The Florida Real Estate Commission

The Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC) is the heart of Florida real estate regulation. If the DBPR is the "muscle" that enforces the law, the FREC (or "the Commission") is the "brains" that decides how the law is applied.The main reason the FREC exists is to protect the public. They aren't there to protect real estate agents or help brokers make money. Their job is to ensure that real estate professionals are competent and honest so that the average homebuyer or seller doesn't get ripped off.The FREC isn't just a random group of people; it's carefully structured by Florida law (Chapter 475) to ensure a balance of industry expertise and public opinion.The Commission consists of 7 members: 4 Professional Members: Must be licensed brokers who have held an active license for at least 5 years leading up to their appointment. 1 Professional Member: Can be a broker OR a sales associate who has held an active license for at least 2 years. 2 Consumer Members: People who have never been real estate brokers or sales associates. They are there to represent the public's point of view.Bonus Rule: At least one of the 7 members must be 60 years of age or older.Term of Office and Compensation Appointment - Members are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the State Senate. They serve 4-year terms. There is no maximum number of years they can serve total, but they cannot serve more than 2 consecutive terms. It’s essentially volunteer work. Members are not paid a salary. Instead, they receive a per diem of $50 for each day they attend official meetings or perform Commission business, plus reimbursement for expenses (travel, meals, hotel).