Who is typically considered the procuring cause of a real estate transaction?

In real estate, the concept of procuring cause refers to the individual or entity whose actions set in motion a chain of events that ultimately leads to the sale of a property. The procuring cause is usually identified as the broker or agent who is directly responsible for bringing the buyer and seller together and facilitating the transaction.

In this context, identifying the first broker to sell the property as the procuring cause is based on the principle that this broker played a crucial role in initiating and securing the sale. They are recognized for their efforts in marketing the property, generating interest, and, ultimately, completing the sale.

Understanding the roles of other entities is also important. The mortgage originator's function is primarily related to financing and does not involve the direct facilitation of the sale. The listing broker is indeed integral to the process, but it’s the first broker who effectively sells the property that earns that title of procuring cause. Meanwhile, the first broker to sue for a commission acts reactively rather than proactively in the context of the transaction, which does not align with the definition of procuring cause. Thus, recognizing the first broker to successfully sell the property fits the definition and criteria for procuring cause in real estate transactions.