Learn the Florida Contract for Sale and Purchase
Last in the Series. Broker Compensation and other Matters
Section 19 – Brokers & Commission Instructions
This section is short, but not small.
It does three important things:
1. It defines the term “Broker.”
The word “Broker” here includes all the licensees and brokerages listed in the contract—on both sides. This matters, because the rest of this paragraph applies to everyone under that umbrella.
2. It gives the Closing Agent clear instructions:
The contract says the Closing Agent must disburse the full commission at closing based on:
The listing agreement between the seller and their broker, and
Any cooperative agreement between the listing and buyer’s brokers
This means:
The commission is not negotiated in this paragraph.
It’s already been agreed to somewhere else (in a listing agreement or MLS offer of compensation).
And unless it’s already been pulled from escrow, the full amount gets paid at closing.
3. It draws a hard boundary:
“This Paragraph will not be used to modify any offer of compensation made by Seller or listing broker to cooperating brokers.”
That sentence exists to stop people from trying to rewrite commission terms here.
If there’s a change to the commission, it needs to happen in the listing agreement, not in this paragraph of the contract.
The Real-World Take
Section 19 is the part of the contract that empowers the closing attorney or title agent to cut checks. It’s not where commission is negotiated—it’s where payment is enforced.
If you’re a buyer or seller:
Don’t get confused. The commission terms are set before you get to this contract. They live in the MLS, the listing agreement, or a separate signed document. This just tells the closing agent to execute.
If you’re a broker or agent:
Make sure your agreements are tight before you go under contract. Don’t count on fixing anything here. If it’s not already in writing and signed—it’s not enforceable.
Closing Thoughts: The End of the Series
The CRSP-17 isn’t scary. It’s not magic. It’s just a tool—but like any powerful tool, it can hurt you if you don’t understand how it works.
This series was written so you’d know:
What each section actually says,
What it really means in a real transaction,
And where the traps are hiding in the fine print.
You can’t outsource your understanding of a contract.
Not to your agent. Not to your lawyer. Not to anyone.
You’ve got to own it.
Thanks for reading the series. If this helped, send it to someone who’s still out here writing offers like it’s 2006.
See you in the next one.
—Richard