Source: https://chestofbooks.com/real-estate/Law-Real-Estate-Brokers/Part-I-Powers-Authority-And-Rights-Of-Broker-Chapter-I-Introductory.html
Timestamp: 2019-04-21 22:53:43+00:00

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While in one case2 it was said that the class of persons who are employed by owners of lands to find a purchaser for them, or, by those desirous of purchasing, to procure a vendor for them, are not in any legal or proper sense brokers, it has been stated, more recently, that the term broker is properly applied to a middleman.3 But whatever technical objection there may be to the use of the word "broker" in such case, it remains the actual fact that the term "real estate broker" is now used by jurist, lawyer and layman alike, to denote the agent who acts either for the purchaser or seller, or both, in negotiating the sale of real estate, or in any of the capacities embraced within the above definition.
1 4 Am. & Eng. Ency, of Law (2nd Ed.), 962.
'Howe v. Stevens, 35 N. Y. Super. Ct. (3 J. & S.) 189 (1873); aff'd, 53 N. Y. 62l (1873).
3 Souttaack v. Lane, 23 Misc. 515 (N. Y. 1898).
4 Clark on Contracts, 736.
5 Law of Contracts, Special Topics, West Pub. Co. (1896), Topic "Brokers," p. 2.
6 Slbbald v. Bethlehem Iron Co., 83 N. Y. 378 (1880).
7 See also Little Rock v. Barton, 33 Ark. 444-449 (1878); Kramer v. Blair, 88 Va. 463 (1891); McCullough v. Hitchcock, 71 Conn. 404 (1899).
As to whether a person making an isolated sale is a broker, see O'Neil v. Sinclair, 153 111. 525 (1894).
8 Martin v. Bliss, 57 Hun 157 (N. Y. 1890) ; Low v. Woodbury, 107 App. Div. 298 (N. Y. 1905); Kingsley v. Wheeler, 95 Minn. 362 (1905). See also Wilkinson v. McCullough, 196 Pa. St. 208-209 (1900).
9 Vinton v. Baldwin, 88 Ind. 105 (1882).
10 Citing Alexander v. Northwestern Un., 57 Ind. 466; Rowe v. Stevens, 53 N. Y. 261; Rupp v. Sampson, 16 Gray 398; Redneld v. Tegg, 38 N. Y. 212; Barry v. Schmidt, 27 Alb. L. J. 297.
The "principal" is one for whom the agent acts, and the term "principal" is hereinafter used interchangeably with "owner," "seller," and "vendor." The word "vendor" signifies the seller, while "vendee" signifies the purchaser.

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