Florida Real Estate Brokers: Dot Your I’s and T’s in Listing Agreements!

Did you know that if you are a licensed real estate broker in the State of Florida, and fail to comply with the statutory requirements of a written listing agreements, your license could be revoked and you could face fines of up to $5,000 for each violation?

If you are a licensed real estate broker in Florida and have received an administrative complaint from the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), you are probably concerned about how this may affect your license. To set up a FREE no-obligation consultation with attorney Jeff Howell or attorney Rickey Strong, contact the law firm of Howell, Buchan & Strong, Attorneys at Law at 850-877-7776. We represent licensed real estate brokers statewide, including out-of-state clients who are concerned about the status of their Florida license.

When your professional license is on the line, failing to dot your i’s and cross your t’s is no laughing matter. Your career could be on the line.

According to Section 475.25(1)(r), Florida Statutes:

The [Florida real estate] commission . . . may place a licensee, registrant, or permittee on probation; may suspend a license, registration, or permit for a period not exceeding 10 years; may revoke a license, registration, or permit; may impose an administrative fine not to exceed $5,000 for each count or separate offense; and may issue a reprimand, and any or all of the foregoing, if it finds that the licensee, registrant, permittee, or applicant . . . [h]as failed in any written listing agreement to include a definite expiration date, description of the property, price and terms, fee or commission, and a proper signature of the principal(s); and has failed to give the principal(s) a legible, signed, true and correct copy of the listing agreement within 24 hours of obtaining the written listing agreement. The written listing agreement shall contain no provision requiring the person signing the listing to notify the broker of the intention to cancel the listing after such definite expiration date.

According to Rule 61J2-24.001(3)(r), Florida Administrative Code, even if this is your first license-related disciplinary action, the minimum penalty for violating this statute is a suspension of your license for anywhere between 30 days and permanent revocation, in addition to a fine in the amount of $250 to $1,000 for each violation. If your license has been disciplined before, the penalty is a suspension or revocation of your license, plus fines of between $1,000 to $5,000 for each violation. Your disciplinary history is a matter of public record which will be viewable by your clients.

However, these penalties are not set in stone. The Florida Real Estate Commission can take into account any number of aggravating or mitigating factors to increase or lesson the penalties set down in the rules. When you have an experienced real estate attorney fighting for you, you stand a much better chance of receiving the lowest possible penalty, and even of getting the complaint against you dismissed.

Contact the law firm of Howell, Buchan & Strong, Attorneys at Law at 850-877-7776 to set up your FREE no-obligation consultation with attorney Jeff Howell or attorney Rickey Strong today. DBPR has experienced attorneys on its side. So should you!