If there is a conflict between the broker and the association's directives, who has authority?

In the context of community association management, the authority primarily resides with the association rather than the broker. The association's directives are established to govern the community and its members, and they hold legal weight, particularly in matters of community management and compliance with established rules and regulations.

The broker, while important for facilitating real estate transactions and providing guidance, does not typically have overriding authority over the directives set forth by the association. The community members and the state regulatory authority are also relevant players, but they operate within the framework established by the association’s governing documents. Community members can influence decisions through voting, while the state regulatory authority oversees compliance with broader regulatory issues but does not intervene in internal association matters unless there are serious violations.

Thus, in scenarios where there is a conflict, the preference and authority would generally lie with the association and its established guidelines, unless specified otherwise in the broker's agreement or the association's governing documents.