Can one person do the home and the loan?

Yes. I am a Tampa Bay Realtor and Loan Originator. Search, tour, and apply can stay on one conversation. Realty of America and PMF, Inc. stay separate companies.

Do I need a realtor and a lender, or can one person do both?

Yes. In Florida one dual-licensed person can run the home search and the loan file. I am a Realtor (SL3546365) with Realty of America and a loan originator (NMLS 2621894) with PMF, Inc. The licenses stay separate. I originate the loan. I do not underwrite or approve it.

Do I need a wind mitigation inspection to buy a home in Florida?

Florida does not require a wind mitigation inspection as a statewide condition of buying. Carriers may ask for one before they bind a policy, especially on older roofs and coastal houses, including Indian Shores. The report can change the insurance line and cash to close. Confirm on the house.

Does a saltwater pool mean less maintenance in Florida?

No. A saltwater pool still needs weekly testing, a clean cell, and a working pump. The cell makes chlorine. It does not replace care. Confirm the equipment on the house, then book a consultation if you are buying or selling.

How do Florida HOA fees work in Tampa Bay?

Florida HOA fees are set by the association budget, not by the county. They pay common-area care, insurance the association carries, and reserves if the board funded them. Condos under Chapter 718 and HOAs under Chapter 720 are different statutes. Confirm the current fee and any special assessment on the documents for the address, not a listing remark.

Answered by Jonathan Loescher, A.I. Certified Agent™ · Tampa Bay / Pinellas · Realtor #SL3546365 · NMLS #2621894 · Updated 2026-09-01 · 536 words

How does the Florida buyer-broker agreement work?

Short Answer

A Florida buyer-broker agreement is the written deal for how you are represented and how compensation works. After the NAR practice changes, do not assume the seller pays. I will walk the form with you before you tour. Realty of America is the brokerage.

How the Florida buyer-broker agreement works

You should have a written agreement before you tour. Compensation is a number you can read, not a vibe from the listing remarks. After the practice changes, do not assume the seller pays. If a Pinellas listing offers less than you signed, we talk before you write.

Buyer Credit, if it applies, is 20 percent of compensation actually available, capped at $3,000, for represented buyers who hire me. No listing math, no credit.

What this looks like in Pinellas

Clearwater new construction, St. Petersburg resale, and Largo condos all need the same conversation: who you hired, for how long, in what area, at what compensation. Dual-licensed does not replace the form. The loan application is a different document at PMF.

Step-by-step

Book Book a consultation.
Read the agreement. Ask every blank.
Sign before showings.
Check each listing's available compensation before you write.
If you also apply for a loan, that is PMF, not this form.
If you want Buyer Credit, you must be a represented buyer on that file.
End dates and termination are in the form. Ask. Do not guess.

What you control versus what you do not

You control whether you sign and what compensation you agree to. You do not control what a seller offers. You do not control a court outcome. For a dispute about the form, talk to the managing broker and a Florida real estate attorney.

Common mistakes

Touring without the form. Assuming listing remarks pay your agent. Mixing the loan application with the buyer agreement. Treating Buyer Credit as a reason to skip the form.

What to do next

Book Book a consultation before showings. Realty of America is the brokerage on the real estate file. PMF, Inc. is the lender company if you also apply.

This is consumer education, not legal advice, tax advice, or a commitment to lend. Program terms change. Ask for the current sheet at consult.

Jonathan Loescher, SL3546365 and NMLS 2621894. Realty of America handles the real estate. PMF, Inc. handles the loan. Those stay separate companies.

Jonathan's Advice

Expert Insight

I will not start Pinellas showings on a handshake after the NAR change. The Florida buyer-broker agreement is how we keep compensation honest. If the listing pays less than we signed, we decide in writing, not in the driveway.

Can one person do the home and the loan?: Yes. I am a Tampa Bay Realtor and Loan Originator. Search, tour, and apply can stay on one conversation. Realty of America and PMF, Inc. stay separate companies.
Do I need a realtor and a lender, or can one person do both?: Yes. In Florida one dual-licensed person can run the home search and the loan file. I am a Realtor (SL3546365) with Realty of America and a loan originator (NMLS 2621894) with PMF, Inc. The licenses stay separate. I originate the loan. I do not underwrite or approve it.
Do I need a wind mitigation inspection to buy a home in Florida?: Florida does not require a wind mitigation inspection as a statewide condition of buying. Carriers may ask for one before they bind a policy, especially on older roofs and coastal houses, including Indian Shores. The report can change the insurance line and cash to close. Confirm on the house.
Does a saltwater pool mean less maintenance in Florida?: No. A saltwater pool still needs weekly testing, a clean cell, and a working pump. The cell makes chlorine. It does not replace care. Confirm the equipment on the house, then book a consultation if you are buying or selling.
How do Florida HOA fees work in Tampa Bay?: Florida HOA fees are set by the association budget, not by the county. They pay common-area care, insurance the association carries, and reserves if the board funded them. Condos under Chapter 718 and HOAs under Chapter 720 are different statutes. Confirm the current fee and any special assessment on the documents for the address, not a listing remark.

More Tampa Bay home and loan answers on Ask Jonathan.

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