April 2026 ~ Jacksonville Real Producers

Kristan Malin

Awards are great, but delivering is what matters. Leah Schwab is a multi-year award-winning agent who makes insurance easy to understand and simple to secure. She provides same-day quotes from 100+ carriers and prides herself on educating every client she serves. Partner with Leah and the Brightway PVB Team to help you shine throughout the real estate process every day!

Preferred Partners

This section has been created to give you easier access when searching for a trusted real estate affiliate. Take a minute to familiarize yourself with the businesses sponsoring your magazine. These local businesses are proud to partner with you and make this magazine possible. Please support these businesses and thank them for supporting the REALTOR® community!

CONSTRUCTION

Victory Construction Services (904) 591-1631 victory-built.com

DIGITAL MARKETING

AD Marketing (904) 718-4439 admarkjax.com

FENCING

Southern Shores Fence & Rail (352) 258-3446 southernshoresfenceandrail.com

GENERAL CONSTRUCTION

Cronos Construction (904) 329-6364 cronosconstruction.com

HANDYMAN SERVICES

Fix-it Flamingo (904) 474-1768 fixitflamingo.com

HOME BUILDER

Century Communities (904) 618-3220 centurycommunities.com

HOME IMPROVEMENT

Design Works (941) 326-2725 www.floridadesignworks.com

HOME ORGANIZATION

Order and Co (904) 373-7926 orderandcompany.com

HOME PREPARATION

SERVICES

HOMEstretch - St. Augustine (952) 393-6392 www.home-stretch.com/ locations/fl/staugustine/

HOME WARRANTY

Fidelity National

Home Warranty

Trish Spivey (904) 716-0819 homewarranty.com

First American Home Warranty

800-444-9030 go.fahw.com

Home Warranty of America (904) 954-6620 hwahomewarranty.com

INSPECTIONS

Home Team Inspections (904) 649-8996 hometeam.com/ north-jacksonville

LunsPro Inspections (904) 474-1768 LunsProFlorida.com

INSURANCE

Brightway Insurance ~ Ponte Vedra Beach (904) 280-4102 BrightwayPVB.com

Jeff Rupp, Goosehead Insurance (904) 870-7688 jefftheinsuranceguy.com

Kilpatrick Agency Inc: Goosehead Insurance (904) 420-7711 goosehead.com/agents/ carol-kilpatrick/

The Browning Agency (904) 613-5257 browningagency.com

We Insure- Ponte Vedra (904) 583-4338 weinsureflpontevedra.com

LANDSCAPING

Heavenly Green Lawn Care and Landscape (904) 426-5312

MEDIA PRODUCTIONS

Sta Rep Media

Khai Tran (904) 761-5848 starepmedia.com

MORTGAGE / LENDER

Atlantic Trust Mortgage (904) 338-9356 AtlanticTrustMortgage.com

Cross Country MortgageJohn Kersey Team (757) 618-7534 johnkerseyteam.com

DAM Good Mortgage Team by Edge Home Finance

Ali Schmitt 904-861-5571

Kim Beddard 904-238-1685

DAMGoodMortgageTeam.com

First Coast Mortgage (703) 627-1775 FirstCoastMortgageFunding.com

Future Home Loans 844-202-8124 Future.Loans

Movement Mortgage (404) 751-8463 tylertatum.com

Rate- Team Proffitt

Ryan Proffitt 904-760-5788 Rate.com

MOVING COMPANY

Ravan Moving (904) 814-6032

PAINTING

Fresh Painting (347) 631-3840

PEST CONTROL SERVICES

Kingfish Pest Control (904) 595-5300 KingfishPest.com

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT/ HOME WATCH

Vicky’s Helping Hands (904) 502-9092 vickyshelpinghands.com

REAL ESTATE PHOTOGRAPHY

Lens 2 Listing (904) 761-4745 lens2listing.com

The Real Estateographers 904-604-7587 therealestateographers.com

ROOFING

Patriot Roofing (904) 982-4052 patriotroofingservices.com

ROOFING & EXTERIORS

Mighty Dog RoofingJacksonville FLA (904) 867-7859 mightydogroofing.com

SPORTS TEAMS

Jacksonville Jaguars (904) 633-3348 Jaguars.com

TITLE COMPANY

Atlantic Coast Title & Escrow (904) 853-5591 atlanticcoasttitleandescrow.com

Cherry Title LLC

Angelique “Chrissy” Kirsch (904) 300-3414 cherrytitle.us

Landmark Title (904) 717-9774 LandmarkTitle.com

Summit Title of North Florida

JC Palacios (904) 554-9506

Woods, Weidenmiller, Michetti & Rudnick, LLP

Josh Rudnick (239) 325-4070

WEALTH MANAGEMENT

Whitacre Wealth Management (410) 961-6548

WhitacreWealth Management.com

Meet The Team

Enjoy the

Journey

BY KRISTIN LUNSFORD

A year ago, my daughter Abby and I decided to do something a little outside our comfort zone—we signed up for the runDisney Princess Half Marathon Weekend 5K and 10K races at Walt Disney World Resort.

The entire weekend was an incredible experience, but the 10K brought a little more pressure than we expected. Because the race is timed, participants have to maintain a certain pace, and we happened to be placed in the very last starting group. For two people who weren’t really runners, and who hadn’t exactly trained for a 10K, that made the race feel a little stressful and nerve-wracking.

To say we were out of our element would be an understatement.

But we finished.

And when Abby crossed that finish line, she was glowing. She was all smiles and radiated pure joy. The pride she felt in accomplishing something that once seemed so intimidating was unforgettable.

At the time, I wasn’t sure if the race would be a oneand-done experience for us. But as soon as we got home, Abby started talking about doing it again the next year. Her excitement was contagious, and before long one of her friends decided she wanted to join us and try the 10K as well.

What a difference a year makes.

This time, we started in the very first group. Without the pressure of racing against the clock, the entire experience felt different. We weren’t focused solely on finishing; we were able to enjoy the journey along the way. We stopped for photos, laughed together, and soaked in the fun atmosphere that makes these races so special.

And something else became very clear along the way: doing something hard is always better when you have people beside you.

When one of us started to get tired, someone else was there with encouragement. A quick word, a smile, or a reminder that we could keep going made all the difference. It was a powerful reminder of how important community really is.

Whether in a race, in business, or in life, we often feel pressure to simply get to the finish line. But sometimes the real value is found in the process, in the growth, the shared experiences, and the people who walk (or run) beside us.

So when the pressure builds, remember to slow down and appreciate the journey—not just the outcome.

And remember that community matters. The friends and supporters who encourage us through challenges are invaluable.

But those relationships don’t happen by accident.

To have a community, you have to be part of building one. To have friends and supporters, you have to be willing to be a friend and supporter first.

Because in the end, the journey is always better when we travel it together.

As an Impact Lender Movement Mortgage donates nearly half of its profits to charity, our mortgages truly do mean

Ben

WHITACRE

Dependable by Design

BY JOSEPH COTTLE PHOTOS BY THE

Ben Whitacre doesn’t particularly enjoy talking about himself, which is ironic given how many people trust him with some of the most important decisions of their lives. Ask him about his clients, their goals, their worries, or the crossroads they’re standing at, and he lights up. Turn the focus back on him, and he’s quick to admit it feels less natural. “When you’re so used to asking other people about themselves and what they’re trying to do in life,” Ben says, “it doesn’t come as naturally when the spotlight flips back on you.”

Ben is the founder of Whitacre Wealth Management, a business he’s spent more than two decades building, but titles have never mattered much to him. His website may say CEO and Wealth Management Advisor, yet the role he plays for clients often extends far beyond investments or insurance.

“People call me about everything,” Ben says. “Buying a house, selling a business, having a child, getting divorced, moving across the country. There’s a lot of life stuff that comes before money.”

That sense of responsibility didn’t come from a textbook. Ben didn’t study finance in college. He was a sports broadcasting major at Towson University and a Division I football kicker who thought his future might involve the NFL or a career behind a microphone. For a time after graduation, he chased that dream while working in corporate sales to pay the bills, sending VHS tapes to teams and attending camps, all while learning firsthand that corporate life wasn’t where he wanted to land long term.

The turning point came through an unexpected conversation with his future father-in-law, who suggested Ben speak with his own financial advisor. Ben remembers sitting down with his father-in-law’s financial advisor at the time for two hours to ask him about what he does for a living to help determine if this was a field that he would like to consider. This conversation ended up changing the trajectory of Ben’s professional life.

“He offered me a job at his firm and told me the things that make someone successful in this business are things I already possessed,” Ben recalls. “You can be taught stocks and bonds and planning. You can’t be taught how to genuinely care about people.”

Twenty years later, that advice still anchors his work. Ben describes himself as dependable to his core, a trait shaped by being the oldest of three boys and someone his family relied on early and often. “I like to be relied on,” he says. “I like to be accountable, and I like the responsibility that people look to me to lead.”

Clients feel that reliability in tangible ways. Ben gives every client his personal cell phone number, something that still surprises people in an industry increasingly driven by call centers and automated systems.

“At the end of the day, people want to deal with people,” Ben says. “They want to know they can literally call somebody and not get bounced through prompts and 800 numbers.”

That approach has followed Ben across several chapters of life. He grew up in a small town in Virginia, surrounded by the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains, before settling into adulthood in Maryland, where he met his wife and started a family. During the pandemic, with two young children navigating virtual school, Ben and his wife, Trisha, made the leap to Florida, drawn by open schools, family connections, and a lifestyle that felt like home almost immediately. “We have lived in Florida for over 5 years now,” he says. “It just feels like home.”

Today, Ben runs his independent firm while partnering with LPL Financial for back-end support, allowing him to stay focused on relationships rather than infrastructure. He coaches his kids’ sports teams, rarely misses a school event, and prioritizes family, faith, and presence over hustle for hustle’s sake.

“My wife and my kids and my faith were always going to be at the center,” Ben says. “This career has allowed that without forcing me to compromise my values.”

When asked what truly gets him out of bed each morning, Ben doesn’t hesitate. “It’s the trust that my clients place in me,” he says. “Wanting to show up for people, do good work, and guide them in a way I’d hope someone would do for my own family.”

If Ben has his way, that’s how he’ll be remembered. “If you talked to anyone close to me throughout different chapters of my life, I hope that they would all say similar things about me,” he says. “That I was consistent. Dependable. Positive. Caring. Authentic. That I did what I said I was going to do.”

For Ben Whitacre, that kind of legacy is worth far more than a title.

“I like to be accountable, and I like the responsibility that people look to me to lead.”

Kristan

Malin

The Power of

Straightforward

BY JOSEPH COTTLE PHOTOS BY THE REAL ESTATEOGRAPHERS

Through all her years in real estate, one principle in particular has guided Kristan Malin.

“I’m honest to a fault,” Kristan says. “I sincerely believe that my clients deserve that.”

It’s the foundation of a career that began in 2004 and has been refined through market booms, crashes, and everything in between. She doesn’t inflate values to win listings. She doesn’t tell buyers what they want to hear just to make a deal work. If a home needs repairs, she says so. If it needs staging, she says so. If the price is unrealistic, she adjusts expectations quickly and directly.

“Sometimes people need a little more cotton around the edges than my directness,”

Kristan admits. “And that’s okay. I’ve learned I’m not the right fit for everyone, and I’m completely at peace with that.”

That confidence is rooted in experience and in place. Kristan has lived in Florida since 1986, after growing up in the southeast corner of Iowa. She first moved south to escape the cold and to pursue a teaching job. Fresh out of college with a degree in business education and coaching, she was full of determination to work and live where she wanted—she once slept in her car and showered at a public beach facility so she could return for a second interview in Fernandina Beach. She got the job and drove back home to the Midwest the same day.

When she started work in Florida a few weeks later, she never looked back.

“You’ve got to be a finance person, you’ve got to be a strategist, you’ve got to read people.”

Her path to real estate wasn’t linear. After teaching, she worked for JM Family Enterprises and Southeast Toyota Distributors, then spent seven years in pharmaceutical sales. The job came with what she calls “golden handcuffs”— a car, a 401(k), insurance, bonuses and a salary. But in 2004, encouraged by friends, she made the leap into real estate.

“You don’t know if you’re going to make a dime now,” she said to herself when she made the leap.

She joined the business during a strong market, then endured the crash of 2007 and 2008. “It was tough,” Kristan says. But she stayed. She built a team for a season, then realized that wasn’t the right long-term fit. What did stick was her philosophy.

“I think my job is to protect the clients, even when the truth is very uncomfortable,” she says. “That’s how I built my trust, and that’s how I built my business.”

Today, Kristan primarily serves Ponte Vedra Beach and the surrounding coastal communities at a luxury level. She works where she lives, along the Intracoastal Waterway, and understands the nuances of waterfront properties because she lives there. “I’m a fisherman, I like to boat; this is my life,” she says. That firsthand knowledge becomes an asset when advising buyers and sellers on dock conditions, tides, and the realities of coastal living.

Over 22 years, she’s learned to stay in her lane and

hire well. She brought on administrative help her first year and now has a fulltime administrator who has worked with her for more than a decade. “There are so many agents out there that try to be a jack of all trades,” she says. “The investment is going to more than pay for itself if you hire the right person.”

What keeps her motivated after two decades is the challenge. “I love that it’s not the same thing every day,” Kristan says. Unlike her pharmaceutical career, which eventually felt like “UPS with a skirt,” she says with a chuckle, real estate demands adaptability. “You’ve got to be a finance person, you’ve got to be a strategist, you’ve got to read people,” she says. “There’s no formula. You’ve got to have bent knees and adjust to the situation, to the people, to the market, and work with divorces and people in different stages of life.”

Outside of work, Kristan’s competitive spirit shows up on the water. She and her husband fish for redfish, flounder, trout and compete in kingfish tournaments, usually launching well before dawn. Last year she won the Lady’s Angler division in the Old School Kingfish Tournament, reeling in a trophy weighing more than 30 pounds.

“I’m competitive,” she says. “You’ve got to be competitive, I think, in this field.”

Last year, Kristan won the Lady’s Angler division in the Old School

They also own Angie’s Subs, a local sandwich shop that has grown from selling a few dozen subs a day to over 600 a day at the Jax

Beach location, and in 2025, a second location was opened in Atlantic Beach as well as a satellite location at the Jacksonville airport. And after Kristan’s own breast cancer diagnosis in 2010, they founded the Two Titmice Foundation, which helps breast cancer patients cover living expenses like rent and utilities. Last year alone, they assisted over 75 of families in crisis.

The couple also recently adopted Gomer Pyle, a brindle boxer puppy. They’ve had many dogs over the years and treat them just like family.

For Kristan, business, community and integrity are intertwined. She doesn’t need an earthshattering story. She just needs to tell the truth.

At the end of the day, she says, “I want to work with people who appreciate that level of honesty. The clients who want a cheerleader will find one. The clients who want a strategist with a spine tend to stay with me for years, refer to me, and trust me with bigger decisions. I’ve learned that alignment isn’t just good for me—it’s good for them.”

HENDERSON

The Power of Starting Over DELANEY

BY JESS WELLAR

“Every home I sell and every transaction I close represents more than success to me,” Delaney Henderson begins. “It’s actual proof that no matter what you’ve been through, you can always rebuild, rise, and move forward.”

Delaney’s mature perspective comes from being tested early in life and publicly — and choosing to keep going anyway. Now labeled as Champion Status and a Top Producer at Momentum Realty in Jacksonville, Delaney has spent the last five years earning trust the hard way, building a 100-percent, referralbased business rooted in resilience and real follow-through.

Business from Scratch

Born and raised in Santa Barbara, California, Delaney was forced to rebuild her life early on in ways most people never have to imagine. At just 16 years old, she was sexually assaulted in her own home, a traumatic event that later escalated into a series of highly publicized criminal court trials and a civil case that drew national attention. As the legal process unfolded, the spotlight became overwhelming, ultimately forcing Delaney and her family to relocate, followed by multiple moves across the country.

What followed were many years defined by scrutiny and survival.

“Before I ever even sold a home, I faced a lot more adversity than I think many people experience in a lifetime,” Delaney shares.

Those challenges didn’t just change her path though, they sharpened her sense of purpose. Through it all, Delaney found strength in speaking out, eventually becoming a national voice for survivors through her work with PAVE (Promoting Awareness Victim Empowerment), sharing her story publicly in countless schools, police departments, military bases, men’s sports teams, and women’s shelters across the country over the past 15 years.

And what began as survival slowly evolved into something more intentional. When the founder of PAVE, a REALTOR® herself, suggested Delaney try real estate, the seed was planted.

When Delaney moved to Jacksonville from Virginia in 2020, she was at square one again — but starting from zero was something she already knew how to do.

“I truly had to create my entire network from the ground up during the pandemic in a brand new industry I didn’t know anything about,” she says. “All of these challenges have shaped me into the person I am today.”

Real estate became more than a career move—it became a reset: “Real estate became more than a career to me,” Delaney notes. “It honestly became my second chance at reinventing a new me.”

Quick Study

Licensed in 2020 and active full-time since 2021, Delaney didn’t take long to find her stride. In 2024 alone, she closed nearly $16.8 million from both on and off market sales across 57 transactions, and she’s on track to match or exceed that production in 2025 and 2026. Since joining Momentum Realty in early 2024, she’s consistently ranked among the brokerage’s Top 10 agents for both volume and units, earning the number one spot multiple times in 2025 out of nearly 300 agents. She was awarded the top-producing agent of the year for 2025 at Momentum Realty for her total closed volume of the year.

Still, her definition of success has nothing to do with rankings. “My growth has always been about resilience, redemption, and the strong, hard-headed belief that even when life tries to break you, we all have the power to rebuild your life,” she offers.

That mindset translates directly into how she works with clients. “I feel like I’ve built my business in the same way I kind of rebuilt my entire life,” she adds. “By creating structure during a time with a lot of uncertainty and bringing calmness in an industry where others often bring chaos.”

Behind the scenes, Delaney credits the late Sarah Rocco for her steady encouragement early on. “Sarah was always there behind the scenes hyping me up,” she acknowledges. “I

am so grateful to have known her and for her mentorship as long as I did. She’s truly my role model, inspiration, and I feel her support and reassurance even to this very day.”

Problem-Solver First

Ask Delaney what sets her apart, and she quickly points to adaptability. “I am a chaos coordinator,” she says. “My clients never feel like they are boxed into one solution.”

That flexibility shows up in how she structures deals. From traditional listings to off-market opportunities, as-is sales, and creative investment strategies, Delaney approaches each transaction with the full picture in mind “to help clients pick the option that actually works best for them, not just the one that may be the quickest,” she adds.

More than half of her business now comes from investors, a niche she understands firsthand as she continues to build her own portfolio. And the feedback is consistent.

“Helping other agents build referral-based businesses brings me so much joy,” she smiles. “Watching each of them succeed is incredibly fulfilling.”

A Bright Outlook

At home, an exciting new chapter has started: Delaney recently married her husband, Ryan, and together they share three dogs — Oliver Benson, Cooper, and Smokey — with Oliver remaining her constant companion and biggest motivator. “He’s been with me since the very beginning,” she shares.

“I’m easy to work with and a natural problemsolver,” she shares. “Every transaction has problems, but I try to solve those issues before I go back to my client to alleviate their stress.”

But Delaney’s drive doesn’t stop with her own pipeline. She’s currently mentoring five agents through a separate program, and she’s beginning to selectively build a small, female-led team rooted in positivity and mutual growth.

Looking ahead, Delaney is focused on expansion without losing her center. “I am excited for this new year and the team of amazing agents I am helping build into powerhouses in this industry,” she states. “I also look forward to doubling the number of families helped in 2026.

“In life we can’t just endure hard life struggles,” she concludes. “We need to strive to turn any unexpected problem that we encounter into another opportunity for success.”

WHAT IS A BOOK YOU’VE READ THAT YOU WOULD RECOMMEND — and why?

Shelley Morgan

Keller Williams Realty Atlantic Partners

Theo of Golden... A must read as it helps on to reflect on identity, belonging and what it means to grow.

“Lead for God’s Sake” - A great book about servant leadership and checking your ego at the door and make an impact on others!

I recently read the Let them Theory by Mel Robbins. I loved it because it’s simple but powerful reminder that you can’t control other people...only your response. It helped me let go of overthinking, focus on what I can control and protect my peace. Short, practical, and something you can apply immediately.

Allison Chance

Anchored Real Estate Group

Full Fee Agent. It really transformed the way I think about my business and the value I give my clients.

T. Rosie Hetman

Five Star Real Estate Agents

Melody Beatty. Journey to the Heart: Daily Meditations on the Path of Freeing Your Soul. What make it stand out to me is that it’s just daily readings; even with my crazy work schedule. I can squeeze that in. Often I just open the book, not even looking at the date specifics and just read what the universe has for me that day. If I miss a day or two. I’ll just read more the next time. It’s truly a low-effort,

Jackie Darby

Century 21 Miller Elite LLC

My all-time favorite, book aside from the Bible is Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. My best friends read it years before I did and continued to say it was their favorite book of all time it was large and bit intimidating for me as I was not an avid reader-but once started, I couldn’t put it down. It’s beautiful fiction story that shows God’s endless grace over and over again. They eventually made a movie from the book but the book was so much better.

Tobin Bossola

Coldwell Banker Vanguard Realty

I’m not much of a reader, but have gotten into some thriller mysteries. I really like Six Years by Harlan Coben. Easy and fun to read.

Lori Reinhardt

Exit 1 Stop Realty

The Shack by William P. Young is my alltime favorite book that I would encourage everyone to read. The book is deeply emotional thought-provoking novel that explores grief, faith and healing. The story follows a Father dealing with unimaginable loss who received mysterious invitation to return to the place where the tragedy occurredleading to a life-changing spiritual encounter. What makes this book resonate with me is its ability to tackle big, difficul question about pain, forgiveness and nature of God in a very personal and relatable way. It doesn’t feel like traditional religious book. As a Realtor, I rely heavily in my faith to get me through some stressful situations! I’m not just selling homes-I’m walking with people through major life transitions whether buying or selling during big life changes, relocation new beginning as family, or unfortunately divorce. For me, understanding that emotional layer help me connect more deeply with my buyer and sellers, and like the book, trust is everything! My client’s are likely placing their biggest decision and trust in me and in a profession often focused on numbers and details, The Shack is a reminder that your real value comes from connection, compassion and helping people find not just a home, but a place where new beginnings happen!

Anita Vining

If you own a business and and want to build real wealth this books helps you understand how to make strategic decision so you can keep more of what you earn instead of working harder

Tina Priest Hover Girls Properties

Jesus & Your Mental Health by Rebecca Maxwell. In a world that feels very chaotic at times this book really helped me dive in find peace through scriptures.

Crystal Duckworth

Crystal Clear Realty, LLC

My favorite book is Romancing the Clock by Marvin Karlins, who was actually my Professor at USF, and he would joke in class that if you follow the principles in this book it teaches you everything you need to be happy in life. It’s short, sweet, and a fun read that offers a simple approach to creating work-life balance and productivity—I read on it every year and even teach on it as a Life Coach. The mindset it promotes helps you shine in real estate, life or any profession.

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty

My favorite book is Land Remembered. A historical fiction written by Patrick Smith. A family entering Florida by wagon train evolving to south Florida creation.

Andrew Michael

Coastal Haven group

Anything from Ryan Holiday. Right now I’m reading Stillness is the Key.

Lynn Pace

Keller Williams Jacksonville

I loved Tax Free Wealth by Tom Wheelwright because it completely changed the way I see taxes as a business owner. It shows that the tax code is actually designed to reward entrepreneurs who create jobs and invest, not punish them.

SUCCESS BRINGS EXPOSURE:

Smart Risk Management for Florida’s Top Producers

BY CHUCK BONFIGLIO JR., 2026 PRESIDENT FLORIDA REALTORS®

In today’s fast paced real estate environment, success is often measured in volume, market share, and listings sold. But for Florida’s top producing Realtors®, true professionalism is also measured by how well we manage risk.

Every transaction carries potential exposure. Both Errors and Omissions Carriers and the National Association of Realtors® track common claims against practitioners. For high producers, those handling dozens or even hundreds of transactions a year, the statistical likelihood of a claim increases simply because of volume. More contracts mean more opportunities for misunderstandings, missed disclosures, documentation errors, timeline issues, inspection disputes, escrow complications, and post-closing dissatisfaction.

And let’s remember what is at stake.

For most consumers, buying or selling a home is the single largest financial transaction of their lives. Emotions run high. Expectations are significant. When something goes wrong or even appears to go wrong, fingers point quickly. Even when a Realtor has done nothing intentionally wrong, the cost of defending a complaint can be substantial in time, stress, and reputation.

Florida Realtors General Counsel Juana Watkins has some great advice: “Great risk management practices can help mount a defense during trial. Ideally those same sound business practices

you access to experienced real estate attorneys who understand Florida law and our forms.

A five-minute call before you act can prevent months of stress later.

can make you a less attractive target for a lawsuit.”

Top producers often operate at a rapid pace, managing multiple offers, compressed timelines, and back-toback closings. In that environment, small oversights can become large problems, such as failing to document a conversation, improperly completing a disclosure, missing a contractual deadline, providing advice outside the scope of licensure, recommending vendors without proper cautionary language, or making an innocent phone call that violates the Do Not Call laws.

General Counsel Watkins also reminds practitioners that the reality is that most lawsuits against Realtors stem not from fraud, but from mistakes, misunderstandings, or poor documentation.

That is why proactive risk management must be part of every top producer’s business plan.

Use the forms correctly. Follow brokerage policies. Confirm conversations in writing. Avoid giving legal or tax advice. Stay current on contract changes. Slow down enough to review the details, especially when everyone else is rushing.

One of the most valuable and often underutilized tools available to you is the Florida Realtors® Legal Hotline. This member benefit exists specifically to help you avoid problems before they happen. Whether you have a question about contract language, disclosures, timelines, escrow issues, procuring cause, advertising, or license law compliance, the Legal Hotline gives

Top producers understand leverage. They leverage systems, assistants, marketing, and technology. You should also leverage legal guidance. When you are managing millions of dollars in transactions each year, it only makes sense to use every available safeguard.

Risk management also protects your brand. Your reputation is one of your most valuable assets. A complaint, even one that is ultimately dismissed, can impact client confidence and referral sources. Operating carefully, documenting thoroughly, and asking questions when unsure demonstrates the professionalism that distinguishes industry leaders from everyone else.

Florida’s market is competitive and dynamic. As transaction complexity increases, with financing changes, insurance challenges, inspection negotiations, and evolving regulations, the importance of staying vigilant grows as well.

The best Realtors are not just great salespeople. They are disciplined practitioners.

As a top producer, you set the tone for professionalism in our industry. Protect your clients. Protect your brokerage. Protect your reputation. And protect your business by making risk management a daily habit.

When in doubt, pause and pick up the phone. Florida Realtors has already built the support system to help keep you out of trouble. Use it.

The Florida Realtors Legal Hotline is a FREE benefit available to all Realtors.

• Call: 407 438 1409

• Hours: 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., Monday through Friday

• Or visit floridarealtors.org to submit an online question