Expert Witness Services
Meet Cynthia DeLuca
27+ Yrs Florida Broker | Instructor | Investor | Author
I’ve spent my entire career in Florida real estate, as a broker-owner, a nationally recognized instructor, and as a rental property investor. I built Total Realty Corp into Central Florida’s largest independent brokerage, growing it to 6 offices and more than 135 agents before selling the company in 2016. Since 2001, I’ve taught continuing education courses for Florida REALTORS® and been engaged by the National Association of REALTORS® to teach nationwide, in all 50 states and numerous countries internationally.
That combination, running a large brokerage day to day and teaching real estate law and practice at a national level, is what I now bring to expert witness and litigation support work. I’ve seen what proper broker supervision looks like from the inside, and I’ve taught tens of thousands of agents and brokers what the standards actually require. When a case turns on whether someone met the standard of care, I can speak to it from both sides of that experience.
Areas of Expertise
Standard of Care in Florida Real Estate Transactions
Whether a licensee’s conduct during listing, negotiation, or closing met the standard expected of a reasonably prudent Florida real estate professional.
Broker Supervision and Fiduciary Duty
A broker’s duty to train, supervise, and monitor agents, and how brokerage relationships and fiduciary duties work under Florida law.
Property Management and Landlord-Tenant Compliance
Landlord and property manager obligations under Florida Statutes Chapter 83, informed by my own experience self-managing a rental portfolio.
Short-Term Rental Operations
Owner and manager duties, platform practices, and industry-standard operating procedures for short-term rental properties under Florida Statutes Chapter 509 and the Dept of Revenue.
Fair Housing Compliance
Advertising, showing, and accommodation obligations under Fair Housing law, including service animal and emotional support animal requests.
Real Estate Commission and Compensation Disputes
Customary and reasonable compensation practices, buyer broker agreements, and disclosure obligations, including recent industry changes.
Brokerage Valuation and Sale Disputes
Purchase agreements, earnouts, and valuation questions, drawing on my own experience building, operating, and selling a brokerage.
Independent Contractor Classification
Whether brokerage practices and policies support independent contractor status for agents.
Investment Property Representation and Disclosure
An agent’s duty to accurately represent rental income potential, cap rates, and investment projections to buyers along with zoning and code enforcement compliance.
Licenses and Designations
- Florida Real Estate Broker License BK681422
- Florida Real Estate Instructor Permit ZH1002589
- ABR – Accredited Buyer’s Representative
- SRS – Seller Representative Specialist
- GRI – Graduate Realtor Institute
- SFR – Short Sale and Foreclosure Resource Certification
- PSA – Pricing Strategy Advisor
- AHWD – At Home with Diversity
- GKC – Gold Key Certification, Excellence in Professionalism
- PKC – Platinum Key Certification
- C2EX – Realtors Commitment to Excellence
Teaching and Speaking
I’ve taught continuing education for Florida REALTORS® since 2001 and have been engaged by the National Association of REALTORS® to teach nationwide, in all 50 states and numerous countries internationally. My courses cover Florida real estate law, property management, Fair Housing, and landlord-tenant compliance.
Published Works
I’m the author of four books on real estate practice and investment, available on Amazon:
- The High Heels Landlord
- Fill’er Up
- The Standout Agent
- Cash Flow Freedom
I am also the author of numerous courses used for Florida real estate continuing education credits.
Availability
I’m currently accepting new expert witness engagements for Florida real estate matters within the areas listed above.
Full CV, publication list, and prior testimony history are available upon request.
Get in Touch
If you’d like to discuss a case, please reach out with the case type, jurisdiction, and a brief description (including opposing party names, so I can check for conflicts). Email me at Cynthia@CynthiaDeLuca.com or by phone at 386.747.3445, or use the contact button below. I’ll follow up promptly.