Realtor Strategy

Florida Realtors Convention 2026: Referral Conversations

Joe Pistone, NMLS# 2087918 · August 3, 2026 · 6 min read

The 2026 Florida Realtors Convention and Trade Expo is a useful deadline for agents to strengthen the lender relationships behind their buyer service. The practical goal is not to collect the most business cards. It is to leave with a clear, compliant way to help clients understand financing, property questions, and next steps. REBarCamp is scheduled for August 18, and the main convention and Trade Expo run August 19–20 in Orlando.

What is happening in Orlando

The Florida Realtors Convention FAQ lists REBarCamp on August 18 at Rosen Shingle Creek Resort, followed by the convention and Trade Expo on August 19–20. The FAQ says online pre-registration is available through August 10, the Trade Expo is free with registration, and the program includes education on lead generation, AI and technology, branding, marketing, compliance, and brokerage growth.

Those topics create a natural opening for a lender conversation, but only if the conversation starts with the agent’s clients rather than a product pitch.

Three conversations worth preparing before the event

1. “What financing questions slow your clients down?” Ask about recurring friction: documentation, property condition, condo review, insurance, or timing. Listen for patterns before discussing any solution.
2. “What should a client receive after the first call?” Agree on a simple handoff: permission-based introduction, a plain-language checklist, and a clear explanation that the lender still has to review the borrower and property.
3. “How will we protect the client relationship?” Define response expectations, documentation boundaries, and how the agent stays informed without receiving information the borrower has not authorized to share.

A compliant referral conversation is specific, not flashy

Avoid promises about approval, savings, speed, or a particular loan outcome. Instead, explain the next useful step: review the buyer’s goals, income, debts, available funds, target property, and timing. A lender partner should be able to explain what is known, what is still conditional, and what documents will answer the open questions.

For related guidance, see our referral disclosure guide for Florida Realtors and our buyer-broker and pre-approval conversation guide.

A simple event follow-up plan

When	Useful action
Before August 18	Write down three client-financing questions you hear repeatedly and one way a lender can help answer each.
At REBarCamp or the convention	Have a short, permission-based conversation about the agent’s process instead of leading with a product.
Within two business days	Send one useful resource tied to the agent’s stated need and offer a brief process conversation.
After the first referral	Ask whether the handoff was clear and improve the process without making promises about future outcomes.

Frequently asked questions

When is the 2026 Florida Realtors Convention?

The official FAQ lists the main convention and Trade Expo for August 19–20, 2026, at Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando. REBarCamp is listed for August 18.

Can mortgage lenders attend?

Yes. The FAQ lists mortgage lenders among the professionals connected to the business of real estate who may attend, subject to registration requirements.

What should a Realtor ask a lender partner?

Ask how the lender handles the first introduction, what information the borrower receives, how property-specific questions are reviewed, and how the agent receives appropriate status updates with client permission.

Source: Florida Realtors Convention & Trade Expo FAQ.

Joe Pistone & Team · CrossCountry Mortgage · NMLS# 2087918 · Equal Housing Opportunity · Educational only — not a commitment to lend