Transaction broker is Florida's default unless another relationship is established in writing or no brokerage relationship applies.
Printable relationship matrix
Florida real estate brokerage relationships matrix
A one-grid duty comparison for the three Florida brokerage relationship choices, built for fast recognition before practice questions.
Single agent is the fiduciary relationship. Loyalty, obedience, confidentiality, and full disclosure are the clues.
No brokerage relationship is no representation, but DAD duties remain: deal honestly, account for funds, disclose known material facts.
Duties matrix
DutyTransaction brokerSingle agentNo brokerage
Deal honestly and fairlyYesYesYes
Account for all fundsYesYesYes
Disclose known material residential factsYesYesYes
Skill, care, and diligenceYesYesNo
Present all offers and counteroffers timelyYesYesNo
Limited confidentialityYesNoNo
Additional agreed dutiesYesNoNo
ConfidentialityLimited onlyYesNo
ObedienceNoYesNo
LoyaltyNoYesNo
Full disclosureNoYesNo
Worked examples
Stem clueRelationship setupExam-safe answer
No written single-agent agreement and no no-brokerage disclosureDefaultTransaction broker
Loyalty, obedience, full disclosureFiduciary clueSingle agent
Customer receives DAD duties onlyNo representationNo brokerage relationship
Same agent for both sides as fiduciaryFlorida prohibitionDual agency is not allowed
Quick self-test
Can you choose the relationship cold?
Cover the answer key first. If you miss two or more, do not reread the whole sheet. Drill the family that caused the miss.
More practice: passfloridarealestate.com/try-a-question
- 1Warm-up
What is Florida's default brokerage relationship unless changed in writing?
- 2Fiduciary clue
A stem emphasizes loyalty, obedience, and full disclosure. Which relationship fits?
- 3DAD only
Deal honestly, account for funds, disclose known material residential facts. Which relationship can be remembered with DAD?
- 4Dual agency
A licensee wants to represent both parties as a fiduciary with disclosure. Is that allowed in Florida?
- 5Paycheck trap
The seller pays the commission. Does that alone decide the buyer's brokerage relationship?
Answer key: relationship and trap
- 1Answer: Transaction broker
Transaction broker is the default Florida relationship pattern.
- 2Answer: Single agent
Those are fiduciary-style duties.
Trap watch: do not give transaction broker full fiduciary duties.
- 3Answer: No brokerage relationship
No brokerage relationship still has limited statutory duties.
- 4Answer: No
Florida does not allow dual agency.
National prep often treats disclosed dual agency as allowed.
- 5Answer: No
Compensation path does not determine relationship duties.
Wrong-answer traps
TrapWrong moveRepair
Transaction broker as dual agencyCalls limited representation dual agencyFlorida transaction broker is not dual agency
Commission decides relationshipUses who pays commission to choose dutiesUse relationship status and disclosure facts
No brokerage means no dutiesDeletes all dutiesDAD duties remain
Fiduciary overreachGives transaction broker loyalty and obedienceFiduciary duties belong to single agent
Missing transitionMoves single agent to transaction broker without consent factsLook for transition disclosure and consent
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After the PDF
Use the sheet for review, then drill the skill.
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Exam prep only. Not a substitute for the 63-hour course, DBPR steps, or Pearson VUE scheduling.
FAQ
Brokerage relationship questions
What is Florida's default brokerage relationship?+
Transaction broker is the default unless another relationship is established in writing or no brokerage relationship applies.
Is transaction broker the same as dual agency?+
No. Transaction broker is limited representation. Dual agency is not allowed in Florida.
What duties belong to no brokerage relationship?+
For exam purposes, remember DAD: deal honestly and fairly, account for all funds, and disclose known material residential facts.
What is the biggest relationship trap?+
Letting who pays commission decide the relationship. Duties come from the relationship status, not the paycheck path.
What is COLD in Florida brokerage relationships?+
COLD is a memory aid for fiduciary duties often associated with single agency: confidentiality, obedience, loyalty, and disclosure. Transaction broker duties are limited representation, not full fiduciary agency.
Does no brokerage relationship mean no duties?+
No. For exam purposes, no brokerage relationship still has limited duties: deal honestly and fairly, account for all funds, and disclose known material facts affecting residential value.