Retiring to Northeast Florida

How to Choose a Realtor to Retire to Northeast Florida (2026 Guide)

The right realtor for a retirement move to Northeast Florida knows the local 55+ communities, flood zones, insurance and property tax rules, has a track record with buyers 50 and older, and can run most of the search while you still live out of state. This guide covers 9 things to check, the questions to ask and the red flags to watch for, from Joey Larsen, a REALTOR® and Seniors Real Estate Specialist® (SRES®) with La Rosa Realty North Florida (Retire Me To Florida).

By Joey Larsen, REALTOR® with La Rosa Realty North Florida. Updated October 2026.

• 9 things to check
• Questions to ask
• Red flags
• Buyer agreements in Florida
• How Joey measures up
• Questions

What should you look for in a realtor for a Florida retirement move?

1. A valid Florida license and REALTOR® membership

Look the agent up on the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation's site, myfloridalicense.com, to confirm an active license and any disciplinary history. A REALTOR® is a licensee who belongs to the National Association of REALTORS® and follows its Code of Ethics.

2. Training for buyers 50 and older

The Seniors Real Estate Specialist® (SRES®) designation from the National Association of REALTORS® is for agents who work with clients 50 and older, including how Medicare, Social Security and other benefits can affect housing decisions. The Accredited Buyer's Representative (ABR®) designation focuses on representing buyers, and the Certified Residential Specialist (CRS®) designation requires a record of closed sales plus advanced training.

3. Real knowledge of 55+ and active adult communities

Northeast Florida has more than 30 age-restricted communities, and they differ a lot in age rules, guest rules, HOA dues and CDD fees. A good agent can tell you which are still selling new homes, which are resale only, and which only look 55+. See 55+ communities in Northeast Florida.

4. Straight talk about flood zones and insurance

Ask the agent to pull the flood zone and evacuation zone for any home before you tour it, and to get insurance quotes early. Starting January 1, 2027, every Citizens Property Insurance homeowners policy with wind coverage must also carry flood insurance.

5. The full cost to own, not just the price

Property taxes after the homestead exemption, HOA dues, CDD assessments and insurance can make two homes at the same price very different each year. Your agent should put those numbers side by side. See retiring to St. Augustine and St. Johns County for the 2026 tax rules.

6. A plan for buying from out of state

Most retirees are still living somewhere else while they search. Ask how the agent handles video tours, digital paperwork, inspections and closing remotely, and how many clients have bought with only one or two trips.

7. Local data, not opinions

The agent should show recent sales, days on market and price cuts for the exact areas you're considering, and compare builder incentives on new homes with what resales are selling for.

8. Reviews from people like you

Read the agent's Google reviews for retirees, empty nesters and buyers who relocated from out of state. Specific reviews that name the town, the situation and the result tell you more than a star rating.

9. A local team you can lean on

A good agent brings lenders who close on time, inspectors, insurance agents and, if you need to sell up north, a trusted agent where you live now.

What questions should you ask a realtor before hiring them?

• How many buyers 50 and older or relocating buyers have you helped in the past year, and where did they buy?
• Which 55+ communities would you rule out for me, and why?
• Can you show me the flood zone, insurance estimate, HOA dues and CDD fees for a home before we tour it?
• How will you run the search while I'm still out of state?
• What do recent sales say about prices in the areas I'm considering?
• Which lenders, inspectors and insurance agents do you work with?
• What will your buyer agreement say about the type of representation and compensation?
• Who on your team will I hear from, and how fast do you usually respond?

What are the red flags when choosing a realtor in Florida?

• Pushes one builder or community before learning what you need.
• Can't explain the difference between an HOA and a CDD, or the 55+ rules for a community.
• Brushes off flood zones and insurance as something to deal with later.
• Has few recent sales in the towns you're considering.
• Won't put the agreement and compensation in writing.
• Takes days to return calls while you're trying to plan a trip.

How do buyer agreements work in Florida?

Since August 17, 2024, a buyer working with a real estate agent in Florida signs a written agreement before touring homes, including virtual tours. The agreement spells out the agent's compensation, which is negotiable. Florida law also presumes that a licensee works with you as a transaction broker, who gives limited representation to both parties, unless a single-agent relationship, with full fiduciary duties to you, is set up in writing. Ask which one you're signing.

How does Joey Larsen measure up?

Use the same checklist on every agent you interview. Here's how Joey Larsen lines up:

More about Joey Larsen.

Questions about choosing a realtor to retire to Florida