Several 2027 real estate practice changes will affect how Wisconsin REALTORS® market properties, document compensation, use technology in advertising and complete transactions. These changes stem from new state law and updates to Wisconsin-approved real estate forms.
You need to understand how these requirements will affect your business and what you may need to do differently. If you start now, it will give you time to understand the changes and make any business practice adjustments before they become part of everyday transactions.
Here is how REALTORS® can stay informed about updated Wisconsin REALTOR® regulations and WB forms.
NEW PUBLIC MARKETING REQUIREMENTS FOR REALTORS® IN 2027
Start by looking at the new public marketing requirements, including when a seller can opt out and how seller-paid compensation will be handled and documented in an offer.
For example, unless a seller opts out using the required documentation, a listing firm generally must publicly market a residential property with 1-4 dwelling units on a publicly accessible internet platform within one business day of the listing contract’s start date. If a seller prefers not to publicly market a property, the firm must document the seller’s decision using the new WB-55 Public Marketing Opt-Out Agreement.
Compensation practices are changing, too. Firms will no longer be able to pay other firms for brokerage services in covered residential transactions. However, a buyer can ask the seller to pay some or all of the buyer’s firm’s compensation as part of an offer to purchase. If the seller agrees, the payment must be documented in the offer.
In addition, review how virtual staging, AI and other technology may be used in property advertising. For more examples/guidance, review the Wisconsin REALTORS® Association’s 2027 Practice Changes resources, including the short videos on public marketing, compensation and technology-enhanced advertising.
GET FAMILIAR WITH THE UPDATED WB FORMS
REALTOR® education and training can help you understand how the changes will affect your work and how to apply them with clients. For example, our upcoming Oct. 29 seminar titled “Preparing for January 1” and our Nov. 2nd seminar by the same name, will provide an overview of the statutory requirements created by 2025 Wisconsin Act 69 and the final REEB-approved WB forms implementing those changes.
The revised WB-1 Residential Listing Contract addresses public marketing obligations and compensation rules. As previously mentioned, if a seller chooses not to publicly market a property, the new WB-55 Public Marketing Opt-Out Agreement documents it and the seller’s acknowledgement of the potential consequences.
The revised WB-36 Buyer Agency Agreement and WB-11 Residential Offer to Purchase also deal with new compensation requirements. The WB-11 addresses seller-paid compensation to the firm working with the buyer, which must be documented in the executed offer if the seller agrees to pay it.
The revised WB forms are available for optional use now and become mandatory Jan. 1, 2027.
To view the entire list of form revisions, visit: https://www.wra.org/tools-resources/resource-library/transactional/form-updates/.
