[VillagerNut]

Your information is totally incorrect. In the state of Florida the way it stands right now, most broker’s run as a transaction broker with nothing needing to be signed. We are definitely allowed to sell our own listings. We do not have dual agency in Florida. We have transaction broker agency. If we want to represent one party exclusively then we do have to get an agreement signed.

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

I know other states are different, but, in Florida, it is illegal to represent both the buyer and the seller as an agent. You can be a transaction agent, but only if you have the written consent of the seller. If you don't have consent, you can only represent one party.

[tedquick]

Originally Posted by Rainger99

When you represented both parties, did you try to get the lowest price or the highest price?

Without exception my goal was to find a price and terms that were satisfactory to both parties. I honestly do not ever recall a "bad" experience.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by VillagerNut

Your information is totally incorrect. In the state of Florida the way it stands right now, most broker’s run as a transaction broker with nothing needing to be signed. We are definitely allowed to sell our own listings. We do not have dual agency in Florida. We have transaction broker agency. If we want to represent one party exclusively then we do have to get an agreement signed.

This is from the 2023 Florida Statue 475.278 (note the last sentence):

CONSENT TO TRANSITION TO
TRANSACTION BROKER

FLORIDA LAW ALLOWS REAL ESTATE LICENSEES WHO REPRESENT A BUYER OR SELLER AS A SINGLE AGENT TO CHANGE FROM A SINGLE AGENT RELATIONSHIP TO A TRANSACTION BROKERAGE RELATIONSHIP IN ORDER FOR THE LICENSEE TO ASSIST BOTH PARTIES IN A REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION BY PROVIDING A LIMITED FORM OF REPRESENTATION TO BOTH THE BUYER AND THE SELLER. THIS CHANGE IN RELATIONSHIP CANNOT OCCUR WITHOUT YOUR PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT.

Has this law changed?

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by tedquick

Without exception my goal was to find a price and terms that were satisfactory to both parties. I honestly do not ever recall a "bad" experience.

So, if I list my house for $400K with a 6 percent commission, you will represent both the buyer and the seller to get a "satisfactory" price, and then expect me, the seller, to pay you $24,000? There is no way I would ever agree to that. I expect the agent to represent me in negotiations and to get the highest reasonable price. I'm glad that Florida law doesn't allow that. If they did, I would sell my own house.