Oregon Home Buyers: How to File an Agent Complaint

Richard Montgomery on Oct 27, 2026

Q: How do I actually file a complaint against a real estate agent in Oregon for not properly disclosing foundation and roof structural damage before signing the deal? We were rushed into it by our agent. He said, "We better make an offer now before someone else takes it," LONG before we got the three-year-old inspection report that was not acted on.

A: Oregon gives you a clear path, but it may not lead where you expect.

File your complaint with the Oregon Real Estate Agency, which licenses agents. Write it in your own words, because the agency says complaints that appear AI-generated may be rejected. Expect patience: more than 80% of cases finish within 150 days. If your agent belongs to a local association, you can also file an ethics complaint there. That is a separate track, since an association cannot touch a state license. Visit the Complaints and Consumer Information section of Oregon.gov to find out more about the complaint process.

Here is the contrarian part. Being rushed is not a violation. Pushy is legal; concealing is not. Oregon law requires agents to disclose material facts they know that are not apparent or readily ascertainable to a party. So your complaint lives or dies on what your agent knew and when. Oregon Public Law

Before filing, answer four questions:

-- Did your agent actually have that three-year-old inspection report or only the seller?

-- Did the seller's disclosure statement mention the roof or foundation? Oregon sellers must deliver one covering structure and buyers get five business days to revoke unless that right was waived. Did you waive it? Check out the article "Selling a Home in Oregon? What You Need to Disclose and What You Don't" on Harris Sliwoski to learn more.

-- Did you receive the report before closing? If so, the timeline changes.

-- Did you order your own inspection? The state form says buyers must pay diligent attention to defects they know of or could discover. Visit FindLaw.com to learn more.

Build a dated timeline with texts, emails and documents attached. That is what investigators can use. Use the Agency's licensee search to confirm your agent's license number and any prior discipline. In your summary, stick to facts: dates, who said what and which documents you received and when. Attach the inspection report, the disclosure statement, the purchase agreement and a contractor's repair estimate. Leave out anger and legal conclusions; investigators want evidence, not adjectives.

Now the hard truth. The Agency cannot recover money for you. Its power is over the license. If you lost money, that runs through negotiation, mediation or a civil claim. Litigating over $8,000 can cost more than it recovers, so consider mediation. Ask about deadlines and act soon. Visit nadn.org to see a directory of mediators. I have never used this service and have no financial arrangement with it; this is not an endorsement. DIY search by typing national mediation services in your search bar.

Do both at once: File the complaint to hold the agent accountable and pursue mediation or counsel to fix the damage. One caution: photograph the damage and get written estimates before any repairs begin, because evidence disappears once the crew arrives. Your roof will not repair itself while the Agency investigates.

Richard Montgomery is a syndicated columnist, published author, retired real estate executive, serial entrepreneur and the founder of DearMonty.com and PropBox, Inc. He provides consumers with options to real estate issues. Follow him on Twitter (X) @montgomRM or DearMonty.com.

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