Definition of "Proxy"

The term proxy comes from the power of attorney by which the holder of stockholders in a real estate company transfers voting rights to another stockholder. A proxy fight may arise in which groups compete in the gathering of proxies to give them toting control. In many fields, a proxy is an individual legally authorized to act, vote, or sign on behalf of someone else, like an investor, a party, or another entity. Like this, the individual who authorized the proxy is not required to be present when votes are cast.

How does a Proxy Work?

Even if proxy voting is allowed in many businesses, the management team prefers and encourages their shareholders to vote in person. However, when a shareholder is unable to attend a meeting, proxy voting is allowed and accepted so that the voting can take place. 

A person can not simply state that they are legally authorized to vote as a proxy for a shareholder. For an individual to be legally authorized to act as a proxy, they require formal documentation that explains the extent to which the proxy can act, speak or vote on someone else’s behalf.

For this, they might even require a formal power of attorney document to have the right to complete particular actions. The shareholder must sign the document to extend the legal authorization to the individual chosen to be their proxy, to vote on their behalf at an annual meeting, for example.

Proxy in Real Estate

In the real estate industry, a proxy can be someone that is legally authorized to speak on your behalf. This type of relationship can occur between a homebuyer and a real estate agent if the buyer is unavailable and the home is scheduled for a home inspection. The real estate agent can act as a proxy and go to the inspection on behalf of the buyer. 

Another situation where a proxy can be used in real estate is during auctions. An individual can hire another person to act as a proxy on their behalf if they can not attend the auction in person. The proxy will be told what they are allowed to do, the value they are allowed to offer for each property that the bidder is interested in, and follow any other instructions regarding the auction. Essentially, during an auction, a proxy bids according to your instructions. Even companies offer bidding services, or you can simply work with someone you trust.

For more information regarding this subject, we suggest that you contact a real estate attorney. The information mentioned above is general and should not be considered “legal advice”.

image of a real estate dictionary page

Have a question or comment?

We're here to help.

*** Your email address will remain confidential.
 

 

Popular Real Estate Terms

Person who dies leaving a will specifying the distribution of the estate. ...

Written enumeration of the desired selling prices associated with homes or office buildings for sale. The prospective buyer can then determine if the properties for sale are within his ...

Person providing advice for compensation about real estate. ...

Real property being offered for sale that has received a contract for sale but has not gone to a closing. Under these circumstances, it may be possible to accept a refundable binder for ...

Branch of the federal government responsible for collecting taxes including personal and corporate. The IRS administers tax rules and regulations, and investigates tax irregularities. ...

Sponsor of a syndicate involving people or companies buying an interest in a real estate investment or unit. The group of investors are in effect engaged in a joint venture for profit." ...

The maximum pre-approved amount that an individual or business can borrow without preparing a new credit request. It is a safety buffer in the event funds are needed for unexpected ...

Decline in value of real estate property because it is near something which is damaging to its worth. For example, a house located next to a pollution treatment center, drug center, or ...

Way in which the U.S. government uses to subdivide public land. Land is designated as either a base line (East-West) or principal meridian line (North-South). It is a rectangular approach ...

Popular Real Estate Questions