Which is not true about junk fees in real estate?

The assertion that junk fees are always disclosed before a transaction is not true. Junk fees refer to various additional charges that can be added to the cost of transactions in real estate, which may not always be clearly communicated to the buyer or seller prior to or during the transaction. The lack of transparency around these fees is one of the main criticisms leveled against them, as they can often catch consumers off guard, leading to inflated transaction costs. Items like processing fees, administrative costs, and miscellaneous charges can be added without sufficient explanation, highlighting an issue with transparency in the real estate transaction process.

In contrast, junk fees do indeed inflate the overall cost of a transaction, they represent additional payments beyond standard commissions, and they face scrutiny primarily due to their opaqueness in being presented to consumers. This is why the selected statement is not true—it contradicts the reality of how junk fees are often handled in real estate transactions.