Consumer Guide: Ten Questions to Ask a Seller’s Agent
Selling a home in Northeast Florida? Learn ten essential questions to ask a seller’s agent about pricing, marketing, contracts, and attracting qualified buyers.
March 6, 2026
BUYERS
Your path to the perfect home
From Jacksonville’s vibrant neighborhoods to the quiet charm of our coastal towns, NEFAR REALTORS know Northeast Florida inside and out. With local expertise, real-time market data, and sharp negotiation skills, they’ll guide you to the right home at the right price — and make the process feel effortless.
SELLERS
Your partner in a successful sale
Selling a home here takes more than a “For Sale” sign — it takes a NEFAR REALTOR who knows our market’s unique trends, seasonal shifts, and buyer demand. With strategic pricing, powerful marketing, and expert negotiation, they’ll help you sell faster and maximize your return.
REALTORS: Advocates for You and Your Home
Your REALTOR is more than just a guide through the home buying or selling process — they are your partner and advocate every step of the way. And their work extends far beyond the transaction itself.
For 117 years, REALTORS have championed and protected the rights of buyers and sellers, supporting federal, state, and local policies that make homeownership more accessible and sustainable. From addressing affordable housing challenges to improving the real estate process and supporting programs that help current homeowners stay in their homes, Realtors have a long and proven track record of defending the American Dream.
Affordable Housing
While many current homeowners benefit from rising property values, those same increases have made housing less affordable for others. Realtors across the country are leading the charge to address this challenge — advocating for policies and programs that expand access to affordable housing and create more pathways to homeownership. Their goal is simple: to help more families and individuals achieve the American Dream.
Housing Affordability/Downpayment Assistance
State and Local Affordable Housing Programs – Florida Realtors advocate every year for the highest possible funding for Florida’s State and Local Government Housing Trust Funds. The funds: $385 million in 2025 and $408 million in 2024, provide downpayment and closing cost assistance programs and help build affordable rental housing.
Hometown Heroes Housing Program (HHHP)
The dynamic first-time homebuyer program for hard-working Floridians was a 2023 priority for Florida Realtors. Realtors spearheaded this initiative in 2023 and have continued to advocate for additional funding and program changes to add more occupations to eligibility requirements and increase the maximum loan amount.
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Funding
Nationally, Realtors supported the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) increased funding for the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program, which in 2023 provided $30.3 billion to public housing authorities– a $2.9 billion increase over 2022. HUD announced it will also award $50 million for new vouchers for homeless veterans, and $50 million for flexible new housing vouchers.
Increasing Housing Stock
REALTORS advocate at every level of government for policies that expand housing supply. Backed by National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) research demonstrating a nationwide housing shortage, REALTORS engage with elected officials to share data, offer policy solutions, and promote regulations that encourage the development of more homes. The result: greater housing options for individuals and families across all income levels.
Increasing Affordable Housing Stock
In 2023 Florida Realtors successfully advocated for Historic housing legislation. The “Live Local Act,” is a comprehensive affordable housing bill that included the largest investment in housing ever in state history, including funding to build new affordable rental units. In 2025 Realtors continued these efforts advocating for enhancements to Live Local, including expanding opportunities to build affordable housing.
Converting Vacant Commercial Property
In Washington, Realtors are working to Encourage Commercial to Residential Conversions –The Revitalizing Downtowns and Main Streets Act, introduced by NAR coalition partners, incentivizes converting underutilized commercial properties to residential units via a tax credit. If enacted, such a tax credit would be a triple win for REALTORS® and consumers by shoring up the commercial sector, increasing housing supply, and boosting the economy.
Improving the Real Estate Process
Always acting in the best interest of their customers, REALTORS advocate for policies and procedures that simplify the homebuying process and reduce stress for both buyers and sellers.
Realtor efforts to address Document Transparency
Increased Transparency of HOA Documents. Significantly increasing the transparency and availability of homeowner’s association (HOA) documents, Florida Realtors supported legislation that requires homeowners’ associations with 100 or more parcels to maintain official records on their website or an app. Additionally, homeowners’ associations must deliver a physical or digital copy of their rules and covenants to all members and new members.
Transparency of Condominium Association Documents
Realtors also advocated transparency in condominium transactions. Supporting legislation that requires an association managing a condominium with 25 or more units to post digital copies of official condominium documents on its website. To include condominium bylaws and rules, articles of incorporation, declaration of condominium, annual financial statements and budget, the FAQ sheet, building inspection reports, and reserve studies.
Additionally, condominium associations are required to include approved Board of Directors meeting minutes for the preceding 12 months on their website. This will help prospective purchasers learn of special assessments that have not yet been formally adopted. The bill also extends a buyer’s right to cancel the contract to seven days after receiving the governing documents.
Raise the Capital Gains Exclusion
NAR successfully advocated for the introduction of the “More Homes on the Market Act” (H.R. 1321), a bipartisan bill that would incentivize more owners to sell their homes by doubling the maximum amount of capital gains a homeowner can exclude on the sale of a principal residence and annually adjusting it for inflation. This would unlock a significant segment of inventory previously unavailable to prospective buyers and provide tax savings for sellers who have accumulated large equity in their homes.
Flood Disclosure
Florida Realtors were instrumental in passing a Florida law requiring a seller to disclose in writing certain flood information to a prospective purchaser at or before executing a contract for the sale of residential property. This disclosure will help buyers make more informed decisions about a property and reduce the number of post-closing disputes that occur.
Help for Homebuyers
REALTORS have successfully advocated to modernize credit scoring models, protect veterans’ homebuying benefits, and reduce closing costs.
Modernization of Credit Scoring
The National Association of Realtors (NAR) has long called for modernizing the credit scoring system to better reflect how today’s consumers manage their finances. As a result of Realtor efforts, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, will begin accepting VantageScore 4.0 for mortgage underwriting, either alongside or in place of traditional FICO credit scores. This change provides potential homebuyers with an extra boost that can either qualify them for a mortgage or reduce the cost of the loan.
Increasing Borrower Eligibility
After decades of NAR advocacy, the Federal Finance Housing Agency (FHFA) committed to evaluating and adding additional credit scoring models for borrower eligibility. The new models will incorporate positive rental and utility history, opening opportunities for otherwise-qualified borrowers with “thin” credit files, and giving borrowers credit for making reliable payments on other credit commitments.
FHFA also announced a new requirement that only two credit reports need be considered for eligibility, versus the traditional three. This will reduce costs for lenders and encourage competition and innovation in the credit scoring market.
VA Home Loan Reform Act
REALTORS’ efforts to ensure veterans can access professional real estate representation paid off as Congress made permanent the VA’s temporary policy allowing veterans to directly compensate their real estate agents, ensuring they can participate in the housing market on equal footing with other homebuyers.
Elimination of Problematic Mortgage Fees on Consumers
Voicing concern regarding proposed hikes to upfront fees (“Loan-Level Price Adjustments” or “LLPAs”) by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), NAR testified before Congress on the impact on borrowers. As a result of NAR’s advocacy, the FHFA rescinded a problematic fee on borrowers with a high debt-to-income ratios.
Lowering the Mortgage Insurance Premium (MIP)
As a result of NAR’s advocacy, the FHA reduced mortgage insurance premiums (MIPs) by 30 basis points, significantly helping new and low- to moderate-income buyers.
Help for Homeowners
REALTORS’ advocacy also prioritizes policies that help current homeowners maintain stability and continue enjoying the benefits of homeownership.
Home Hardening/Insurance Savings
In Florida, Realtors support programs to help homeowners protect their homes against storms and reduce their insurance premiums. With successful Realtor advocacy efforts, the My Safe Florida Home Program (MSFH) continues to receive funding; allowing homeowners to apply for grant assistance and receive inspections among other benefits. In 2025 Realtors successfully advocated for expansion of MSFH to help condominiums within 15 miles of the coast harden roofs and openings against storms.
Assist Condo owners with their unique issues
Realtors supported the My Safe Florida Condominium Pilot Program to allow condos at least three stories high with at least two residential units to apply with 75% owner approval for mitigation grants to fund water intrusion or structural mitigation improvements that result in an insurance credit, discount, or rate differential, among other program changes.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)
REALTORS continue to successfully advocate temporary extensions to the National Flood Insurance Program while also advocating for long term reauthorization and incremental reforms to bring certainty to real estate markets. Removing barriers to private flood insurance so consumers can choose lower-cost options that meet federal coverage requirements.
Resources & Tools
Consumer Guides
What to Know About Seller Concessions
Explore seller concessions in Northeast Florida—what they are, how they work, and how offering them can attract buyers and close deals faster.
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Buying Your First Home
Discover first-time homebuyer programs, financing options, and expert tips for navigating the Northeast Florida real estate market with confidence.
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Open Houses and Written Agreements For Buyers
Learn when written buyer agreements are required in Northeast Florida real estate and what to know before attending open houses or touring homes with an agent.
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Preparing for Homeownership in Northeast Florida
Learn how to prepare for homeownership in Northeast Florida with tips on credit, financing, expenses, and resources to guide your buying journey.
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Preparing to Sell Your Home
Get expert tips on preparing your Northeast Florida home for sale, from inspections and repairs to staging, curb appeal, and working with a REALTOR®
October 13, 2025
How to Market Your Home
Discover how to market your Northeast Florida home with staging, curb appeal, photography, open houses, and pricing strategies to attract buyers and strong offers
October 13, 2025