DEAR BARRY: In my area, there is a very successful real estate agent who is married to a home inspector. On all of her listings, she has her husband do the home inspection and then she gives the inspection report to buyers. And since she does not have the same last name as her husband, the buyers are not aware of the relationship. Is it illegal for an agent to conduct business in this way? --Mike

DEAR MIKE: Whether the practice is illegal depends on the real estate laws that apply in each state. But regardless of legality, it is clearly unethical for a Realtor to have her husband perform a home inspection on her own transactions. And it is doubly unethical to do so without openly disclosing their relationship to everyone involved.  more...