Brazilian real estate agent in Orlando: how buying works

In the United States, the real estate profession is regulated state by state. In Florida, a DBPR-issued license is required to intermediate a property purchase or sale — someone without a license cannot, by law, represent you, negotiate price or receive commission. A Realtor is a licensed agent and a member of the National Association of Realtors, bound by a code of ethics and a fiduciary duty: the obligation to act in your best interest, not the seller’s.

The part that most surprises Brazilian buyers is the payment. The seller hires their own agent (the listing agent) and, in the listing agreement, sets the total commission for the deal — usually 5% to 6% of the price — which is shared with the buyer’s agent. In practice, the seller foots that bill, inside the property price. So searching alone and dealing directly with the seller’s agent gives you no discount: you simply give up having someone defending your side, while saving nothing.

This is where a Brazilian agent makes the difference. Beyond being licensed and knowing the local market, they speak Portuguese with you, understand where you come from — moving funds from Brazil, exchange, ITIN, a US bank account — and translate a process that, handled in legal English, intimidates anyone. Daniel Dourado is a licensed Florida Realtor who serves clients in Portuguese, English and Spanish and ranks in the top 1% of US agents, with 92 sales and $53.3M in transacted volume.

It all starts with a conversation to understand your goal — home, income-producing vacation rental or investment — your budget, and whether the purchase will be cash or financed. From there, the agent curates properties that fit your profile and schedules showings, in person or by video if you are still in Brazil. Once you choose a property, the agent prepares and submits the formal offer (contract) and negotiates price and terms with the seller’s agent.

Once the offer is accepted, you deposit the earnest money (a good-faith deposit, typically 1%–2% of the price) into a neutral escrow account — the title company — and the due diligence period opens. During this window the home inspection, the title search (to ensure there are no debts or liens) and, if financed, the bank’s appraisal take place. Each report is reviewed with you in Portuguese, and issues found in the inspection become fresh negotiation points.

At closing (the deed), you sign the documents and transfer the final amount — in person or remotely, using a power of attorney with notarization via a consulate or notary. The title company records the transfer and the keys are released. From contract to closing is usually 30–45 days for a cash purchase and 45–60 days with financing. The agent tracks every step, chases deadlines and keeps a translation or paperwork detail from delaying your deal.