05/14/2025

Senate Bill 155, Introduced in Ohio Senate

Ohio's Real Estate Wholesaling Laws

Senate Bill 155, introduced by Senators Andrew Brenner and Catherine Ingram, is currently under consideration in the Ohio Senate. On May 7th, the Licking County Recorder, who also serves as Chairman of the Ohio Recorders’ Association Legislative Committee, delivered testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee in support of the bill.

This significant piece of legislation proposes reforms to Ohio’s real estate wholesaling laws. Specifically, it would require wholesalers—those acting as the grantee in transactions conveying interests in residential property—to provide specific disclosures to homeowners. Additionally, if a wholesaler fails to make these disclosures, the bill gives property owners the right to cancel the contract.

Chairman Long emphasized, “Most homeowners targeted by wholesalers have no real understanding of their home's true market value. As a result, they’re losing hard-earned equity through high-pressure tactics and deceptive practices that amount to outright exploitation.”

The Ohio Recorders’ Association (ORA) fully respects the property rights of individuals to sell their homes freely and acknowledges that buyers seek advantageous deals. However, the ORA firmly supports the passage of SB 155, believing it will bring necessary protections to vulnerable Ohio homeowners and curb predatory practices within the real estate market.