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The Latest on Real Estate, Community & Insurance Law
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 can arise from previous liens,... read more
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 Insurance, the Bright Side And yet, there are some serious... read more
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 solidify your new home ownership. A good title... read more
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 disappear. This type of scam... read more
The Most Common Title Defects
The words “Title Issue” arising when you are in the midst of purchasing a home may send shivers down your spine. In South Florida, a title issue can mean many things but it typically means there could be a lien, defect or other issue clouding the property title. Title issues can create big hurdles in... read more
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 solidify your new home ownership. A good title... read more
Can Relatives Serve on a Board Together? Yes.
The question gets asked again and again about relatives serving on the Board of Directors (BOD) together. Let’s go straight to the Florida Condominium Acts for this one. Section 718.112(2)(d) states, "co-owners of a unit may not serve as members of the board of directors at the same time unless they own more than one... read more
4 Key Reasons to Have a Lawyer on Retainer for Condo Associations or Board of Directors
It’s a big question for any community, do we keep a lawyer on retainer or pay hourly, as needed? There’s no simple answer but below you’ll find 4 guiding principles that may make your decision easier. 1. If you consult with an attorney regularly If your association requires the counsel of an attorney on a... read more