57 - Real Estate Agents Are Not Attorneys (with Attorney Elisa Ruer)

🎙️ Episode 57 — Do You Need a Real Estate Attorney in Wisconsin? | Guest: Elisa Ruer, Praktess Law

Description:
In this episode of Wisconsin Real Estate Today, host John Gscheidmeier sits down with real estate attorney Elisa Ruer of Praktess Law to explore one of the most common questions in Wisconsin real estate: Do you need an attorney to buy or sell a home?

Elisa explains how Wisconsin is unique in allowing competent, licensed real estate agents to manage the entire transaction without requiring legal counsel. Together, John and Elisa dive into the structure of the Wisconsin Offer to Purchase and break down key provisions—especially those related to seller disclosure obligations.

They address a critical legal point: when a seller fails to disclose a material adverse fact, the agent is not only ethically bound—but legally required—to make that disclosure. Ignoring this duty can leave sellers exposed to post-closing lawsuits and other legal consequences.

Whether you're an agent, buyer, or seller, this episode offers a smart, candid look at how to stay on the right side of the law while keeping deals on track.

🎧 Tune in and learn:

• Why Wisconsin agents aren’t required to be attorneys—and why that works
• The importance of understanding the Offer to Purchase
• What must be disclosed (even if the seller won’t)
• How to protect yourself from legal trouble post-sale

📍 Brought to you by RE/MAX Service First & Wisconsin Real Estate Today
 💼 Guest: Elisa Ruer, Attorney at Law – PraktessLaw.com