Dispute Resolution

The CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® Real Estate Mediation Center for Consumers provides home buyers and sellers, as well as other parties to real estate transactions, with a highly qualified pool of specially trained, objective and reliable mediation professionals to assist them in resolving their real estate related disputes.

C.A.R.’s mission is to provide consumers with a supportive and confidential process that, working with the mediator of their choosing, will assist them to reach a mutually agreeable settlement and to avoid the time, expense and uncertainty of litigation. C.A.R. mediators are experienced in mediation and the issues that commonly arise in real estate disputes. They receive ongoing real estate focused training and support to ensure that they are prepared to efficiently and knowledgeable guide your through the mediation process.

Occasionally, members of the public find themselves embroiled in a dispute with their REALTOR®. Sometimes there are even disputes between two REALTORS®. The Ombudsman Hotline is a free service available to both members of the public as well as REALTORS®. The C.A.R. Ombudsmen receives and responds to questions and complaints about members; can contact members to inform them that a client or another REALTOR® has raised a question or issue; and can provide an informed response to the person complaining. You can contact an Ombudsman Administrator by calling (213) 739-7227 or send an email to ombudsman@car.org.  Click Here  for information on the California Association of Realtors® Ombudsman Hotline.

REALTORS® are different from non-member licensees in that they voluntarily subscribe to a strict Code of Ethics. If you believe that a REALTOR® has violated one or more Articles of the Code of Ethics, you can file an ethics complaint alleging a violation(s) through the local association of REALTORS® where the REALTOR® holds membership, or participates in a REALTOR® association-owned/operated MLS. You may search for a member’s local affiliation here.

In addition, REALTORS® agree as a condition of membership to arbitrate contractual disputes and specific non-contractual disputes as provided for in Article 17 of the NAR Code of Ethics.

For more information on the REALTORS® Code of Ethics, please click here: https://www.nar.realtor/about-nar/governing-documents/code-of-ethics/ethics-complaints-arbitration-requests-and-related-information