The Better Business Bureau (BBB) accepts complaints related to false, misleading, or deceptive advertising practices and can investigate, mediate, or forward concerns to regulatory agencies.
The Maryland pre-licensing course advises licensees that maintaining truthful and transparent advertising is an ethical and legal requirement under both Maryland Real Estate Commission regulations and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) rules.
Consumers may also contact the Maryland Real Estate Commission (MREC) for license law violations, but general deceptive ad complaints typically begin with the BBB.
Reference (Maryland Source):
- Maryland 60-Hour Principles and Practices Course, Ethical Advertising and Consumer Protection section.
- COMAR 09.11.02.01 - Ethical Standards of Advertising.
- Federal Trade Commission Act, 15 U.S.C. 45.

Under the Internal Revenue Code (IRC 168), depreciation is a method for recovering the cost of income- producing property over time.
Residential income-producing properties (such as apartment buildings) are depreciated over 27.5 years.
Commercial income-producing properties (such as office buildings) are depreciated over 39 years.These timelines are based on the Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS) used for tax purposes.This concept is included in the Maryland Pre-Licensing Course within the Appraisal and Valuation section, to ensure licensees understand property valuation and investment considerations.
Reference:
Maryland 60-Hour Principles and Practices of Real Estate Pre-Licensing Course - "Real Estate Appraisal and Valuation" Module Internal Revenue Code 168 - MACRS Depreciation Rules.

Maryland licensees may fill in blanks on approved contract forms and explain business terms (e.g., common contingencies, offer strategies, earnest money customs). But giving legal advice-interpreting legal consequences, drafting custom legal clauses, or advising on rights/remedies-is considered the unauthorized practice of law unless the licensee is a Maryland attorney. Clients should be referred to legal counsel for legal questions.
References (Maryland Pre-Licensing Core Content):
* Maryland 60-Hour Course: "Real Estate Contracts" (use of approved forms; scope of practice; prohibition on legal advice).
* Maryland Real Estate Commission guidance (practice limits; unauthorized practice of law).

The metes and bounds system is the oldest method of land description used in the United States and is based on physical landmarks, measurements, and compass directions.
It begins at a defined point of beginning (POB) and traces the boundaries using distances (metes) and directions or angles (bounds), returning to the starting point.
In contrast:
Lot and block (option C) refers to recorded plats.
Rectangular survey (option D) uses township and range.
Street addresses (option A) are not legal descriptions.Maryland still recognizes metes and bounds for rural or irregular parcels.
Reference:
Maryland 60-Hour Principles and Practices of Real Estate Pre-Licensing Course - "Real Property and the Law" Module Maryland Real Property Article 3-101 - Legal Descriptions and Conveyance Requirements.