EC Wisconsin News

Legislation authored by Senator Romaine Robert Quinn (R-Birchwood) to address predatory real estate practices has been signed into law as Wisconsin Act 32. The new law targets businesses that offer homeowners upfront cash in exchange for signing exclusive contracts, a practice that has become more common across the country.

According to Senator Quinn, these agreements often include terms that allow companies to place liens on properties without the owners’ full understanding. “Homeowners preyed upon by these offers often don’t even know that the agreements include terms that essentially allow a company to place a lien on their property,” Quinn said. “In many cases, this has resulted in steep penalties—sometimes a percentage of the property’s value—if the owners or their heirs sought to terminate the contract.”

Under Wisconsin Act 32, placing liens on real property is now limited only to contracts involving actual work or improvements directly enhancing the property. Entities violating this restriction will be subject to penalties and fines. The law also provides recourse for victims of deceptive practices, allowing them to recover costs, damages, and attorney fees.

“Passing this bill in Wisconsin was necessary to protect consumers, often seniors, from schemers who exploit property ownership for unjust financial gain,” Quinn said. “This is simply a common sense measure that has real impact for people in Northern Wisconsin and around the entire state.”

Quinn was elected as a Republican senator representing Wisconsin’s 25th Senate district in 2023, succeeding Janet Bewley.