HISTORIC ACCORD SHOWS REALTORS' AND BUILDERS' COMMITMENT TO HOMEBUYERS

Purchasing a home can be a stressful event for first-timers and seasoned buyers alike. Financing, brokerage fees, commissions, interest rates and closing costs—it’s easy to get overwhelmed.

Your real estate agent and your builder can be great sources of information, but what if they’re not in sync? How do you know whom to trust?

Now, thanks to a new agreement signed by representatives of the Northeast Florida Builders Association (NEFBA) and the Northeast Florida Association of Realtors (NEFAR), homebuyers can rest assured that both parties have their best interest at heart.  

A year-and-a-half in the making, the revolutionary accord commits both parties to transparent, consumer-friendly actions in such areas as roles and responsibilities, compensation and communication as well as guidelines that govern the exchange of information between the Realtor and the builder’s representatives. 

The goal of this agreement is for all parties involved in the purchase of a new home to conduct business in an ethical fashion. At its core is the shared belief that both the builder and Realtor are vested in providing the buyer with transparency, ensuring that the lines of communication are open making certain that respect is shown among all parties involved.

I’m thankful for the people who served on the task force that helped spearhead this important initiative: Rose Bock, principal of Rose S. Bock Consulting and Task Force chair; Linda Moore, sales manager at Drees Home Builders; Ron Harris, broker and owner of Harris Real Estate Partners; Dane Leslie, vice president of Watson Realty and current NEFAR president; Millie Kanyar, vice president of Watson Realty and past NEFAR president; and Dan Braithwaite, Realtor and broker of Vystar Realty. 

This accord will set a standard that will undoubtedly benefit the homebuilding industry. More important, this landmark agreement will give peace of mind to prospective homebuyers for years and years to come.

Barbara Moore

Division President, Lennar Homes

President, NEFBA

lennar.com

Barbara Moore currently serves as president of the Northeast Florida 

Builders Association (NEFBA). In 1997 she was named Jacksonville Division President of Lennar, which now offers great homes at an outstanding value in 12 First Coast communities.