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Ken Lam Realty · Tools · T461

Two different brokerages working the same side? That's Form ABA.

Form ABA ties a second brokerage into your listing or buyer agreement, and says how the two share the work and the commission.

What each part says

Tap a part to open it. Same order as the real form.

↑Top of the form: which agreement

ABA is an addendum. The default is the Listing Agreement; otherwise check Purchase Agreement, Buyer Representation Agreement or Other. Then the date of that agreement, the two parties to it, and the property.

Example: Seller A listed 1234 Example Lane, San Jose, CA 95100 with Brokerage Y on 12/01/2026. Seller A's cousin is an agent at Brokerage K and wants to help. ABA attaches to that listing.

1Listing Agreement: co-listing brokers

Fill this when ABA attaches to a listing. Broker 1 and Broker 2 become co-listing brokers for the seller. A: pay is split equally, unless you check the box and write another split. B: they share responsibility equally and jointly, unless you write it another way. C: or check the box to use an attached agreement.

Like two friends running one lemonade stand: the sign says both names. Brokerage Y and Brokerage K co-list 1234 Example Lane, 60/40 on pay, equal on work.

2Buyer Representation Agreement: co-buyer brokers

The same idea for the buyer side. When ABA attaches to a buyer agreement, the two brokers become co-buyer brokers. Same three choices: pay split, responsibility, or an attached agreement. Note: in California a buyer representation agreement can last at most 3 months, and each renewal also at most 3 months, in writing (Civil Code §1670.50, AB 2992, since 1/1/2025). Adding a second broker does not change that.

Example: Buyer B moves from Southern California and keeps the agent there (Brokerage K) but also signs with Brokerage Y, which knows San Jose. ABA on the buyer agreement, paragraph 2.

3Purchase Agreement or other: check ONE box

Used when ABA attaches to the purchase contract or another paper. Box A: several brokers for the seller, who are already parties to a listing (or other agreement) where they agreed to share. Box B: several brokers for the buyer, who have agreed to share. One box only; if both apply, use a separate ABA for each.

Example: The offer on 1234 Example Lane is accepted. The two co-listing brokers attach ABA to the Purchase Agreement and check 3A, pointing to the 12/01/2026 listing.

4The agents for each broker

One agent for Broker 1 and one for Broker 2, each with a DRE license number. If either brokerage uses several agents, partners or a team, check the box and attach Form AAA for them.

Example: Agent X (Brokerage Y), DRE #0000001; Agent M (Brokerage K), DRE #0000009. Made-up numbers.

5One broker named means both are named

Wherever Broker 1 or Broker 2 is named in the agreement or related papers as the representative, the other broker counts as named too. Buyers don't need to sign if only paragraph 1 is filled. Sellers don't need to sign if only paragraph 2 is filled.

Example: The MLS and the disclosures say Brokerage Y. With ABA, that also covers Brokerage K.

✎Signatures

Each brokerage signs as a firm with its DRE number, and the line under it is "By (Broker/Office Manager)". Then lines for two sellers and two buyers, skipped as paragraph 5 allows.

Example: Brokerage Y signs By its broker, Brokerage K signs By its office manager, Seller A signs. No buyer line, because only paragraph 1 is used.

Sample sheet, filled in

Tap any box to jump to what it means. It follows the tool below.

Simplified illustration, not the real form. The real form is published by C.A.R. (California Association of REALTORS®); your agent has it.

Who gets how much, who signs

$
%
$
%
Responsibility
Commission to share
$0
Brokerage Y (Broker 1)
$0

Brokerage K (Broker 2)
$0

Paragraph to fill1
Who signs

    45-second video

    Next steps

    1. Before anyone signs, ask both agents one thing: who calls me, who prices, who shows, who negotiates. Put the answer in 1B or 2B, not in a text.
    2. Several agents inside one of the brokerages? That is Form AAA: T460.
    3. Selling? See what you take home after commission in T21. Rental or commercial listing: T430.
    4. Every other form, in plain words: T402 Forms library.

    What many people get wrong

    "Two brokerages means I pay two commissions." No. ABA shares the compensation already in your agreement between the two brokers. It adds no new fee.

    "Split the money equally, so the work is equal too." Pay (A) and responsibility (B) are separate boxes. In 23 years, the co-listings that went bad were the ones where everybody wrote 50/50 and nobody wrote who answers the phone on Saturday.

    "My agent signed it, so it's done." The signature line for each firm is "By (Broker/Office Manager)". The brokerage signs, through its broker or office manager.

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