Brokerage & Agency

Material Defect

A known defect in a property's condition that must be disclosed, and which confidentiality does not cover.

A material defect is a known problem with the condition of the property significant enough to affect a reasonable party's decision. Disclosure of a known material defect is owed to all parties, including a customer the license holder does not represent.

In intermediary practice the point is sharper still: Sec. 1101.651(d)(3)(C) carves information materially relating to the condition of the property out of the confidentiality prohibition.

On the exam

The exam pairs this with confidential information. Motivation and bottom line are protected; property condition is disclosed.

Exam trap

Assuming a client's instruction not to mention a defect controls. It does not.

Tested in

Texas Agency & Intermediary (9% of the exam)

From definition to recall

See this term inside a real exam question.

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This definition is Texas real estate exam-prep education, not legal, tax, or professional advice. Verify current rules against the official source before relying on them for a real transaction. Back to the full glossary.