The Latest News on Real Estate, Insurance and Community Law
Can Being a Former Felon Affect Eligibility for Board Membership?
Board elections can get contentious at times. We always hope for a fair and equitable election season but sometimes dirt gets dug up on certain candidates. That’s where the question of electing someone with a criminal history comes up. In particular, can a former...
Can a Condo Board Turn Someone Away Simply Because They “Don’t Like Them?”
In order for a new buyer to purchase a condo and enter into the community, they must first be vetted by the Board or a committee approved by the Board. The condo Board gets what’s called the “right of first refusal.” But does this mean a condo Board can reject anyone...
What is the Difference Between a Term and a Term Limit for BODs?
With the new law on term limits enacted in 2018, there has been some lack of clarity on terms and term limits for BOD members. What constitutes a term? And how exactly does the term limit affect a term? Well, a term is simply the amount of time a BOD member serves on...
Tips for Recruiting New BOD members
The HOA or condo association cannot exist with the Board of Directors (BOD). Your community revolves around the critical decisions and daily diligence of the Board. Why then is it sometimes so hard to recruit new Board members? Some associations have an abundance of...
Voting by Proxy as a Board Member: Can You Do It?
You’re a board member and you can’t be at a meeting for a big vote. No big deal, you can vote in advance or send your written vote along with another BOD member, right? Wrong. This one is crystal clear. Board members cannot vote by proxy. Proxy is defined by Black’s...
How to Protect Yourself from Previous Claims Against Your Home
When you purchase a new home, it has usually gone through multiple ownership changes. In the same way that you hope previous owners have taken good care of the home and left everything in great shape, the title needs to be taken care of as well. Problems with a title...
In Florida, Who Pays for Title Insurance?
As if purchasing a home wasn’t a hefty enough price tag. Then you have the closing costs, homeowner’s insurance, maybe HOA fees, mortgage insurance, escrow fees, survey and appraisal fees, etc., etc. We get it. Who wants to add another fee to the pile? Title...
How long is Title Insurance Good For in South Florida?
You just found your dream home and you couldn’t be more ready to move in. Congrats! But before you can hire movers or start planning out your interior decorations, there’s the paperwork. Yes, it may seem like a mountain of documents, but it’s all very necessary to...
How to Protect Yourself from Wire Fraud in Real Estate
Wire fraud is the latest scam in the real estate industry and it’s leaving some damage in its wake. Just to give you an idea of how large of an impact, wire fraud has cost companies $26 billion since 2016. In minutes, hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars can...