How loan officers get realtor referrals in Florida

A buyer's first question to their agent is often who to call for a pre-approval. The loan officers who get that call are the ones agents already know. Start with the agents who do not know anyone yet.

Agents are the source of purchase business

Refinance business comes and goes with rates. Purchase business comes from agents. A buyer who has not talked to a lender asks their agent, and the agent hands over a name. A handful of agents who trust you can keep a pipeline full through any rate cycle.

Start with new agents

Top agents already have a preferred lender and a long list of loan officers asking for the same spot. Newly licensed agents have neither. Florida licenses about 1,200 new real estate agents a month. Being the first helpful lender they meet, before their first buyer, is how long partnerships start.

What new agents actually need from a lender

• Fast, solid pre-approvals so their first offers are taken seriously.
• Updates to the agent, not just the buyer, at every milestone.
• Help explaining programs like FHA, VA and down payment assistance to first-time buyers.
• Availability after hours, when offers get written.

Finding newly licensed agents

New real estate licenses are public records through Florida DBPR. You can search them one at a time, file a public records request, or get a weekly list of every new licensee in your counties with email and phone, which is the list we sell. Each record carries DBPR's license status, so you can also see who has not joined a brokerage yet.

The RESPA line

RESPA Section 8 prohibits paying agents, or giving them anything of value, for referrals. Split co-marketing costs in proportion to what each side gets, document it, and run it by compliance. Commercial email to agents also needs an honest subject, your postal address and an opt-out you honor (CAN-SPAM). This is not legal advice.