Wis. Stat. » CHAPTER 452 — REAL ESTATE PRACTICE
Wisconsin Statutes

Wis. Stat. § 452.01 (2026)

Definitions

✓ current as of July 2026
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452.01452.01 Definitions. In this chapter:
452.01(1e)(1e) “Adverse fact” means any of the following:
452.01(1e)(a)(a) A condition or occurrence that is generally recognized by a competent licensee as doing any of the following:
452.01(1e)(a)1.1. Significantly and adversely affecting the value of the property.
452.01(1e)(a)2.2. Significantly reducing the structural integrity of improvements to real estate.
452.01(1e)(a)3.3. Presenting a significant health risk to occupants of the property.
452.01(1e)(b)(b) Information that indicates that a party to a transaction is not able to or does not intend to meet his or her obligations under a contract or agreement made concerning the transaction.
452.01(1m)(1m) “Agency agreement” means a written agreement between a firm and a client in which the client authorizes the firm to provide brokerage services to the client.
452.01(1o)(1o) “Associated with a firm” means to have been engaged by a firm to provide brokerage services to the firm’s clients and customers on behalf of the firm and under the firm’s supervision, including as an employee of the firm or as an independent contractor, or both.
452.01(1p)(1p) “Associated with a subagent” means to be associated with a firm that is engaged as a subagent.
452.01(1s)(1s) “Board” means real estate examining board.
452.01(2)(2) “Broker” means any person not excluded by sub. (3), who does any of the following:
452.01(2)(a)(a) For another person, and for commission, money, or other thing of value, negotiates or offers or attempts to negotiate, whether directly or indirectly, a sale, exchange, purchase, or rental of, or the granting or acceptance of an option to sell, exchange, purchase, or rent, an interest or estate in real estate, a time share, or a business or its goodwill, inventory, or fixtures, whether or not the business includes real property.
452.01(2)(b)(b) Is engaged wholly or in part in the business of selling or exchanging interests or estates in real estate or businesses, including businesses’ goodwill, inventory, or fixtures, whether or not the business includes real property, to the extent that a pattern of sales or exchanges is established, whether or not the person owns the real estate or businesses. Five sales or exchanges in one year or 10 sales or exchanges in 5 years is presumptive evidence of a pattern of sales or exchanges.
452.01(2)(bm)(bm) For another person, and for commission, money, or other thing of value shows real estate or a business or its inventory or fixtures, whether or not the business includes real property, except that this paragraph does not include showing a property that is offered exclusively for rent.
452.01(2)(c)(c) For another person, and for commission, money, or other thing of value, promotes the sale, exchange, purchase, option, rental, or leasing of real estate, a time share, or a business or its goodwill, inventory, or fixtures, whether or not the business includes real property. This paragraph does not apply to a person who only publishes or disseminates verbatim information provided by another person.
452.01(2)(d)(d) Issues a written report of property value that is prepared for another person and that is not an appraisal, as defined in s. 458.01 (1).
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452.01(3)(3) “Broker” does not include any of the following:
452.01(3)(a)(a) Receivers, trustees, personal representatives, guardians, or other persons appointed by or acting under the judgment or order of any court.
452.01(3)(b)(b) Public officers while performing their official duties.
452.01(3)(c)(c) Any bank, trust company, savings bank, savings and loan association, insurance company, or any land mortgage or farm loan association organized under the laws of this state or of the United States, when engaged in the transaction of business within the scope of its corporate powers as provided by law.
452.01(3)(d)(d) Employees of persons enumerated in pars. (a) to (c), (f), and (i) when engaged in the specific performance of their duties as such employees.
452.01(3)(dm)(dm) Any employee of an attorney under par. (h) if all of the following are true:
452.01(3)(dm)1.1. The employee’s activities are directly supportive of the attorney’s provision of legal services to the attorney’s client.
452.01(3)(dm)2.2. The employee’s activities are activities that the attorney may perform under par. (h).
452.01(3)(dm)3.3. The employee is under the direction and supervision of the attorney.
452.01(3)(e)(e) Any custodian, janitor, employee or agent of the owner or manager of a residential building who exhibits a residential unit therein to prospective tenants, accepts applications for leases and furnishes such prospective tenants with information relative to the rental of such unit, terms and conditions of leases required by the owner or manager, and similar information.
452.01(3)(f)(f) Any credit union which negotiates loans secured by real estate mortgages or any licensee under ch. 138 which negotiates loans secured by real estate mortgages or any licensed attorney who, incidental to the general practice of law, negotiates or offers or attempts to negotiate a loan, secured or to be secured by mortgage or other transfer of or encumbrance on real estate.
452.01(3)(g)(g) A person licensed as a mortgage banker under s. 224.72 who does not engage in activities described under sub. (2).
452.01(3)(h)(h) Attorneys licensed to practice in this state while acting within the scope of their attorney’s license.
452.01(3)(i)(i) A developer, as defined in s. 707.02 (11), negotiating a transaction involving a time share.
452.01(3e)(3e) “Brokerage service” means any service described under sub. (2) provided to a person by a firm and any licensees associated with the firm.
452.01(3j)(3j) “Business entity” means any organization or enterprise, other than a sole proprietorship, which is operated for profit or that is nonprofit and nongovernmental, including an association, business trust, corporation, joint venture, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, partnership or syndicate.
452.01(3k)(3k) “Business representative” means a director, manager, member, officer, owner or partner of a business entity.
452.01(3m)(3m) “Client” means a party to a transaction who has an agency agreement with a firm for brokerage services.
452.01(3p)(3p) “Crime” does not include a crime for which the individual has been pardoned; a crime for which the conviction has been reversed, set aside, or vacated; or a crime for which the conviction has been expunged under s. 973.015.
452.01(3s)(3s) “Customer” means a party to a transaction who is provided brokerage services by a firm and any licensees associated with the firm but who is not a client.
452.01(3w)(3w) “Designated agency” means a multiple representation relationship in which each client of the firm in the multiple representation relationship receives negotiation services from the firm only from licensees associated with the firm who are not providing negotiation services to any other client of the firm in the transaction.
452.01(4)(4) “Disciplinary proceeding” means a proceeding against one or more licensees in which the board may revoke, suspend, or limit a license, reprimand a licensee, or assess a forfeiture or require education or training under s. 452.14 (4m) or (4r).
452.01(4v)(4v) “Felony” means a felony under the laws of this state or a crime committed elsewhere that would be a felony if committed in this state. “Felony” does not include a felony for which the applicant has been pardoned; a felony for which the conviction has been reversed, set aside, or vacated; or a felony for which the conviction has been expunged under s. 973.015.
452.01(4w)(4w) “Firm” means a licensed individual broker acting as a sole proprietorship or a licensed broker business entity.
452.01(4x)(4x) “Licensed broker business entity” means a broker licensed under s. 452.12 that is a business entity.
452.01(4y)(4y) “Licensed individual broker” means a broker licensed under s. 452.12 who is an individual.
452.01(5)(5) “Licensee” means any person licensed under this chapter.
452.01(5c)(5c) “License number” means a number assigned to a person under s. 452.05 (1) (j).
452.01(5e)(5e) “Listing firm” means a firm that has entered into an agency agreement with a seller or landlord pursuant to which the firm lists property for sale or lease.
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452.01(5g)(5g) “Material adverse fact” means an adverse fact that a party indicates is of such significance, or that is generally recognized by a competent licensee as being of such significance to a reasonable party, that it affects or would affect the party’s decision to enter into a contract or agreement concerning a transaction or affects or would affect the party’s decision about the terms of such a contract or agreement.
452.01(5j)(5j) “Multiple representation relationship” means a relationship between a firm and 2 or more of the firm’s clients in which the clients are parties in the same transaction.
452.01(5m)(5m) “Negotiate” means to provide to a party assistance within the scope of the knowledge, skills, and training required under this chapter in developing a proposal or agreement relating to a transaction, including doing any of the following:
452.01(5m)(a)(a) Acting, whether directly or indirectly, as an intermediary by facilitating or participating in communications between parties related to the parties’ interests in a transaction. In this paragraph, providing advice or opinions on matters that are material to a transaction in which a person is engaged or intends to engage or showing a party real estate does not, in and of itself, constitute acting as an intermediary by facilitating or participating in communications between parties.
452.01(5m)(b)(b) Completing, when requested by a party, appropriate board-approved forms or other writings to document the party’s proposal consistent with the party’s instruction.
452.01(5m)(c)(c) Presenting to a party the proposals of other parties to the transaction and giving the party a general explanation of the provisions of the proposal.
452.01(5n)(5n) “Out-of-state broker” means a person who is not licensed under this chapter and who is regularly and lawfully engaged in the real estate brokerage business in another state, a territory or possession of the United States, or a foreign country.
452.01(5p)(5p) “Out-of-state salesperson” means a person who is not licensed under this chapter and who is employed or engaged as an independent contractor by an out-of-state broker.
452.01(5r)(5r) “Party” means a person seeking to engage in a transaction.
452.01(5w)(5w) “Principal firm” means a firm that engages a subagent to provide brokerage services in a transaction.
452.01(6)(6) “Real estate practice” means engaging in conduct which requires a license under this chapter.
452.01(7)(7) “Salesperson” means any individual who is associated with a firm, other than a broker or an individual who is not required to hold a license under this chapter as provided under s. 452.03 (2).
452.01(7r)(7r) “Subagent” means a firm that is engaged by a principal firm to provide brokerage services in a transaction, but that is not associated with the principal firm.
452.01(8)(8) “Time share” has the meaning given in s. 707.02 (24).
452.01(10)(10) “Transaction” means the sale, exchange, purchase or rental of, or the granting or acceptance of an option to sell, exchange, purchase or rent, an interest in real estate, a business or a business opportunity.
452.01 HistoryHistory: 1981 c. 94; 1983 a. 27; 1985 a. 305; 1987 a. 359, 399; 1987 a. 403 s. 256; 1989 a. 341; 1991 a. 221; 1993 a. 127; 1995 a. 27, 400; 1997 a. 263; 2001 a. 102; 2005 a. 87; 2009 a. 2; 2011 a. 32; 2013 a. 124, 259, 288; 2015 a. 195, 258; 2017 a. 110.
452.01 AnnotationA foreign corporation that entered into a brokerage contract to sell a radio station without being licensed in this state could not sue for its commission. The licensing requirement is not an unlawful burden on interstate commerce. Chapman Co. v. Service Broadcasting Corp., 52 Wis. 2d 32, 187 N.W.2d 794 (1971).
452.01 AnnotationUnits of interest in a limited partnership are personalty and not real estate, and no real estate broker’s license is required for their sale. 60 Atty. Gen. 254.
452.01 AnnotationThat one who owns stock in a corporation owns “an interest” in a business under sub. (2) (a) and that therefore anyone who negotiates a sale of stock requires a license under this section cannot be right. That would require every securities broker in Wisconsin to have a real estate broker’s license as well as a securities license. Schlueter v. Latek, 683 F.3d 350 (2012).
452.01 AnnotationThe ‘New’ Chapter 452: Defining Real Estate Broker Practice. Leibsle. Wis. Law. June 2006.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 12 cases, 1971–2018 · leading case: Sonday v. Dave Kohel Agency, Inc., 2006 WI 92 (Wis. 2006).
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Sonday v. Dave Kohel Agency, Inc., 2006 WI 92 (Wis. 2006). · cites it 20× “" Wis. Stat. § 452.01 (10) (2003-04); Wis. Admin.”
Greenlee v. Rainbow Auction/Realty Co., Inc., 553 N.W.2d 257 (Wis. Ct. App. 1996). · cites it 29× “20 plainly prohibits a suit to collect a commission for activities defined in § 452.01, Stats. This prohibition is not conditioned on the "innocence" or lack of sophistication of the other contracting party, and we will not read such a condition into the statute.”
Bertha v. Remy Int'l Inc., 414 F. Supp. 2d 869 (E.D. Wis. 2006). · cites it 24× “In 1993, the Wisconsin legislature defined “negotiate” in the statute, Wis. Stat. Ann. § 452.01 historical and statutory notes, and that statutory definition controls today.”
Kailin v. Armstrong, 2002 WI App 70 (Wis. Ct. App. 2002). · cites it 3× “133 (1)(c), because the rent ar-rearage is not a material adverse fact as defined in Wis. Stat. § 452.01 (5g). The Kailins do not reply to this argument.”
Wangard Partners, Inc. v. Graf, 2006 WI App 115 (Wis. Ct. App. 2006). · cites it 8× “§ 452.01 defines all of these terms. A "party" includes any person "seeking to sell, exchange, buy or rent an interest in real estate .”
John Schlueter v. Edward Latek, 683 F.3d 350 (7th Cir. 2012). “” Wis. Stat. § 452.01 (5m)(a). Latek negotiated on Schlueter’s behalf the letter of intent to sell the assets of his business, and this was “negotiating” for the sale of the business, albeit that sale fell through in favor of a sale of stock.”
Olsen v. Celano, 600 N.E.2d 1257 (Ill. App. Ct. 1992). “(See Wis. Stat. §452.01 (2)(a) (1989).) There is no dispute that Olsen had an Illinois broker’s license but did not have a Wisconsin broker’s license.”
In Re Tirado, 329 B.R. 244 (Bankr. E.D. Wis. 2005). “§ 452.01(3)(a). Accordingly, if this court appointed Jenkins to assist with the sale of the Debtor’s Property, he would not be required to hold a real estate broker’s license.”
Schlueter v. LATEK, 821 F. Supp. 2d 1079 (E.D. Wis. 2011). · cites it 2× “” Wis. Stat. § 452.01 (2)(h). Sehlueter contends that in facilitating the sale of Karl’s to Horizon, Latek acted as a broker within the meaning of Chapter 452 and therefore was required to have a license.”
Schoenfeld v. Silver Moon Springs, Inc., 325 F. Supp. 199 (E.D. Wis. 1971). “01 [now § 452.01, Wis.Stats. (1969)], Wis.Stats. (1967), says, in part: “136.”
Korth v. Hoffman, 925 N.W.2d 782 (Wis. Ct. App. 2018). “§ 452.01(5), had a duty to disclose defects learned of through representing the Wilkensons in 2008.”
Comm'r, 2009 T.C. Summary Opinion 29 (1970). “Agarwal's Activities As is relevant here, California law defines the term "real estate broker" as a person who does, or negotiates to do, any one of the enumerated activities for compensation.”
— Wis. Stat. § 452.01(10) — 2 cases
Greenlee v. Rainbow Auction/Realty Co., Inc., 553 N.W.2d 257 (Wis. Ct. App. 1996). “20 plainly prohibits a suit to collect a commission for activities defined in § 452.01, Stats. This prohibition is not conditioned on the "innocence" or lack of sophistication of the other contracting party, and we will not read such a condition into the statute.”
Bertha v. Remy Int'l Inc., 414 F. Supp. 2d 869 (E.D. Wis. 2006). “In 1993, the Wisconsin legislature defined “negotiate” in the statute, Wis. Stat. Ann. § 452.01 historical and statutory notes, and that statutory definition controls today.”
— Wis. Stat. § 452.01(2) — 1 case
Greenlee v. Rainbow Auction/Realty Co., Inc., 553 N.W.2d 257 (Wis. Ct. App. 1996). “20 plainly prohibits a suit to collect a commission for activities defined in § 452.01, Stats. This prohibition is not conditioned on the "innocence" or lack of sophistication of the other contracting party, and we will not read such a condition into the statute.”
— Wis. Stat. § 452.01(2)(a) — 2 cases
Greenlee v. Rainbow Auction/Realty Co., Inc., 553 N.W.2d 257 (Wis. Ct. App. 1996). “20 plainly prohibits a suit to collect a commission for activities defined in § 452.01, Stats. This prohibition is not conditioned on the "innocence" or lack of sophistication of the other contracting party, and we will not read such a condition into the statute.”
Wangard Partners, Inc. v. Graf, 2006 WI App 115 (Wis. Ct. App. 2006). “§ 452.01 defines all of these terms. A "party" includes any person "seeking to sell, exchange, buy or rent an interest in real estate .”
— Wis. Stat. § 452.01(2)(d) — 2 cases
Bertha v. Remy Int'l Inc., 414 F. Supp. 2d 869 (E.D. Wis. 2006). “In 1993, the Wisconsin legislature defined “negotiate” in the statute, Wis. Stat. Ann. § 452.01 historical and statutory notes, and that statutory definition controls today.”
Greenlee v. Rainbow Auction/Realty Co., Inc., 553 N.W.2d 257 (Wis. Ct. App. 1996). “20 plainly prohibits a suit to collect a commission for activities defined in § 452.01, Stats. This prohibition is not conditioned on the "innocence" or lack of sophistication of the other contracting party, and we will not read such a condition into the statute.”
— Wis. Stat. § 452.01(2)(h) — 1 case
Wangard Partners, Inc. v. Graf, 2006 WI App 115 (Wis. Ct. App. 2006). “§ 452.01 defines all of these terms. A "party" includes any person "seeking to sell, exchange, buy or rent an interest in real estate .”
— Wis. Stat. § 452.01(3)(a) — 1 case
In Re Tirado, 329 B.R. 244 (Bankr. E.D. Wis. 2005). “§ 452.01(3)(a). Accordingly, if this court appointed Jenkins to assist with the sale of the Debtor’s Property, he would not be required to hold a real estate broker’s license.”
— Wis. Stat. § 452.01(3e) — 1 case
Wangard Partners, Inc. v. Graf, 2006 WI App 115 (Wis. Ct. App. 2006). “§ 452.01 defines all of these terms. A "party" includes any person "seeking to sell, exchange, buy or rent an interest in real estate .”
— Wis. Stat. § 452.01(3j) — 1 case
Bertha v. Remy Int'l Inc., 414 F. Supp. 2d 869 (E.D. Wis. 2006). “In 1993, the Wisconsin legislature defined “negotiate” in the statute, Wis. Stat. Ann. § 452.01 historical and statutory notes, and that statutory definition controls today.”
— Wis. Stat. § 452.01(5) — 1 case
Korth v. Hoffman, 925 N.W.2d 782 (Wis. Ct. App. 2018). “§ 452.01(5), had a duty to disclose defects learned of through representing the Wilkensons in 2008.”
— Wis. Stat. § 452.01(5g) — 1 case
Kailin v. Armstrong, 2002 WI App 70 (Wis. Ct. App. 2002). “133 (1)(c), because the rent ar-rearage is not a material adverse fact as defined in Wis. Stat. § 452.01 (5g). The Kailins do not reply to this argument.”
— Wis. Stat. § 452.01(5m) — 2 cases
Greenlee v. Rainbow Auction/Realty Co., Inc., 553 N.W.2d 257 (Wis. Ct. App. 1996). “20 plainly prohibits a suit to collect a commission for activities defined in § 452.01, Stats. This prohibition is not conditioned on the "innocence" or lack of sophistication of the other contracting party, and we will not read such a condition into the statute.”
Bertha v. Remy Int'l Inc., 414 F. Supp. 2d 869 (E.D. Wis. 2006). “In 1993, the Wisconsin legislature defined “negotiate” in the statute, Wis. Stat. Ann. § 452.01 historical and statutory notes, and that statutory definition controls today.”
— Wis. Stat. § 452.01(5m)(a) — 1 case
Bertha v. Remy Int'l Inc., 414 F. Supp. 2d 869 (E.D. Wis. 2006). “In 1993, the Wisconsin legislature defined “negotiate” in the statute, Wis. Stat. Ann. § 452.01 historical and statutory notes, and that statutory definition controls today.”
— Wis. Stat. § 452.01(5r) — 2 cases
Bertha v. Remy Int'l Inc., 414 F. Supp. 2d 869 (E.D. Wis. 2006). “In 1993, the Wisconsin legislature defined “negotiate” in the statute, Wis. Stat. Ann. § 452.01 historical and statutory notes, and that statutory definition controls today.”
Wangard Partners, Inc. v. Graf, 2006 WI App 115 (Wis. Ct. App. 2006). “§ 452.01 defines all of these terms. A "party" includes any person "seeking to sell, exchange, buy or rent an interest in real estate .”
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.