The Latest News on Real Estate, Insurance and Community Law
How much is Title Insurance in Florida?
Title insurance is a necessary and non-negotiable part of closing on a home and ensuring that your ownership is uncontested. Title insurance protects against any person or third party has an interest in a home, such as a lien or an easement from a previous owner. Two...
Closing Costs Were Nearly Half of Purchase Costs in 2020
Buying a home is no simple process, as any homeowner can tell you. There’s the search, the negotiations, the bidding wars, and then when the deal is sealed there are the closing costs. You’d think that with all the money you’re spending on a home that a small...
Is Your HOA or Condo Association Ready for Hurricane Season 2021
With all that 2020 delivered, you’d think the weather would take it easy on us in 2021. But hurricanes pay no mind to pandemics, social upheaval or political unrest. Hurricane season is coming. Is your HOA or condo association prepared? This season is being forecasted...
What are Discriminatory Covenants and What You Need to Know About Them
On September 4th, 2020 a long overdue law came into effect in the state of Florida which removes outdated and discriminatory language in title and other real estate transactions. This new law clearly defines and prohibits “discriminatory restrictions” from any title...
Are Homeowners Entitled to Review Board Meeting Minutes?
It just takes a minute… Minutes are the official record of an organization’s proceedings. When your HOA or condo association is having a board meeting the minutes document all relevant matters such as votes, motions and organization actions for internal use as well as...
Can Condo Associations Invest Reserve Funds?
Reserve funds have been a hot topic in Florida community association law for quite some time. Investing reserve funds in particular has been a tricky subject for both lawmakers and community associations to address. But now there is a new bill, SB 1490 on the table...
Should You Open Common Areas in a HOA or Condo Association Yet?
We’re now over a year into the pandemic and the terms “stir crazy,” “cabin fever” and “climbing the walls” have taken on a very special meaning for many of us. Homeowners are anxious to get their amenities and common areas back and association boards are feeling the...
Enforcing Condo Association Bylaws – What You Need to Know
Thinking about buying a condo and living the good life in the sunshine state? Chances are high that you’ll be joining a condo association. Florida continues to lead the country in the most HOAs and condo associations in the country. If you’re new to Florida or new to...
How Much Cash Reserve Should a Condo Association Have?
For condo associations, reserve funding is required by law. Although there can be some wiggle room and even a potential to hold a majority vote to do away with reserve funds, this is rarely a good decision. Reserve funds are a vital component to a condo association’s...