Florida leads the nation in real estate professionals, but the gap between top performers and the average agent is vast.
While some may try to use bold marketing materials and personal branding to set themselves apart, realtor Tiffany Pantozzi and Florida real estate attorney Natalie Zagury argue that knowledge is the strongest differentiator. That’s why the duo joined forces to create Contract Close Champagne, an online education platform that gives Florida agents the tools they need to navigate even the most complex transactions. TRD spoke with the Contract Close Champagne team about how they’re revolutionizing real estate education and helping the state’s agents level up and close more deals.
The problem nobody’s talking about
Florida has more licensed real estate agents than any other state. However, behind the impressive numbers lies a stark reality: far too many deals fall apart because agents aren’t fully prepared for the contracts sitting in front of them.
The industry’s low barrier to entry means thousands jump in each year, but very few receive the hands-on education needed to actually compete, protect their clients and win in tight markets. This dynamic produces a divide between top performers and agents who feel like they’re constantly one offer away from losing another deal.
Florida real estate attorney Natalie Zagury has watched it happen for years.
“No matter how many deals you’ve closed, no two contracts are alike,” she says. “Every transaction comes with potential pitfalls, and most of them are completely avoidable with the right knowledge.”
Even experienced agents can fall prey to common mistakes like missing critical addendums or required language, costing buyers the chance to compete in multiple-offer situations. Other common pain points Zagury has seen time and again include failing to catch open permits or violations before listing, miscalculating effective dates or cure periods, and not knowing which terms can strengthen an offer.
“The agent is the central hub of a transaction,” says Zagury. “When the central hub doesn’t understand the client’s rights, obligations, or strategy, everything starts to break down.”
It’s not just about avoiding the worst-case scenario. When an agent doesn’t know what to include, what to ask for or how to protect their client against risk, it’s not just a mistake, it’s a missed opportunity.
“You’d be shocked how many seasoned agents still rely on outdated strategies, skip important protections, or don’t know how to leverage contract terms to win a deal,” says Pantozzi. “It’s not about how long you’ve been licensed, it’s about how well you understand the tools.”
In today’s market, where interest rates shift weekly, inventory is tight and sellers demand more professionalism than ever, those missed opportunities add up fast.
“This industry is competitive,” Pantozzi adds. “If you’re losing deals, there’s almost always a reason, and it starts with how you write, structure, and communicate the contract.”
That’s exactly the gap Contract Close Champagne was built to solve.
Masterclass for Sunshine State agents
Zagury and Pantozzi saw an opportunity to help close the knowledge gap and improve the industry for everyone with Contract Close Champagne. The courses are geared towards agents at every stage of their career, from longtime agents looking to expand their know-how and upgrade their negotiation skills to newer agents who want to close deals with confidence.
“Contract Close Champagne is bridging the gap between getting your license and practicing like a professional,” explains Zagury. “While I do believe a lot of the learning curve happens on the job and through experience, this softens that blow.”
Zagury and Pantozzi designed the courses with easily digestible, searchable modules that are 15 minutes or less in length.
“Every transaction is nuanced, so we’re breaking down each form quite literally, line by line,” says Zagury. “We read every line of every form contract, and then we have a dialogue, discuss specific strategies and negotiation tactics on it.”
Contract Close Champagne launched with a deep dive into the AS-IS Residential Contract and has quickly expanded, adding courses on addendums, buyer broker compensation agreements, contract riders GG and FF, and exclusive rights listing agreements. The company continues to release new resources aimed at helping members not only survive, but thrive.
“We talk about the listing agreement and the practice of how to explain that agreement to a potential seller and win that opportunity with certain talking points and strategies,” says Pantozzi.
Giving Florida agents the tools they need to succeed
Members of the CCC Society, the platform’s monthly membership, also have access to the Buyer and Seller toolbox.
“It has tons of resources, best practices, and checklists,” says Pantozzi. “I have over 100 things that I do for any given buyer or seller in very detailed, in-depth Asana boards, and we give that to our CCC Society members.”
The toolbox also includes a trove of templates of legal language that agents can use in their contracts.
“These are documents that are not just standard from the state of Florida,” Pantozzi adds. “These are documents your accountant, an agent, or an attorney would need to draft that would cost you thousands of dollars, and we’re giving you templates.”
Contract Close Champagne also boasts à la carte offerings, including templates for independent contractor agreements, confidentiality agreements, and buyer and seller SOPs.
Experience that makes a difference
For Pantozzi and Zagury, education is an essential investment that sets an agent apart. “If you want to be truly seen as an expert, then you need to become that person,” says Zagury.
And while there are plenty of real estate courses out there, these high-producing professionals have the resumes and experience to back up their platform.
“Can you tell me of another real estate education platform built by two active, seasoned, tried-and-true, successful professionals?” asks Pantozzi. “We’re not just some girls that decided to make a cute course. We have resumes that are legit. You can find other educational platforms, courses, or schools, but they are probably taught by people that are not in practice, and if they are or were, they’re operating at a very different level than we are.”
The duo plans to keep expanding both in Florida and beyond.
“This platform is a living, breathing thing, and it’s going to continue to evolve as the industry evolves,” says Zagury. “We want to be the go-to resource for the educated agent.”
To learn more about Contract Close Champagne, visit their website.