An exclusive right to sell listing obtained by a broker associate belongs to?

The exclusive right to sell listing obtained by a broker associate belongs to the employing broker because real estate listings are considered property of the brokerage firm. When a broker associate, who is typically an agent working under the umbrella of a licensed broker, secures a listing, the contract is executed in the name of the broker. This means that any rights, obligations, and benefits associated with the listing (such as commission, marketing decisions, and client responsibility) are legally tied to the employing broker rather than the individual broker associate.

This structure is essential in real estate as it ensures that the brokerage firm has a vested interest in all transactions and creates a legal framework within which the broker associates operate. By centralizing the listing under the employing broker, the business is more organized and professional standards can be maintained across agents within the brokerage.

The other options are less correct since personal ownership of the listing does not reside with the broker associate, and while the client retains rights concerning their property, the relationship is structured such that the brokerage firm, represented by the broker, holds the listing rights.