A real estate licensee is a partial owner of a local inspection company. It is permissible for the licensee to tell all clients to use this company when:

While acting in the best interest of the client is a fundamental principle in real estate, it does not exempt the licensee from the requirement to disclose any ownership interests. Without disclosure, the client may not be fully aware of the potential bias in the recommendation, which could affect their perception of the advice provided.

The lack of knowledge about other title companies does not justify the recommendation of the inspection company in which the licensee has an ownership interest. Clients should always be presented with multiple options, and the licensee's financial interest must still be disclosed to avoid any ethical violations.

Even if a client does not request alternative recommendations, the licensee is still obligated to disclose their ownership interest in the inspection company. This ensures that clients are aware of any potential conflicts of interest, allowing them to make choices based on complete information.