Stop, and don't sign, pay, or transfer anything until a licensed real estate broker has reviewed it, which can typically be done at no charge. Trusting that instinct and getting a second opinion before acting is one of the most effective ways homeowners protect themselves.

Common warning signs include upfront fees, guaranteed outcomes, high-pressure tactics demanding an immediate decision, and requests to sign over the deed to the home. Legitimate help comes from a licensed broker, costs nothing upfront, and gives the homeowner time to review documents.

A licensed Florida real estate broker is regulated by the state, can be verified through a public license lookup, and is required to carry professional accountability. Foreclosure rescue companies and consultants typically operate outside the licensing system entirely.

No. Never transfer the deed to your home to anyone claiming it will protect it from foreclosure or place it in a trust. This is one of the oldest foreclosure scams, and signing away the deed means losing all ownership rights immediately.

No. No agent, company, or consultant can guarantee that a lender will approve a short sale, since that decision belongs to the lender and sometimes an investor or insurer. A guarantee of approval is a sign the person making it either doesn't understand the process or isn't being honest.

No, and this is one of the clearest warning signs of a scam. Licensed Florida real estate brokers are paid at closing by the lender, not by the homeowner, and not before any work has been done.