This bill amends the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act to explicitly include the sale of real estate by homeowners under its jurisdiction. It introduces new legal language that defines "merchandise" to encompass real estate, thereby extending the protections of the act to homeowners engaging in the sale of their properties. Additionally, the bill establishes that any deceptive practices related to the sale or advertisement of real estate, including those employed by homeowners, are considered unlawful practices under the act.

The bill outlines that such unlawful practices can result in significant penalties, including monetary fines of up to $10,000 for first offenses and $20,000 for subsequent offenses. It also allows for the Attorney General to issue cease and desist orders, and for the injured parties to seek punitive damages, treble damages, and costs. This expansion of the Consumer Fraud Act aims to provide greater consumer protection in real estate transactions, which previously only applied to commercial or professional sales. The act is set to take effect 30 days after its enactment.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 56:8-1