Maryland Real Estate Commission / Consumer Complaints
Wronged by an agent?
File it the right way.
A clear, step-by-step path to filing an MREC complaint in Maryland, what happens after you do, and the point where a lawyer changes the result.
DK Law Group is not affiliated with the Maryland Real Estate Commission. This page is educational and is not legal advice.
BEFORE YOU FILE
A complaint is a record.
Make it a strong one.
If you believe a licensed agent or broker misled you, mishandled your money, or breached their duty, the Maryland Real Estate Commission can investigate and discipline that license. The complaint you file is the record the Commission works from, so the clearer and better documented it is, the further it goes.
This page walks you through the process from start to finish. Because Diana Khan is a licensed real estate broker as well as an attorney, the guidance reflects how complaints are actually weighed, not just the words of the statute.
HOW TO FILE
Five steps from grievance to filed complaint.
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01
Gather your documents
Pull together the contract, disclosures, emails, texts, receipts, and anything that shows what was promised and what happened. The Commission decides on the record, so the record needs to be complete.
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02
Identify the agent and broker
Note the licensee's full name, the brokerage, and any license numbers you have. A complaint can reach both the individual agent and the supervising broker.
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03
Write a clear, factual account
Lay out what happened in plain order, with dates. Stick to facts you can support. Avoid speculation; let the documents carry the weight.
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04
Submit to the Commission
File your complaint with MREC through its official channel and keep a copy of everything you send, along with the date you sent it.
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05
Respond to follow-ups
An investigator may ask for more detail. Answer promptly and completely. Quiet, well-documented cooperation moves a complaint along.
AFTER YOU FILE
What the Commission does with your complaint.
Every case is different and timelines vary, but the path generally moves through these stages.
Acknowledged
MREC confirms receipt and notifies the licensee, who is given a chance to respond.
Investigated
An investigator gathers records and statements from both sides and builds the file.
Reviewed
MREC dismisses, resolves informally, or refers the matter to a formal hearing.
Decided
A result issues, from no action to fines, education, suspension, or revocation.
WHEN TO CALL A LAWYER
A complaint disciplines a license. It may not make you whole.
MREC can sanction an agent, but it is not primarily a way to recover your losses. When real money is at stake, a separate civil claim or the Guaranty Fund may be the route to compensation. A short call tells you which applies before you spend months on the wrong track.
Call Us If
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You lost a deposit, money, or a deal because of the agent's conduct.
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The agent has a lawyer or the broker is pushing back hard.
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You are not sure whether this is an MREC matter or a court matter.
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A deadline is approaching and you want it filed correctly the first time.
COMMON QUESTIONS
For buyers and sellers.
If your question is not here, a free call will answer it.
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No. You can file an MREC complaint yourself. People often bring a lawyer in when money is at stake, when the agent has counsel, or when they want the complaint framed correctly the first time.
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There is usually no filing fee to submit a complaint to the Maryland Real Estate Commission. If you hire a lawyer to review, prepare, or support the complaint, legal fees are separate.
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You should file as soon as possible while records, emails, texts, contracts, and witness details are still available. Maryland’s complaint form also allows a separate Guaranty Fund claim in certain cases, but a complaint and a Guaranty Fund claim are treated as different actions.
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Usually, yes. If MREC opens a complaint against an agent or broker, the licensee may receive a copy of the complaint and be asked to respond. MREC’s FAQ also addresses whether copies of the agent or broker’s responses can be provided to the complainant.
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Not automatically. MREC can review license violations and may discipline a licensee, but money recovery is different. Some consumers may have a separate Guaranty Fund claim, while others may need a court claim, settlement demand, or other legal action. Maryland’s complaint form notes that a license complaint and a Guaranty Fund reimbursement claim are distinct actions.
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A dismissal does not always mean you have no legal options. It may mean MREC did not find enough basis to discipline the licensee. You may still want to review whether you have a contract claim, disclosure issue, fraud claim, earnest money dispute, or another civil remedy.
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No. DK Law is not part of the Maryland Real Estate Commission. The Commission is a state licensing body. DK Law is a private law firm that can help consumers understand their options, prepare documentation, and evaluate whether a separate legal claim may be needed.
REVIEWED BY
Diana Khan, Esq.
Diana is an attorney and licensed real estate broker in Maryland and Pennsylvania, offering insights from both legal and industry perspectives in MREC matters. Her guidance reflects the Commission's operations, not just statutory provisions.
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