Agent facts & frequently asked questions

Direct Connect Brokerage is a licensed Florida real estate brokerage built specifically for referral agents who want a simple, affordable way to keep their real estate license active while earning referral income on their own schedule. Florida Brokerage License #: CQ1072056.

To legally earn real estate commissions or referral commissions, licensed real estate sales associates and salespersons must be affiliated with a licensed real estate brokerage. Direct Connect Brokerage provides a simple, affordable way to keep your license active while giving you the freedom to earn referral income without the traditional brokerage model.

Yes. Direct Connect Brokerage is a 100% virtual real estate brokerage, allowing you to manage your referrals and access your brokerage tools from anywhere with an internet connection. There are no required office hours or in-person meetings, giving you the flexibility to work on your own schedule. Whether you're working from home, traveling, or pursuing another career, our virtual model makes it easy to keep your real estate license active and earn referral income from virtually anywhere.

Yes. Direct Connect Brokerage is a Florida-licensed, 100% virtual brokerage, so you can affiliate your real estate license with us from anywhere in Florida.

"Hanging" or "parking" your real estate license simply means placing your active Florida real estate license with a licensed brokerage. Florida law requires sales associates to be affiliated with a brokerage to keep their license active and legally earn referral commissions. Direct Connect Brokerage is a licensed Florida real estate brokerage, making it easy to keep your license active while referring buyers and sellers on your schedule.

Yes. You can park or hang your Florida real estate license with Direct Connect Brokerage no matter where you live in the United States. Since we are a 100% virtual, referral-only brokerage, there are no in-person requirements. Florida-licensed agents living in Orlando, Tampa, Miami, Jacksonville, or anywhere else in the country are welcome to join.

A referral-only real estate agent is a licensed agent who doesn't handle showings, contracts, or closings. Instead, they refer clients — buyers, sellers, or investors — to active full-time agents and earn a referral fee when the transaction closes. It's a flexible way to stay licensed, earn income, and stay connected to the industry without working full-time.

Referral-only status is ideal for licensed agents who are no longer actively selling but want to keep their license active, agents who are tired of paying high MLS and board fees, part-time agents who occasionally refer clients, and anyone who wants to earn real estate income without the demands of full-time sales.

Yes — that is exactly what we are designed for. As a referral-only agent under Direct Connect Brokerage, your Florida license stays active and in good standing with no production requirements, no MLS dues, and no REALTOR® association fees required.

Yes. As long as you are licensed and affiliated with Direct Connect Brokerage, your time with the brokerage counts toward your experience as required by your state's real estate licensing laws, provided you meet all applicable requirements. If you're working toward obtaining a broker's license, you should always verify your state's eligibility requirements with your real estate licensing authority.

Yes. You must hold an active Florida real estate license. Direct Connect Brokerage will become your sponsoring broker, which keeps your license active and allows you to legally earn referral fees.

After you sign up, we walk you through the transfer process step by step. It typically involves submitting a transfer request through the Florida real estate commission portal. We make it simple and will be there to help.

No. As a referral-only agent you are not required to join the National Association of REALTORS® or any MLS. This is one of the biggest cost savings compared to staying at a traditional brokerage.

Direct Connect Brokerage currently holds licenses for agents licensed in Florida. Once you are a member, you can refer clients to active agents anywhere in the country. We have plans to expand to additional states as we grow.

No. You can live anywhere in the U.S. as long as you hold an active Florida real estate license. Since Direct Connect is a referral-only brokerage, you do not need to be local to send or receive referrals.

It is each referral agent's responsibility to stay compliant with their state's continuing education requirements and ensure their real estate license remains active. Direct Connect Brokerage has partnered with Magnolia School of Real Estate, a Florida-licensed online real estate school led by Florida Licensed Real Estate Instructor Michelle Earley. They offer pre-licensing, continuing education, and post-license courses. You can explore available courses at magnoliaschoolofrealestate.com.

Complete CE courses — Magnolia School of Real Estate

You can refer buyers and sellers anywhere in the United States. Anyone counts — friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, past clients, or even yourself if you are buying or selling. If you know someone looking to make a move, you can earn a referral fee by connecting them with a trusted agent.

As a referral agent with Direct Connect, you can choose any licensed real estate agent to send your referrals to — locally or nationwide. If you don't have an agent in mind, we can help by providing up to three qualified agents for you to choose from.

Yes. While your license is held in Florida, you can refer clients to active agents anywhere in the country. There is no geographic restriction on who you refer.

New construction referrals work differently than resale transactions. When your client purchases directly from a builder, the builder's own sales agent handles the deal — you do not need to involve a separate buyer's agent. Your role is simply to refer your client and get registered as their referring agent. The most important step: your client must register you on their very first visit to the builder's sales office or model home. If they visit without being registered first, the builder may not recognize the referral and your fee could be lost. Builder commission structures and referral policies vary, so it is always worth confirming the terms with the builder's sales team before your client visits.

Yes. All of our agents can refer themselves and collect a referral fee on their own personal real estate transactions.

Referral fees typically range from 25% to 35% of the commission earned by the agent who closes the deal. The exact amount is negotiable. For example: if you refer a buyer who purchases a $400,000 home and the agent earns a 2.5% commission ($10,000), at a 30% referral fee you would earn $3,000. From that amount, Direct Connect deducts a small transaction fee before your final payout.

Once the deal closes, the receiving agent's brokerage sends the referral fee to Direct Connect. As long as all referral paperwork has been properly submitted through your agent portal — and your W-9 form is on file — Direct Connect will issue your referral payment via ACH direct deposit. Referral fees are typically paid shortly after closing, depending on how quickly the receiving brokerage processes the commission.

No. Direct Connect Brokerage does not provide leads or guarantee business. Our brokerage is designed for referral agents who already have their own network or plan to generate referrals through personal contacts, marketing, social media, community involvement, or other business development efforts.

No. There are zero production requirements. You can refer as many or as few clients as you like — there is no quota, no pressure, and no penalty for low activity.

Membership is $9.99 per month or $99 per year — saving you two months compared to monthly billing. There is no onboarding fee, no commission splits or caps on residential referral transactions, and no production requirements. You can cancel anytime.

Your membership includes your active Florida license hold with the brokerage, access to your agent portal, referral submission and tracking, direct deposit commission payments, digital referral agreement templates, E&O insurance coverage at no additional charge, a personal agent profile page on our website, dedicated support, and assistance finding an active agent for your referral if needed.

Transaction fees only apply when a transaction successfully closes — there is no fee if no transaction closes. Fees are as follows: $299 flat fee for residential referral transactions; $99 flat fee for residential lease referrals; $199 flat fee for commercial lease referrals; 90/10 commission split on commercial sales referrals.

Our 7-day free trial gives you the opportunity to explore the Direct Connect Brokerage platform before your paid membership begins. During the trial, you'll have access to all the tools and resources included with your membership. A valid credit card is required to start, but you won't be charged during the trial period. If you do not cancel before the trial ends, your selected monthly or annual membership will automatically begin.

No long-term contract is required. Your membership is month-to-month and you can cancel at any time. When you cancel or leave the brokerage, we handle the license transfer on your behalf. Your Florida real estate license will be transferred back to inactive status with the DBPR, or to another sponsoring broker of your choice — whichever you prefer. We will notify you in advance and make the transition as smooth as possible. Any referral deals already in progress will remain with Direct Connect, and you will still receive your referral fee once the transaction closes.

The Referral Sweet Marketing Program is an optional upgrade powered by Referral Sweet (also known as Sweet Assist). It is designed to help agents grow their referral business through automated marketing and advanced training. This program includes: a done-for-you social media content calendar, video email marketing tools, direct mail marketing templates, set-it-and-forget-it campaigns, and monthly mastermind group coaching calls. The cost is $40/month and you can cancel at any time. This program is provided by a third-party company and is billed separately from Direct Connect. Direct Connect is not affiliated with or responsible for the services provided.

Yes. Direct Connect agents may be eligible for account credits or referral incentives when referring new agents to join the brokerage. Full details, requirements, and eligibility are provided during onboarding and inside the private agent group.

Getting started is fast and simple. Just choose your plan and click 'Join Now.' Once you complete your onboarding steps, our team handles the license transfer paperwork on your behalf — you do not need to navigate the DBPR portal on your own. We walk you through everything and take care of the transfer from start to finish. Most applications are processed within 24–48 hours during normal business hours. Once approved, you will receive your onboarding agreement, next steps, and portal access information by email.

Yes. Direct Connect Brokerage provides Errors & Omissions (E&O) Insurance for affiliated agents as part of your membership. There is no additional charge for E&O coverage, giving you added protection and peace of mind while conducting your licensed real estate activities.

Yes. We offer full support. Whether you have questions about your membership, referrals, transactions, or your agent portal, our team is here to help.

Your agent portal lets you submit new referrals, track the status of active referrals, view documents and agreements, and monitor your payments — all in one place. The portal is fully web-based and optimized for desktop, tablet, and mobile, so you can manage your referral business from any device with an internet connection.

When you cancel your membership or leave the brokerage, we handle the license transfer on your behalf — you do not need to do anything on your own. Your Florida real estate license will be transferred back to inactive status with the DBPR, or to another sponsoring broker of your choice, whichever you prefer. We will notify you in advance and take care of the paperwork to make the transition as smooth as possible. Any referral deals already in progress will remain with Direct Connect, and you will still receive your referral fee once those transactions close.