On what date does the five-year record-retention clock start ticking for Shelby who listed a condo?

In Maryland, the five-year record retention period for real estate transactions begins on the date of the transaction's completion or the date of the listing agreement if that is applicable. For Shelby, who listed a condo, the relevant date is typically when the listing agreement was signed or the property was marketed.

If July 4 is identified as the date when the listing took effect or the relevant document was executed, it makes sense that this would mark the start of the five-year retention period. This means that Shelby would need to retain the records related to this listing transaction until five years after this date, for legal and regulatory compliance purposes.

The other dates presented would not align with the traditional start of a record retention clock, which is typically linked to the effective date of the listing agreement or when the property transaction is formally engaged. Thus, knowing the compliance and record-keeping requirements in real estate transactions is crucial for agents like Shelby.