Finding the right David Marks in the Florida real estate scene is actually a lot harder than you’d think. Honestly, if you just type the name into a search engine, you’re going to get hit with a confusing mix of luxury brokers, property managers, and even a Hollywood connection that feels like a fever dream.
It’s a mess.
Florida is a big state. Real big. And because "David Marks" is a classic name, there are several distinct professionals operating under it, each dominating a totally different corner of the market. You've got the guy in St. Augustine, the commercial expert in Central Florida, and the luxury advisor in South Florida. If you call the wrong one, you’re basically asking a cardiac surgeon to fix your plumbing.
Let's clear the air.
The St. Augustine Specialist: David Marks and the Sunshine State Rental Game
Up in St. Augustine, specifically around Crescent Beach and the A1A corridor, David Marks is a name synonymous with Sunshine Realty. He’s not just a guy who slaps a "For Sale" sign in a yard and disappears. He’s been in the trenches there since 2001.
Most people looking for David Marks real estate Florida in the northern part of the state are actually looking for help with vacation rentals or property management. Marks serves as the Rental Manager at Sunshine Realty.
He knows the St. Augustine market because he grew up nearby in Jacksonville. He spent ten years running a travel agency before switching to real estate. That’s a key detail. It means he understands the "tourist brain." He knows why people want to be near the water and, more importantly, how to make a property profitable for an owner who isn't living there year-round.
His transactions usually hover around the $1 million mark on average, but he’s handled everything from $250,000 condos to $2.2 million beachfront estates. It’s a wide net. If you’re looking for someone who understands the granular details of the Butler Beach and Crescent Beach neighborhoods, this is your guy.
The Commercial Powerhouse: Marketplace Advisors and Development
Then there’s the other David Marks. The "suit and tie" David Marks.
This David is the President of Marketplace Advisors, Inc., based out of Maitland. If you’re trying to buy a single-family home with a nice backyard, don't call him. He won't be interested.
He’s a heavyweight in community planning and real estate development consulting. We’re talking about a guy with a Master’s in Real Estate and Urban Analysis from the University of Florida who has consulted for the City of Winter Park and the City of Sanford.
- Consulted for: Universal Studios, SunTrust Bank, and Lennar Partners.
- Background: Former VP with Trammell Crow Company.
- Focus: Retail development and municipal planning.
He’s a licensed broker, sure, but his work is more about the "why" and "how" of where a shopping center or a new housing development goes. He deals in the macro. It’s high-level, academic, and extremely lucrative work that shapes how Florida's cities actually look and feel.
🔗 Read more: Dick Fuld Net Worth: What Really Happened to the Lehman CEO’s Fortune
The Hollywood Ghost: Why Ryan Gosling is in Your Search Results
Here is where it gets weird. Kinda.
If you’ve been Googling David Marks real estate Florida, you might have stumbled upon a movie called All Good Things starring Ryan Gosling. Gosling plays a character named... David Marks.
The movie is a fictionalized account of Robert Durst, the infamous real estate heir. In the film, the character David Marks flees his wealthy New York real estate family and hides out in—you guessed it—Florida.
It’s important to separate the fiction from the reality. There is no actual "David Marks" real estate mogul in Florida who went on a cross-dressing crime spree. That’s just Hollywood taking a real-life story (the Durst family) and changing the names. If you’re looking for a real estate agent to sell your home in Tampa, you can safely ignore the true-crime documentaries.
South Florida and the Confusion with David Renner
Down in the luxury markets of Naples and Fort Lauderdale, people often get "David Marks" confused with David Renner or David Mason at Sotheby’s.
It happens all the time.
The South Florida luxury market is so saturated with "Global Real Estate Advisors" that names start to blur together. David Renner, for instance, is a massive name in Naples with Premier Sotheby’s. He’s got decades of experience and specializes in that high-end, waterfront lifestyle that people associate with the "David Marks" brand of luxury.
If you are looking for ultra-luxury (the $5M+ range) in the southern tip of the state, you are likely looking for the teams at Sotheby’s or Premier Estate Properties. They handle the "old money" estates in Boca Raton and Delray Beach.
What the Data Actually Says About Florida Real Estate Right Now
Look, the market isn't what it was two years ago. It’s more complicated.
In areas like Miramar Beach, we’re seeing "Days on Market" creep up to around 75 days. Inventory is rising. In December 2025, the number of homes on the market in some coastal pockets jumped by nearly 20% compared to the previous month.
🔗 Read more: Freehold Collision Freehold New Jersey: What You Should Know Before Choosing a Shop
This is why choosing the right professional matters. In a "hot" market, anyone can sell a house. In a shifting market—like the one we’re in now—you need someone with the specific "boots on the ground" experience that someone like the St. Augustine David Marks has.
Experience counts.
Actionable Steps for Navigating the Florida Market
Don't just hire the first name you see. Florida real estate is highly regionalized. A guy who knows the zoning laws in Orlando (like the Marketplace Advisors David Marks) will be completely lost trying to navigate the coastal erosion regulations in St. Augustine.
- Define your asset class. Are you buying a vacation rental, a commercial plot, or a primary residence?
- Verify the license. Go to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) website. Search for the name. Check for any disciplinary actions.
- Check the hyper-local stats. Ask for a "Comparative Market Analysis" (CMA) for your specific zip code. If the agent gives you "general Florida" stats, run. They don't know the neighborhood.
- Interview for temperament. If you’re a first-time buyer, you need a "hand-holder" like the agents often praised in Naples reviews. If you’re an investor, you want a "numbers person" who talks in cap rates and IRR.
Florida's real estate landscape is shifting toward a "buyer’s advantage" in several coastal segments for the first time in years. Whether you're working with a David Marks or a local boutique firm, the goal is the same: don't overpay for the hype. Focus on the soil, the structures, and the actual rental yields.
The days of "easy money" in the Sunshine State are pausing, and the era of the "smart professional" is back.