Florida Real Estate License Law

All agents have to complete real estate continuing education, but the best don't stop there. Our industry is ever-changing, and the most successful agents are the ones who never stop learning.

That’s why we’ve put together this collection of deep-dive resources just for you. These resources go beyond what's covered in our Florida 14-Hour Required Core CE course, giving you deeper insights, fresh perspectives, and actionable strategies to apply in your day-to-day business. So dive into these expert-approved reads and keep pushing your business forward.

1️⃣ Commercial Listing? Don’t Misrepresent

This real-life Q&A from Florida Realtors® puts the Code of Ethics into action. It tells the story of a broker who advertised an “upstairs rental apartment” that wasn’t legally permitted – a big no-no.

You’ll learn why honesty truly is the best policy in listings and how Article 2 of the Code requires avoiding misrepresentation and providing accurate information. It’s an eye-opening read on handling ethical dilemmas: click to see what happened and how doing the right thing protects you and your clients.

2️⃣ Equal Professional Services

Discover how even well-meaning actions can lead to fair housing violations. In this Florida Realtors® case study, a broker innocently “steered” a buyer to certain neighborhoods based on race – and ended up violating Article 10 of the Code by denying equal service. 😱

Don’t let this be you! This engaging story shows how to uphold fair housing laws in everyday practice. You’ll come away with a deeper understanding of why treating all clients equally isn’t just law – it’s good business. A must-read to keep you on the right side of ethics and the law.

3️⃣ Florida’s Real Estate Advertising Laws

Tired of legalese? This friendly guide (from a Florida brokerage blog) breaks down Florida’s advertising rules into real-world mistakes you can avoid. It covers everything from exaggerated listings (calling a tiny pond a “water view” – we’ve all seen it!) to missing broker information in ads. Did you know every ad must clearly display your brokerage’s licensed name? It’s true.

Learn the do’s and don’ts of compliant ads – including team name rules, avoiding misleading claims, and fair housing in advertising. This resource turns dry regulations into practical tips, so your marketing grabs attention without grabbing a disciplinary complaint.

4️⃣ Important Updates to Forms

Stay ahead of the curve with this brand-new (Jan 2025) update from the Northeast Florida Association of REALTORS®. It outlines recent changes to Florida’s standard contracts and addenda. 📝 Why click? If you want to look smart at the closing table, you’ll need to know about the three big FR/BAR contract changes: clarified “Closing Services” costs, removal of an old escrow dispute clause, and new checkboxes for condo docs.

Plus, learn about a new condo rider addressing inspection reports (a response to Florida’s latest condo safety laws). This quick read gives you the highlights so you can confidently advise clients under the latest rules – and avoid any surprises in your transactions.

5️⃣ Law Will Impact Some Foreign Buyers

Florida’s legislature has been busy! 🏛️ This Florida Realtors® news article breaks down a 2023 law (SB 264) that restricts certain foreign citizens from buying property in Florida. It’s exactly the kind of Florida-specific law your CE might mention, but here you get the full story. Find out who is affected (hint: specific countries), what new disclosure and affidavit requirements are now in contracts, and the serious penalties for non-compliance (it’s actually a crime to knowingly violate this law!).

Importantly, the article shares tips from Florida Realtors® legal counsel on how agents should handle inquiries – including the golden rule, “Don’t be the source of the information – be the source of the source.” If international buyers or sellers cross your path, you’ll be glad you clicked this one.

6️⃣ Florida’s Escrow Laws & Rules

Worried about escrow compliance? This comprehensive guide from Florida Realtors® is like having a broker hotline at your fingertips. It’s a detailed yet digestible rundown of Florida’s escrow requirements – exactly what your CE’s Core Law touches on, but in plain English. Learn the crucial deadlines (associates must deliver deposits by next business day, brokers must deposit within 3 business days), the allowable amounts of personal funds in escrow accounts, and the protocol for escrow disputes (including that 15-business-day rule to notify FREC of conflicting demands).

It even explains when you need (and don’t need) to notify FREC or interplead funds. 🤔 Why read? Because escrow mistakes are one of the top reasons licenses get in trouble. This resource is an excellent refresher that will help you protect your license and your clients’ money – truly empowering knowledge for any Florida agent.

7️⃣ Help Clients Stay a Step Ahead of Scammers

Wire fraud and cyber scams are on the rise, and this quick article from Florida Realtors® News is here to keep you and your clients safe. 🛡️ It offers real-world tips from a veteran broker on how to educate buyers about wire fraud (yes, you should absolutely be warning every buyer about that fake wiring-instruction email scam) and even touches on those bizarre “fake buyer” text messages agents get. The advice is straightforward: report and block suspicious texts, never trust “reply STOP” on a sketchy message, and always verify emails.

With hackers using AI to create ever more convincing cons, we have to “resign ourselves to the idea that we can no longer believe or trust anything we hear or read – and only some of what we see”. Thankfully, the article also reminds us of basics that bear repeating: use strong passwords and two-factor authentication, keep software updated, and never click unfamiliar links. Share these insights with your customers to prove your value and keep everyone a step ahead of the bad guys.

8️⃣ Tech Trends for Your Real Estate Business

Ready to peek into the future? 🤖📡 This engaging piece (written March 2025) highlights how emerging tech like AI, IoT (Internet of Things), and digital twins are changing real estate. It’s not sci-fi – it’s practical and happening now. You’ll read how smart home devices and data analytics can predict housing trends and buyer desires, leading to smarter home designs and more efficient transactions. For example, see how IoT gadgets + AI might reveal which home features different demographics crave, so builders (and agents) can anticipate market demand.

The article explains concepts like digital twins (virtual replicas of properties) in plain language, showing how they could help clients visualize homes and even plan for energy savings. Bottom line: this resource will spark ideas on leveraging tech in your own business. After all, staying tech-savvy is a huge competitive advantage. Give it a read – you’ll come away excited about the innovations on the horizon and how they can make you a more informed, future-ready real estate pro.

9️⃣ Duties to the Public – Avoid Hate Speech

Another ethics gem from Florida Realtors®, this article tackles one of the hottest topics in professional standards: hate speech and discrimination. It recounts a scenario where an agent’s use of a derogatory remark (off the job) triggers an ethics hearing under Article 10. If you’ve ever wondered how NAR’s recent crackdown on hate speech works in practice, here’s your answer. The piece discusses the evidence needed to prove an ethics violation for offensive speech and dispels the myth that having clients from a protected class is a “free pass” to say whatever you want.

Spoiler: It’s not – the Code demands higher standards. 💡 This is a compelling read because it goes beyond “don’t discriminate” and explores the nuance of professional conduct online and off. In our modern, connected world, your words can come back to haunt you. By reading this, you’ll understand how to protect your reputation and uphold Realtor ethics even on social media. It’s a powerful reminder that Fair Housing isn’t just about actions, but words too – and that maintaining the public’s trust means speaking with respect at all times.

🔟 12 Creative Real Estate Marketing Tips

Last but not least, let’s talk marketing! 📣 This upbeat article from NAR’s REALTOR® Magazine is packed with savvy ideas to attract more business (beyond what your CE’s marketing module covers). It’s essentially a checklist of modern marketing must-dos. From social media strategies (are you on Pinterest and Instagram yet?) to leveraging local community imagery in your posts, these tips will help you stand out. For instance, you’ll get pointers on using social sharing buttons so buyers can easily post your listings to their networks, and why showcasing local hotspots can sell not just the home, but the lifestyle.

Other gems: creating content like blog articles or short ebooks to capture leads, and always using professional photography because most buyers judge listings by photos first (and bad photos can cost you deals!). Whether you’re a new agent or a seasoned pro, you’re bound to find a fresh idea here to supercharge your marketing. It’s friendly, fun, and guaranteed to spark inspiration to help you generate more leads and close more sales. Enjoy!