants to the licensee.

(6)(a) Nothing in subsection (1) of this section prevents an Oregon real estate broker or principal real estate broker from sharing compensation on a cooperative nonresidential real estate transaction with a person who holds an active real estate license in another state or country, provided:

(A) Before the out-of-state real estate licensee performs any act in this state that constitutes professional real estate activity, the licensee and the cooperating Oregon real estate broker or principal real estate broker agree in writing that the acts constituting professional real estate activity conducted in this state will be under the supervision and control of the cooperating Oregon broker and will comply with all applicable Oregon laws;

(B) The cooperating Oregon real estate broker or principal real estate broker accompanies the out-of-state real estate licensee and the client during any property showings or negotiations conducted in this state; and

(C) All property showings and negotiations regarding nonresidential real estate located in this state are conducted under the supervision and control of the cooperating Oregon real estate broker or principal real estate broker.

(b) As used in this subsection, "nonresidential real estate" means real property that is improved or available for improvement by commercial structures or five or more residential dwelling units.

[Amended by 1953 c.42 §2; 1961 c.670 §2; 1969 c.674 §16; 1975 c.746 §21; 1977 c.649 §40; 1981 c.617 §13; 1989 c.724 §9; 1997 c.307 §1; 1999 c.470 §1; 2001 c.300 §27; 2007 c.337 §5; 2009 c.324 §8; 2013 c.145 §3]