Florida Real Estate Brokers: Don’t Forget to (Place a) Sign!

Did you know that if you are a licensed real estate broker in the State of Florida, and fail to place a sign on or near the entrance of each of your offices, or if your sign is missing certain information, your license could be suspended and you could face fines of up to $1,000 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 475.22(1), Florida Statutes:

Each active [real estate] broker shall maintain a sign on or about the entrance of her or his principal office and each branch office, which sign may be easily observed and read by any person about to enter such office. Each sign must contain the name of the broker, together with the trade name, if any. For a partnership or corporation, the sign must contain the name of the firm or corporation or trade name of the firm or corporation, together with the name of at least one of the brokers. At a minimum, the words “licensed real estate broker” or “lic. real estate broker” must appear on the office entrance signs.

According to Rule 61J2-24.001(3)(a), Florida Administrative Code, the penalty, if this is your first license-related disciplinary action, is an official reprimand and a fine of up to $500. If your license has been disciplined before, the penalty is a 90-day suspension of your license and a fine of $1,000. Your disciplinary history is a matter of public record, and 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!