South Carolina Real Estate Broker Practice Exam

Latent defects refer to issues with a property that are not apparent or visible during a routine inspection and are typically not discovered until after the property changes hands. These defects are significant because they can affect the value and safety of the property, and they must be disclosed by the property owner to prospective buyers to ensure transparency in the sale process. A seller’s failure to disclose such defects can lead to legal repercussions, as buyers have a right to know about the property's condition, especially if those issues might not be easily detected. This understanding underscores the importance of thorough inspections and the ethical obligation of sellers to inform buyers about any latent defects that may exist.

The other options do not accurately describe latent defects; they either refer to issues that are obvious or easily noticed during inspections or imply that these defects are minor and easily repaired, which does not capture the essence of what latent defects are in real estate.