Beginning January 1, 2024, new permit applications for commercial and residential onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems in the Indian River Lagoon Program Area must comply with ENR-OSTDS standards. Unlike the BMAP provisions described above, these requirements apply to lots of all sizes within the designated program area. In addition, by January 1, 2030, certain existing commercial and residential properties in the Indian River Lagoon Program Area must either: Connect

Join a Florida Realtors' webinar on Oct. 16 at 10 a.m. ET for a closer look at UAD 3.6 and what the changes mean for your business. A significant change is coming to residential appraisal reporting! Beginning November 2, 2026, UAD 3.6 will be mandatory for all new appraisal reports submitted to the Uniform Collateral Data Portal (UCDP), bringing a redesigned reporting structure and forms, including the redesigned Uniform Residential Appraisal Report (URAR). Florida REALTORS®

When requesting repairs during the inspection period, be careful about sending a Release and Cancellation along with the repair request. A Release and Cancellation is not a required document to cancel a contract, and sending both could create confusion—or potentially indicate the buyer has chosen to cancel rather than negotiate. If the deadline is approaching, send the repair request and state: “It is the buyer’s intent to cancel if we are unable to reach an agreement regardi

Reach out personally – A quick call, text, or personal message goes much further than another generic email. Ask how they’re doing—not whether they’re ready to buy or sell. Lead with value – Share useful market updates, neighborhood information, homeownership tips, or local recommendations that give people a reason to stay connected. Use life events as opportunities to connect – Birthdays, home anniversaries, job changes, graduations, and community events are natural reasons

Verify everything AI produces – AI can sound confident and still be wrong. Double-check contract information, MLS rules, laws, statistics, property details, and calculations before sharing them. Watch Fair Housing & discrimination risks – AI-generated listing descriptions, marketing, targeting, and responses still need to comply with Fair Housing laws. The agent remains responsible for the content. Be careful with photos and marketing – AI-enhanced or virtually staged photos

If a seller has solar panels installed on the roof of their property, they should investigate whether the way those solar panels are financed or leased could impact a future transaction. Many sellers aren’t aware of these issues, so if you ask the right questions, you can set them on the path to success: Do you own the solar panels, or are they leased? If you own them, are they financed? If they’re financed, do you plan to pay the debt off before going under contract (or befo

HUD rescinded its 2020 guidance regarding emotional support animals under the Fair Housing Act. HUD will now use the ADA definition of a service animal when investigating Fair Housing Act complaints. Only animals individually trained to perform work or tasks related to a person's disability will be recognized by HUD for enforcement purposes. Emotional support animals without specific training may no longer be the basis for a HUD Fair Housing complaint. This does not change th

Avoid using "NO" statements (e.g., "No children," "No singles," "No wheelchairs," "No Section 8") as they can create Fair Housing concerns. Focus on the property, not the person. Describe features instead of who can or cannot live there. Use objective property descriptions such as "2-bedroom home," "second-floor unit," or "stairs to entrance" rather than restricting occupants. State factual restrictions only when legally required, such as HOA rules, occupancy limits, or age-r

Highlight unique features that set the property apart, such as updated kitchens, outdoor living spaces, or special amenities. Keep descriptions clear and specific so buyers quickly understand what makes the home special. Use bullet points to showcase the home's top features and make listings easy to scan. Be honest and accurate. Set realistic expectations to build buyer confidence and avoid disappointment. Promote the location, including nearby parks, shopping, dining, school

In Florida, a seller must be provided a signed, legible, true, and correct copy of the listing agreement within 24 hours of obtaining the written listing agreement. This requirement is found in Section 475.25(1)(r), Florida Statutes. The 24-hour clock begins when the broker/licensee obtains the written listing agreement (i.e., after it has been properly signed by the seller(s)). In practice, the safest approach is to provide the fully executed copy immediately once all requir

Homes that linger on the market for 18 weeks close 1.3 percentage points below asking, compared to 1.8 points above for those sold near week four, according to a Realtor.com analysis of national listing performance. The first month on the market is no longer the listing warmup. It’s the pricing test. A new Realtor.com® report found that early activity can be a key test for sellers, especially in Florida markets where buyers have more homes to choose from than they did during

Your vote plays a direct role in protecting the real estate profession and the clients we serve. Recent victories led by Florida REALTORS® show just how important engagement is, from preserving Florida’s real estate regulatory structure to strengthening private property rights and reducing unnecessary burdens on transactions. These wins happen because REALTORS® stay informed, involved, and most importantly, vote. If you aren’t registered to vote, registr today and make your v

Florida home sales rose again in May, continuing a nine-month streak of year-over-year gains. The data gives Realtors a useful way to talk with buyers and sellers about timing, pricing and how local conditions are shaping activity. The latest numbers point to a market that is still moving, even as mortgage rates continue to shape buyer decisions. The sales streak gives buyers and sellers a clearer read on Florida’s market heading into summer. Buyers are still moving when the

Your next customer may not find you by clicking a blue Google link. They may find you through an AI-generated answer. Google is expanding its search bar to handle more conversational questions and give users more AI-generated answers before they click a website link. The change means more consumers may get buying, selling and local market information directly from Google instead of visiting the websites that once showed up in traditional search results. Google isn’t fully rep

When college begins in a few months, 226 deserving students from communities across Florida will receive financial help for their costs through scholarships from Florida Realtors® Education Foundation Inc These scholarships represent more than financial assistance – they reflect Realtors’ commitment to supporting the next generation and helping students achieve their educational goals. We don’t just sell homes, we help our communites! AND our very own SOPHIA MIRANDA daughter

Scammers are impersonating agents and posting fake listings. Learn the red flags and how to spot fraud before it disrupts a transaction. How can you protect yourself from such scams? Thankfully, there are some common red flags; Does the caller try to make it seem like things are urgent? Do they want a decision immediately? Do they talk in circles, talking a lot without saying much of importance? Does the information relating to the account or party they are calling about not

Dear Shannon: I’m the listing broker at a busy, medium-sized brokerage focused on residential property. One of our sales associates wanted to sell their vacant lot, so to let people passing by know it was available, we put up a simple sign that read, “For Sale – Call XXX-555-5000.” It was easier to put my sales associate’s home number on the sign, so they could better field inquiries from potential buyers. A potential buyer called the number, and my sales associate handled th

Florida also ranked first 10th for future economic outlook. The rankings were fueled by strong domestic migration, job growth and gains in economic output, while the state’s tax and regulatory environment also helped boost its standing. The analysis from the American Legislative Exchange Council evaluates states using policy measures such as taxes, spending and labor rules, along with performance indicators like job growth and migration. Florida ranked first in economic perfo

Florida Realtors’ MLA-6 form can update pricing, timelines and more The MLA-6 can be used to amend the Exclusive Right of Sale Listing Agreement, Exclusive Brokerage Listing Agreement and the Exclusive Right to Lease Listing Agreement. It is a simple, easy to read form, with checkboxes that can be used to amend the various parts of the above mentioned forms. The form can be used to make common changes such as: Change the Termination Date Change price and terms Amend compensat

A look at how Florida Realtors helped shape legislation to benefit consumers and the state's real estate industry during the 2026 Legislative Session. Although several Realtor legislative priorities are on hold until the budget process concludes, numerous legislative victories were achieved during the 60-day lawmaking period that will benefit the profession, consumers, property owners and communities throughout Florida. Significant legislative victories include: Protecting co