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    Florida Authorized Relationships Practice Questions and Answers

    Practice Florida brokerage relationships with 9 free questions on single agents, transaction brokers, duties, and disclosures. Get a score, a clear explanation of every choice, and six worked scenarios. No account needed.

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    Authorized Relationships Practice Questions

    9 practice questions on authorized relationships, scored, each with a full explanation after you answer. Every question is also written out below if you would rather study at your own pace.

    9 questions
    ~7 min
    7% of the exam

    All 9 questions and explanations are free. Authorized Relationships, Duties and Disclosures carries 7% of the published sales associate exam outline, about 7 questions. This small practice set does not predict your state-exam score.

    01 / Compare the roles

    Single agent, transaction broker, or no brokerage relationship?

    Use 9, 7, and 3 to remember the statutory duty lists. Then learn what each entry means. Counting duties alone will not solve a scenario.

    9 statutory entries

    Single agent

    Fiduciary representation of one principal

    Represents the buyer or the seller as a fiduciary. Loyalty, obedience, confidentiality, and full disclosure distinguish this role from transaction brokerage.

    Read all 9 duties
    1. Deal honestly and fairly.
    2. Be loyal to the principal.
    3. Protect confidential information.
    4. Follow the principal's lawful instructions.
    5. Make full disclosure to the principal.
    6. Account for all funds.
    7. Use skill, care, and diligence in the transaction.
    8. Present offers and counteroffers promptly, unless the party previously directs otherwise in writing.
    9. Disclose known facts that materially affect residential property value and are not readily observable.

    Obedience does not authorize deception. A seller's instruction to hide a known material property fact does not override the disclosure duty.

    F.S. 475.278, relationships, duties, and disclosuresPractice this distinction →

    7 statutory entries

    Transaction broker

    Limited representation of one or both sides

    Florida's presumed relationship unless single agency or no brokerage relationship is established in writing. Provides limited, nonfiduciary representation.

    Read all 7 duties
    1. Deal honestly and fairly.
    2. Account for all funds.
    3. Use skill, care, and diligence in the transaction.
    4. Disclose known facts that materially affect residential property value and are not readily observable to the buyer.
    5. Present offers and counteroffers promptly, unless the party previously directs otherwise in writing.
    6. Protect limited confidentiality unless the party waives it in writing.
    7. Perform any additional duties mutually agreed with the party.

    Seven statutory entries does not mean seven identical duties in every assignment. The seventh entry covers agreed additional duties. There is no undivided loyalty to either side.

    F.S. 475.278, relationships, duties, and disclosuresPractice this distinction →

    3 statutory entries

    No brokerage relationship

    No representation of that customer

    The licensee does not represent this buyer or seller. The absence of representation still leaves three duties under the relationship statute.

    Read all 3 duties
    1. Deal honestly and fairly.
    2. Disclose known facts that materially affect residential property value and are not readily observable to the buyer.
    3. Account for all funds entrusted to the licensee.

    These are the three duties in F.S. 475.278(4). This status does not excuse fraud or erase obligations imposed by other laws.

    F.S. 475.278, relationships, duties, and disclosuresPractice this distinction →

    Three duties appear across the lists.

    Honest and fair dealing, accounting for funds, and disclosure of known hidden facts materially affecting residential property value remain central. Full fiduciary disclosure to a principal is broader than the specific property-fact disclosure owed under each relationship.

    The statutory text controls the exact notice wording. The lists above explain the duties for study; they are not substitute disclosure forms.

    Can one brokerage work with both sides of a home sale?

    Yes, but the roles matter. A transaction broker can provide limited representation to both. A brokerage may also remain single agent for the seller while having no brokerage relationship with an unrepresented buyer, subject to the applicable disclosures and duties. It must not act as fiduciary for both in that residential transaction.

    Two different associates at one firm do not make residential dual agency lawful. If an existing single-agent relationship is to change to transaction brokerage, obtain the affected principal's prior written consent first. A party is not required to accept that change.

    F.S. 475.278, relationships, duties, and disclosures · F.S. 475.2755, designated sales associates

    02 / Get the timing right

    Four notice rules worth keeping separate

    Apply these rules to covered activities after checking the disclosure exceptions. The single-agent deadline and the no-brokerage deadline are not interchangeable.

    At the first applicable event

    Single-agent notice

    Give written disclosure before or when entering a listing or representation agreement, or before showing property, whichever happens first. It may be a separate document or part of the agreement.

    F.S. 475.278(3)(b)1.

    See a related question →

    Before showing property

    No-brokerage notice

    Disclose the duties in writing to the buyer or seller before the showing. Check the statutory disclosure exceptions before deciding a notice is required in a particular setting.

    F.S. 475.278(4)(b)

    See a related question →

    Before the relationship changes

    Single agent to transaction broker

    Explain the limited role, give the statutory transition disclosure, and obtain the principal's prior written consent. The consent must be initialed or signed. A verbal yes is insufficient.

    F.S. 475.278(3)(b)2. and (3)(c)2.

    See a related question →

    No initial notice required by this section

    Transaction brokerage from the start

    F.S. 475.278 presumes transaction brokerage and does not require an initial transaction-broker notice. Separate buyer agreements, applicable MLS rules, and brokerage requirements are different questions.

    F.S. 475.278(1)(b) and (2)

    See a related question →
    What must the notices look like?

    F.S. 475.278 provides the required notice content. When a single-agent, no-brokerage, or transition notice is included in another document, it must be conspicuous and use type at least as large as the other provisions. The specified first sentence must be in uppercase bold type.

    The transition consent must be initialed or signed. A disclosure of duties and consent to change an existing relationship serve different purposes; delivering a notice alone does not supply the required transition consent.

    F.S. 475.278, relationships, duties, and disclosures

    Does presumed transaction brokerage mean no buyer agreement is needed?

    No. Florida's initial relationship-notice rule and an applicable MLS buyer-agreement requirement are different obligations. Under the NAR practice changes, an MLS participant working with a buyer must have a written buyer agreement before touring a home, including a live virtual tour.

    The agreement can provide transaction brokerage. It does not automatically create single agency, change Florida's dual-agency prohibition, or replace prior written consent to transition an existing single-agent relationship.

    NAR, written buyer agreements and MLS practice rules · F.S. 475.278, relationships, duties, and disclosures

    03 / Check scope before applying a notice rule

    Residential has a specific meaning here

    The relationship framework applies across brokerage activities. The ordinary notices under F.S. 475.278 have a residential-sale scope and listed exceptions.

    Improved residential property
    Four units or fewer.
    Unimproved residential property
    Intended for four units or fewer.
    Agricultural property
    10 acres or fewer.

    A fourplex and a 10-acre agricultural property fit this definition. A five-unit apartment building does not fit merely because people live there. Apply the stated use and unit or acreage limit. F.S. 475.274, scope of the disclosure requirements · F.S. 475.278, relationships, duties, and disclosures

    When do the ordinary disclosure requirements not apply?

    Nonresidential transactions

    The ordinary residential notice requirements do not apply. The authorized relationship framework still applies, and a designated-sales-associate arrangement has its own disclosures under F.S. 475.2755.

    F.S. 475.278(5)(b), disclosure limitations
    Rentals and leases

    Normally exempt from these notices. The exception does not cover a lease with an option to purchase all or part of property improved with four or fewer residential units.

    F.S. 475.278(5)(b), disclosure limitations
    Open houses and casual conversations

    The exception is conditional. A bona fide open house, model-home showing, or unanticipated casual conversation must not involve eliciting confidential information, signing an offer or representation agreement, or negotiating price, terms, or conditions.

    F.S. 475.278(5)(b), disclosure limitations
    General factual information

    Responding to factual questions about advertised properties or giving general information about the licensee's qualifications, background, and services falls within the listed limits. That is different from negotiating a buyer's offer.

    F.S. 475.278(5)(b), disclosure limitations
    An already represented person or certain builder sales

    The statute includes situations where the licensee knows the person has a single agent or transaction broker. It also covers qualifying owner-built new-home sales where the setting reasonably makes the owner's representation clear.

    F.S. 475.278(5)(b), disclosure limitations
    Auctions, appraisals, and business interests

    Auctions and appraisals are exempt from these notices. Dispositions of business interests or opportunities are also listed, except for property with four or fewer residential units. A notice exemption does not permit dishonest dealing.

    F.S. 475.278(5)(b), disclosure limitations

    The exemptions concern these relationship notices. They do not authorize dual agency, cancel a known-material-fact duty, or erase a disclosure obligation imposed by another law.

    04 / Recognize the narrow arrangement

    Designated sales associates: check all four conditions

    A different associate for each side is only the beginning. F.S. 475.2755 sets the conditions for using this form of single-agent representation.

    1. 01

      Outside the defined residential sale

      A high-priced home does not qualify just because it is expensive. The statutory definition of a residential sale controls.

    2. 02

      At least $1 million in assets for each party

      Use each party's assets. Do not substitute the sale price, combine the parties' assets, or rewrite the test as net worth.

    3. 03

      Requests, signatures, and the required disclosures

      Both parties sign disclosures confirming their assets meet the threshold and requesting the arrangement. The statute also applies single-agent disclosures and its special confidentiality notice.

    4. 04

      Separate associates with protected confidences

      Each designated associate owes single-agent duties to the assigned party. Confidential information may be shared with the broker or specified persons for permitted advice or assistance. The broker must keep it confidential and cannot use it to the detriment of the other party.

    For this section, buyer includes a transferee or lessee, and seller includes a transferor or lessor. It is not limited to completed sales. F.S. 475.2755, designated sales associates

    Try the designated-associate question →

    05 / Apply the rule to different facts

    Six scenarios that test the distinction

    Decide first, then open the explanation. These examples add notice exceptions, hidden facts, compensation, and record retention to the nine scored questions.

    Worked scenario 01

    The agreement comes before the showing

    A buyer will sign a single-agent representation agreement on Monday. The first private showing is Tuesday. No disclosure exception applies. Can the licensee wait until Tuesday to give the single-agent notice?

    Show the answer and reasoning

    No. Give it before or at the Monday agreement.

    Use the earlier trigger. The rule is not simply 'before a showing.' An agreement for representation can make disclosure due sooner. If the showing came first, disclosure would be due before that showing instead.

    F.S. 475.278, relationships, duties, and disclosures

    Worked scenario 02

    An open house becomes a negotiation

    At an open house, a visitor asks how old the roof is. Later, the conversation turns to the visitor's maximum budget and a proposed offer. Does the open-house disclosure exception automatically cover both conversations?

    Show the answer and reasoning

    No. The confidential discussion and offer negotiation fall outside that exception.

    General factual questions fit the limited setting. Eliciting confidential information or negotiating price changes the facts. Identify the actual relationship and apply its notice and consent requirements before continuing. The exception does not automatically make the host a single agent or a transaction broker for the visitor.

    F.S. 475.278, relationships, duties, and disclosuresF.S. 475.274, scope of the disclosure requirements

    Worked scenario 03

    A hidden roof leak and a private bottom line

    A seller tells a transaction broker about recurring water intrusion hidden behind fresh paint. The broker knows it materially affects the home's value. The seller also says she would accept $15,000 below asking and asks the broker to keep both facts private.

    Show the answer and reasoning

    Disclose the known hidden material property fact; protect the negotiating position.

    Limited confidentiality protects the seller's bottom line unless waived in writing. It does not cancel the duty to disclose the known, nonobservable fact affecting residential value. The same property-fact duty appears in single agency and no brokerage relationship. An as-is clause is not permission to conceal it.

    F.S. 475.278, relationships, duties, and disclosuresF.S. 475.25, misconduct, listing agreements, and supervision

    Worked scenario 04

    A million-dollar property is not the asset test

    An office building sells for $2 million. The buyer has $1.3 million in assets, but the seller has $900,000. Both ask for different designated sales associates at the same brokerage. Does this qualify under F.S. 475.2755?

    Show the answer and reasoning

    No. Both parties must individually have at least $1 million in assets.

    The $2 million sale price does not cure the seller's shortfall. The statute uses assets, not the property's price or a combined total. If both parties had the required assets, the nonresidential setting, requested arrangement, signed disclosures, and confidentiality protections would still matter. A qualifying nonresidential lease can also fall within the statute.

    F.S. 475.2755, designated sales associates

    Worked scenario 05

    The seller pays the buyer's brokerage

    A buyer has an established single-agent relationship with a brokerage. The seller agrees to pay that brokerage's fee at closing. Does that payment alone turn the buyer's broker into the seller's agent?

    Show the answer and reasoning

    No. Payment alone does not determine the relationship.

    F.S. 475.255 separates compensation from agency status. Read the relationship agreement and the surrounding facts. A sales associate also remains under the employing broker's direction; an independent-contractor label does not remove those licensing responsibilities.

    F.S. 475.255, compensation does not determine agencyF.S. 475.01, customer, principal, and licensee definitions

    Worked scenario 06

    Litigation extends the retention period

    The broker received entrusted funds on September 1, 2021. Related records later served as evidence in litigation, with the final appeal ending April 15, 2026. What is the earliest retention endpoint under F.S. 475.5015, assuming no other hold applies?

    Show the answer and reasoning

    April 15, 2028.

    The ordinary five-year endpoint is September 1, 2026. Litigation requires retention for at least two years after the civil action or appellate proceeding ends, whichever is later, and never less than the ordinary five-year minimum. Use the later applicable endpoint. Required relationship disclosures must be retained for transactions that result in a written purchase-and-sale contract.

    F.S. 475.5015, records and litigation retention

    06 / Know the agency concepts around the questions

    Authority, ethics, and the broker's role

    The published outline goes beyond memorizing relationship names. Use these references to recognize the broader concept in a question.

    Principal, customer, and fiduciary

    A principal is the party in a single-agent relationship. A fiduciary occupies a position of trust and confidence. Florida's statutory definition of customer is broader than the shorthand 'unrepresented buyer': a customer may or may not have representation. Read the stated relationship, not just the label.

    F.S. 475.01, customer, principal, and licensee definitions
    Special agent versus general agent

    These terms describe the scope of an agent's authority. A special agent has authority for a particular task or transaction; a general agent has continuing authority within a defined business or activity. Neither term, by itself, tells you whether a Florida consumer has single agency, transaction brokerage, or no representation.

    FREC Course I syllabus, Section 4
    The sales associate and the employing broker

    The associate works under the broker's direction, control, or management. Calling the associate an independent contractor does not remove either person's duties under Chapter 475. A broker cannot avoid supervision merely by using that label.

    F.S. 475.01, customer, principal, and licensee definitions
    Arm's-length dealings and caveat emptor

    In an arm's-length transaction, parties pursue their separate interests. Caveat emptor means buyer beware, but it does not excuse fraud or replace Florida's duty to disclose known, hidden facts that materially affect residential property value.

    F.S. 475.25, misconduct, listing agreements, and supervision
    Misrepresentation, concealment, and professional ethics

    A false factual claim, such as inventing a roof permit, differs from a clearly subjective opinion. Concealing a material fact can also violate a duty. F.S. 475.25(1)(b) permits discipline for specified misconduct even when the intended victim suffers no loss. Professional care includes verifying claims and correcting errors, not simply trying to avoid a lawsuit.

    F.S. 475.25, misconduct, listing agreements, and supervision
    Subagency does not follow from a commission split

    A subagent acts through an agent under delegated authority. Do not infer that relationship from a shared commission or from an associate showing another broker's listing. Florida's statutory presumption, established relationship, and dual-agency prohibition still control.

    F.S. 475.255, compensation does not determine agency
    What can end an agency or brokerage relationship?

    For the general agency concepts in the course, review completion of the agreed task, expiration of the agreement, mutual agreement to end it, revocation by the principal, and renunciation by the agent. Death or legal incapacity of a principal or agent, or destruction of the subject property, can also end authority or make performance impossible; apply the facts and the type of agreement.

    Ending authority is different from eliminating contractual obligations. Early termination can leave commission or damages questions, and ending a relationship does not automatically erase confidentiality or record-retention responsibilities. Read the agreement instead of assuming that cancellation is always without cost.

    Florida requires a definite expiration date in a written listing agreement. The agreement cannot require the signer to give notice of cancellation after that expiration date. That rule does not itself resolve an earned commission or a contractual protection-period dispute.

    FREC Course I syllabus, Section 4 · F.S. 475.25, misconduct, listing agreements, and supervision · F.S. 475.5015, records and litigation retention

    What should you remember about the five-year record rule?

    Under F.S. 475.5015, retain at least one legible copy of brokerage records for at least five years from receipt of entrusted funds. If no funds are entrusted, use the statute's agreement or engagement trigger, not an assumed closing date.

    Records used in litigation must be kept at least two years after the civil action or appellate proceeding concludes, whichever is later, without shortening the ordinary five-year minimum. Required relationship disclosures must be retained in transactions that result in a written contract to purchase and sell real property.

    F.S. 475.5015, records and litigation retention · Work through the retention example →

    07 / Review every answer

    All 9 brokerage relationship questions and answers

    Open the concept you want to review. Every question, answer, wrong-choice explanation, and source is available without completing the quiz or signing in.

    Study mode · Every question explained9 questions, answer reasoning, and 27 explanations of the other choices

    Try each question before opening its answer. These are original practice items, not actual or recalled Pearson VUE exam questions.

    1. Question 1 · rel-1 · Florida’s presumed relationship

      A buyer works with a Florida licensee. Neither single agency nor no brokerage relationship has been established in writing with that buyer. Which relationship does Florida law presume?

      1. Single agency, because the licensee is helping the buyer
      2. Transaction brokerage, providing limited representation
      3. Dual agency, if the brokerage also works with sellers
      4. No brokerage relationship until a purchase contract is signed
      Show answer and explanation

      Answer B. Transaction brokerage, providing limited representation

      F.S. 475.278(1)(b) presumes transaction brokerage unless single agency or no brokerage relationship is established in writing. Helping a buyer does not automatically create a fiduciary relationship. This presumption is separate from any applicable requirement for a written buyer agreement before touring a home.

      Remember: Identify the established relationship. A written services or compensation agreement does not automatically mean single agency.

      Why the other choices do not work

      • A. Single agency, because the licensee is helping the buyer

        Assistance alone does not establish single agency. The question says that relationship has not been established in writing.

      • C. Dual agency, if the brokerage also works with sellers

        Working with buyers and sellers is not itself dual agency. Florida prohibits representing both as a fiduciary in the same transaction.

      • D. No brokerage relationship until a purchase contract is signed

        The presumption applies before a purchase contract. Silence does not automatically establish no brokerage relationship.

      Sources: F.S. 475.278, relationships, duties, and disclosures · NAR, written buyer agreements and MLS practice rules

      Report a problem with rel-1

    2. Question 2 · rel-2 · Prior written consent to transition

      A brokerage is the seller’s single agent in a residential sale. It proposes changing that relationship to transaction brokerage so it can assist both sides. What must happen before the change?

      1. The broker records the change internally and tells the seller at closing
      2. The seller gives verbal permission during a phone call
      3. The buyer approves the change on the seller’s behalf
      4. The seller gives written consent using the required transition disclosure
      Show answer and explanation

      Answer D. The seller gives written consent using the required transition disclosure

      The existing principal is the seller, so the brokerage must obtain the seller’s prior written consent and use the statutory transition disclosure. The consent must be initialed or signed before the new role begins. If the buyer also had an existing single-agent relationship with the brokerage, that relationship would need to be addressed as well.

      Remember: A change in the brokerage’s plans is not the principal’s consent. Verbal permission, silence, and a signature obtained afterward do not satisfy prior written consent.

      Why the other choices do not work

      • A. The broker records the change internally and tells the seller at closing

        Internal paperwork does not obtain the principal’s consent. Closing is too late if the brokerage already changed roles.

      • B. The seller gives verbal permission during a phone call

        The statute requires prior written consent. A telephone conversation alone is insufficient.

      • C. The buyer approves the change on the seller’s behalf

        The buyer cannot give the seller’s consent. Consent must come from the principal whose relationship is changing.

      Sources: F.S. 475.278, relationships, duties, and disclosures

      Report a problem with rel-2

    3. Question 3 · rel-3 · Dual agency versus limited representation

      The buyer and seller in a one-family home sale ask the same Florida brokerage to represent both of them as fiduciaries. Neither has an existing single-agent relationship. Which response is lawful?

      1. Decline dual agency and explain an available transaction-broker arrangement with limited representation
      2. Accept if both sign a disclosure authorizing dual agency
      3. Assign a different associate to each side and call both residential relationships single agency
      4. Accept if the brokerage receives a fee from only one side
      Show answer and explanation

      Answer A. Decline dual agency and explain an available transaction-broker arrangement with limited representation

      Florida prohibits disclosed and undisclosed dual agency. Transaction brokerage can provide limited representation to both sides without making the brokerage the fiduciary of both. The designated-sales-associate structure does not apply to this ordinary residential sale. One brokerage may also represent a seller as single agent while having no brokerage relationship with an unrepresented buyer, if the applicable requirements are met.

      Remember: Neither consent, separate associates, nor one-sided payment authorizes residential dual agency. Transaction brokerage is one lawful structure, not the only way one firm can encounter both parties.

      Why the other choices do not work

      • B. Accept if both sign a disclosure authorizing dual agency

        Florida prohibits disclosed dual agency too. Consent does not make it lawful.

      • C. Assign a different associate to each side and call both residential relationships single agency

        Two associates at the same brokerage do not create a designated-sales-associate exception for a one-family home sale.

      • D. Accept if the brokerage receives a fee from only one side

        The source of compensation does not decide agency status or excuse prohibited dual agency.

      Sources: F.S. 475.278, relationships, duties, and disclosures · F.S. 475.2755, designated sales associates · F.S. 475.255, compensation does not determine agency

      Report a problem with rel-3

    4. Question 4 · rel-4 · A single agent’s confidentiality

      Without the seller’s permission or a legal disclosure requirement, a single agent tells a buyer that the seller would accept $20,000 below the asking price. Which duty is most directly implicated by releasing this private negotiating information?

      1. Accounting for funds
      2. Timely presentation of offers
      3. Confidentiality
      4. Disclosure of hidden property facts
      Show answer and explanation

      Answer C. Confidentiality

      The seller’s private bottom line is confidential negotiating information. A single agent owes confidentiality to the principal, and disclosing this information without authority breaches that duty. Loyalty may also be affected, but confidentiality most directly describes the information released. A required property-fact disclosure is a different issue.

      Remember: Distinguish the seller’s negotiating position from a known hidden fact affecting the property’s value. Keeping one private does not authorize concealing the other.

      Why the other choices do not work

      • A. Accounting for funds

        Accounting concerns funds, not the release of a seller’s negotiating information.

      • B. Timely presentation of offers

        The facts concern disclosure of a bottom line, not withholding or delaying an offer.

      • D. Disclosure of hidden property facts

        The seller’s minimum acceptable price is not a hidden property defect. No legal disclosure requirement is given.

      Sources: F.S. 475.278, relationships, duties, and disclosures · F.S. 475.01, customer, principal, and licensee definitions

      Report a problem with rel-4

    5. Question 5 · rel-5 · The three no-brokerage duties

      Which list matches the duties in F.S. 475.278(4) when a Florida licensee has no brokerage relationship with a buyer or seller?

      1. Loyalty, obedience, and full disclosure
      2. Honest and fair dealing; disclosure of known, nonobservable material residential-property facts; accounting for entrusted funds
      3. Skill and care, limited confidentiality, and timely presentation of offers
      4. No duties until the customer signs a representation agreement
      Show answer and explanation

      Answer B. Honest and fair dealing; disclosure of known, nonobservable material residential-property facts; accounting for entrusted funds

      The statute lists three duties: deal honestly and fairly, disclose known facts materially affecting residential property value that are not readily observable to the buyer, and account for entrusted funds. These duties exist despite the absence of representation. Other laws still apply, so this is not a general exemption from professional responsibility.

      Remember: No representation does not mean no duties. The duty to disclose known hidden material residential-property facts appears in all three statutory duty lists.

      Why the other choices do not work

      • A. Loyalty, obedience, and full disclosure

        These are single-agent duties. No brokerage relationship does not create fiduciary representation.

      • C. Skill and care, limited confidentiality, and timely presentation of offers

        These items come from the transaction-broker duty list, not the three duties listed for nonrepresentation.

      • D. No duties until the customer signs a representation agreement

        The three duties are owed without a representation agreement. Honest dealing and the stated property-fact disclosure cannot wait for one.

      Sources: F.S. 475.278, relationships, duties, and disclosures · F.S. 475.25, misconduct, listing agreements, and supervision

      Report a problem with rel-5

    6. Question 6 · rel-6 · Limited confidentiality and a written waiver

      A transaction broker assists both parties. The seller privately shares her lowest acceptable price and gives no written waiver of confidentiality. The buyer asks directly for that number. What should the broker do?

      1. Protect the seller’s bottom line unless the seller waives confidentiality in writing
      2. Disclose it because both sides receive limited representation
      3. Disclose it if the seller later gives verbal permission
      4. Disclose it only to a buyer who is ready to make an offer
      Show answer and explanation

      Answer A. Protect the seller’s bottom line unless the seller waives confidentiality in writing

      Limited confidentiality specifically protects a seller’s willingness to accept less than the asking or listed price unless the party waives the protection in writing. It also protects a buyer’s willingness to pay more than a written offer, motivation, alternative financing terms, and other information requested to remain confidential. Assisting both sides does not make their private negotiating information public.

      Remember: The waiver must be written. A direct question from the other party does not create permission to disclose.

      Why the other choices do not work

      • B. Disclose it because both sides receive limited representation

        Limited representation includes limited confidentiality. It does not give either side access to the other’s private bottom line.

      • C. Disclose it if the seller later gives verbal permission

        A verbal instruction alone is not the written waiver required by the statute.

      • D. Disclose it only to a buyer who is ready to make an offer

        The buyer’s readiness to act does not override the seller’s confidentiality.

      Sources: F.S. 475.278, relationships, duties, and disclosures

      Report a problem with rel-6

    7. Question 7 · rel-7 · Single-agent disclosure timing

      In a residential sale covered by the disclosure requirements, with no applicable exception, when is the single-agent disclosure due?

      1. Whenever the first purchase offer is signed
      2. At closing, with the final settlement documents
      3. Within three business days after the first showing
      4. Before or at a listing or representation agreement, or before showing property, whichever occurs first
      Show answer and explanation

      Answer D. Before or at a listing or representation agreement, or before showing property, whichever occurs first

      Give written disclosure before or when entering the listing or representation agreement, or before showing property, whichever occurs first. If the agreement comes before the showing, the agreement is the earlier trigger. The notice may stand alone or be included in another document, subject to the statutory content and format rules.

      Remember: Do not replace whichever occurs first with whichever is convenient. This deadline is not a three-business-day rule.

      Why the other choices do not work

      • A. Whenever the first purchase offer is signed

        An agreement for representation or a showing can occur before the first offer. Waiting for the offer can miss the deadline.

      • B. At closing, with the final settlement documents

        The required disclosure is due at the start of the covered activity, not at closing.

      • C. Within three business days after the first showing

        There is no three-business-day grace period here. The question tests a relationship disclosure, not an escrow deposit deadline.

      Sources: F.S. 475.278, relationships, duties, and disclosures

      Report a problem with rel-7

    8. Question 8 · rel-8 · Designated sales associates

      In a qualifying nonresidential sale, both buyer and seller each have at least $1 million in assets. Both request separate single-agent representation through the same broker and sign the required disclosures. The broker assigns a different associate to each party. What is this arrangement?

      1. Disclosed dual agency authorized by a high sale price
      2. Transaction brokerage with the same duties for both associates
      3. A designated sales associate arrangement under F.S. 475.2755
      4. Ordinary single agency available in every residential transaction
      Show answer and explanation

      Answer C. A designated sales associate arrangement under F.S. 475.2755

      F.S. 475.2755 permits designated sales associates in a transaction other than a residential sale as defined in F.S. 475.278(5)(a), when both parties have assets of $1 million or more. Both sign disclosures confirming the threshold and requesting the arrangement. Each designated associate owes single-agent duties to the assigned party, and the broker must protect confidential information.

      Remember: The test is each party’s assets, not sale price, combined assets, or a stated net-worth requirement. Residential deals do not qualify simply because the parties are wealthy.

      Why the other choices do not work

      • A. Disclosed dual agency authorized by a high sale price

        This is a specific statutory arrangement, not permission for dual agency based on a property’s price.

      • B. Transaction brokerage with the same duties for both associates

        The designated associates act as single agents for their assigned parties, not as transaction brokers.

      • D. Ordinary single agency available in every residential transaction

        The nonresidential limitation is essential. It cannot be extended to every home sale.

      Sources: F.S. 475.2755, designated sales associates · F.S. 475.278, relationships, duties, and disclosures

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    9. Question 9 · rel-9 · Which duty belongs to single agency?

      Which duty is NOT part of a Florida transaction broker’s limited representation?

      1. Undivided loyalty as the fiduciary of one party
      2. Using skill, care, and diligence in the transaction
      3. Accounting for funds entrusted to the licensee
      4. Presenting offers and counteroffers promptly unless the party previously directs otherwise in writing
      Show answer and explanation

      Answer A. Undivided loyalty as the fiduciary of one party

      A transaction broker does not represent the customer as a fiduciary and does not owe undivided loyalty. Skill and care, accounting, and timely offer presentation are in the transaction-broker duty list. Limited confidentiality still applies. The written-direction exception for offers is narrow; it does not permit ignoring offers simply because the broker considers them unattractive.

      Remember: Read NOT carefully. Limited representation reduces fiduciary obligations but does not eliminate care, honest dealing, or the obligation to handle offers properly.

      Why the other choices do not work

      • B. Using skill, care, and diligence in the transaction

        Skill, care, and diligence are expressly listed transaction-broker duties.

      • C. Accounting for funds entrusted to the licensee

        Accounting for funds is required under each of the three statutory duty lists.

      • D. Presenting offers and counteroffers promptly unless the party previously directs otherwise in writing

        This is a transaction-broker duty, including the stated prior written-direction exception.

      Sources: F.S. 475.278, relationships, duties, and disclosures

      Report a problem with rel-9

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    08 / Check the full exam outline

    What else should you study?

    The published Authorized Relationships outline has five main headings. This map separates the scored questions and supporting references from topics that deserve more practice.

    A. Law of agency

    In this resource: Role comparison, principal and customer definitions, authority, and the termination reference.

    Also review: Review general and special agency, fiduciary obligations, subagency, and events that end authority.

    Question 1Question 4
    B. Brokerage relationships in Florida

    In this resource: All nine scored questions, duty lists, notice timing, disclosure exceptions, and designated sales associate examples.

    Also review: Practice identifying the relationship for each party separately, including a transition from an existing single-agent relationship.

    Question 2Question 3Question 5Question 6Question 7Question 8Question 9
    C. Misrepresentation and fraud

    In this resource: The hidden-roof scenario and the distinction between false statements, concealment, and confidential negotiating information.

    Also review: Review civil fraud concepts and license discipline. The elements of a damages claim are not identical to disciplinary grounds.

    Question 5Question 6
    D. Professional ethics

    In this resource: Lawful instructions, honest dealing, confidential information, and the effect of written directions about offers.

    Also review: Practice choices that protect the public even when there is no signed sales contract or completed transaction.

    Question 4Question 9
    E. Sales associate to broker

    In this resource: The compensation scenario and the explanation of broker supervision.

    Also review: Continue with brokerage activities for escrow handling, advertising, compensation, and changes of employer.

    DBPR sales associate exam outline, Section IV supplies the 7% exam weight and five headings. FREC Course I syllabus, Section 4 supplies the course objectives, including disclosure format, designated sales associates, record retention, and termination.

    How to approach a brokerage relationship scenario

    Identify the relationship for each party before choosing a duty. A single agent represents one principal as a fiduciary. A transaction broker provides limited representation to a buyer, a seller, or both. No brokerage relationship means no representation of that customer, with three statutory duties still owed.

    Separate the duty from the notice. Relationship rules apply across brokerage activities, while the ordinary disclosure requirements have a defined residential scope and specific exceptions. A notice exemption does not erase duties or make dual agency lawful.

    Then check the trigger: an agreement, a showing, a change in relationship, or a request to share confidential information. Words such as prior, written, and whichever occurs first often decide the answer. Do not use the source of a commission payment to guess who is represented.

    Put the relationship into a transaction.

    Connect the duty with an offer, an escrow deposit, or a mixed exam scenario.

    Questions about brokerage relationship practice

    Frequently asked questions

    How many authorized-relationships questions are on the Florida real estate exam?

    Authorized Relationships, Duties and Disclosures carries 7% of the published DBPR sales associate exam outline, about 7 questions on the 100-question exam. The outline covers agency law, brokerage relationships, misrepresentation and fraud, professional ethics, and the sales associate’s relationship to the broker. This free set contains 9 original practice questions.

    What are the three brokerage relationship options in Florida?

    Florida authorizes single agency and transaction brokerage, and also permits a licensee to deal with a buyer or seller under no brokerage relationship. A single agent provides fiduciary representation to one principal. A transaction broker provides limited representation to one or both sides. No brokerage relationship means that customer is not represented, but three statutory duties remain.

    Is transaction brokerage the default in Florida?

    Yes. F.S. 475.278 presumes transaction brokerage unless single agency or no brokerage relationship is established in writing with the customer. A written services or compensation agreement does not automatically establish single agency; read the relationship it actually creates.

    What duties does a Florida single agent owe?

    The nine statutory duties are honest and fair dealing, loyalty, confidentiality, obedience, full disclosure, accounting for funds, skill and care, timely offer and counteroffer presentation unless previously directed otherwise in writing, and disclosure of known material residential-property facts that are not readily observable. Obedience does not require following an unlawful instruction.

    What does a transaction broker have to keep confidential?

    Unless the party waives confidentiality in writing, the protected information includes a seller’s willingness to accept less, a buyer’s willingness to pay more than a written offer, motivation, alternative financing terms, and other information requested to remain confidential. That protection does not cancel the duty to disclose known hidden facts materially affecting residential property value.

    Is dual agency legal if both parties consent?

    No. Florida prohibits both disclosed and undisclosed dual agency. Transaction brokerage can provide limited representation to both sides. A firm can also be single agent for one party and have no brokerage relationship with the other, where the requirements are met. Designated sales associates are a separate statutory arrangement for qualifying nonresidential transactions.

    When must single-agent and no-brokerage notices be given?

    For a covered transaction with no exception, single-agent disclosure is due before or at a listing or representation agreement, or before showing property, whichever comes first. No-brokerage disclosure is due before showing property. Both must be written and follow the statutory content and format requirements.

    How does a single agent transition to a transaction broker?

    The agent must first give the required transition disclosure and obtain the principal’s written consent before changing roles. The statutory consent is initialed or signed. Verbal permission and a notice sent after the change are insufficient. Check each affected existing single-agent relationship separately.

    Do Florida transaction brokers need a written buyer agreement?

    F.S. 475.278 does not require an initial transaction-broker notice. Separately, applicable MLS rules under the NAR practice changes require an MLS participant working with a buyer to enter a written buyer agreement before touring a home. The agreement can provide transaction brokerage; it does not itself require single agency. Do not confuse an MLS practice requirement with Florida’s relationship-notice rule.

    What counts as a residential sale for these disclosure rules?

    The statutory definition includes improved residential property with four units or fewer, unimproved residential property intended for four units or fewer, and agricultural property of 10 acres or fewer. It is not limited to detached houses. Specific disclosure exceptions must also be checked.

    Does an open house always remove the disclosure requirement?

    No. The exception is for a bona fide open house or model-home showing that does not involve eliciting confidential information, signing an offer or representation agreement, or negotiating price, terms, or conditions. A change in the conversation can take it outside the exception. The actual relationship and applicable duties still matter.

    What is the $1 million test for designated sales associates?

    Each party must have assets of $1 million or more, the transaction must fall outside the statutory definition of a residential sale, and both parties must sign the required disclosures and request the arrangement. The threshold is not the sale price or the parties’ combined assets. Each designated associate acts as a single agent for the assigned party.

    How long must brokerage relationship disclosures be kept?

    F.S. 475.5015 requires retention of relationship disclosures in transactions resulting in a written purchase-and-sale contract. The ordinary brokerage-record period is at least five years from the statutory receipt-of-funds or engagement trigger. Litigation can extend retention to at least two years after the civil action or appeal concludes, whichever is later, without shortening the five-year minimum.

    Are these actual exam questions, and are the explanations free?

    These are original Pass Florida scenarios, not copied or recalled Pearson VUE exam questions. All 9 questions, correct-answer explanations, 27 wrong-choice explanations, and six worked scenarios are free without an account. Open the web app or download Pass Florida for more practice across all 19 exam areas.

    Sources and editorial review

    Check the reasoning behind the answer.

    Published by Pass Florida. Reviewed on for rules in effect through .

    This review checked the questions, duties, notice timing, and scenarios against the published DBPR sales associate outline, FREC Course I syllabus, and the cited 2026 Florida Statutes for rules effective by the stated cutoff.

    The NAR reference explains a separate MLS buyer-agreement requirement. It is not presented as a Florida statute or an additional published exam-outline heading. The short duty lists are study summaries; consult the statute for the required notice forms.

    Found an error? Use the correction link under a question or send the question ID and supporting source.

    1. DBPR sales associate exam outline, Section IV
    2. FREC Course I syllabus, Section 4
    3. F.S. 475.278, relationships, duties, and disclosures
    4. F.S. 475.274, scope of the disclosure requirements
    5. F.S. 475.2755, designated sales associates
    6. F.S. 475.01, customer, principal, and licensee definitions
    7. F.S. 475.255, compensation does not determine agency
    8. F.S. 475.25, misconduct, listing agreements, and supervision
    9. F.S. 475.5015, records and litigation retention
    10. NAR, written buyer agreements and MLS practice rules

    Key terms for authorized relationships

    Review a definition, worked example, or common exam trap before your next quiz.