Fund News and Alerts

Issuing a title insurance policy insuring a loan on Florida real property may involve endorsing the loan policy post-closing as construction of improvements on the land progresses. This is where the Construction Loan Update endorsement (CLU) comes into play. Unlike most other endorsements providing affirmative coverage to the policy, the CLU is issued after closing when disbursements from loan funds to pay the contractor, called “draws,” are requested. The CLU is designed to help the lender ensure that its requirements, allowing the periodic payments of the construction loan to the contractor during construction, are met. The Florida version of the CLU is not unique, but the version authorized for use in Florida differs significantly from the American Land Title Association (ALTA) forms used in other parts of the country. Read the article

06/02/2025

As a result of Financial Crimes Enforcement Network’s (FinCEN) most recent anti-money laundering effort, a new Residential Real Estate Rule (the Rule) will take effect on Dec. 1, 2025. Many closing agents in certain Florida counties are already familiar with the Geographic Targeting Orders (GTOs) and have become accustomed to reporting certain cash purchases to FinCEN already. Beginning Dec. 1, 2025, all non-financed transfers to entities or trusts for residential real property in all U.S. states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, U.S. territories, and Native American land are to be reported to FinCEN, and the reporting requirements under the GTOs will be eliminated. Read the article

05/01/2025

By way of background, Florida’s homestead exemption laws have been compared by legal scholars and courts to a chameleon “which changes color to accord with the background against which it is viewed.” Crosby and Miller, Our Legal Chameleon: The Florida Homestead Exemption, 2 U. Fla. L. Rev. 12 (1949). Read the article

 

04/01/2025

You will not want to miss this year’s REC Luncheon at Fund Assembly featuring an intimate Q&A session with Tim M. Cerio, President, CEO & Executive Director of Citizens Property Insurance Corporation. 

03/10/2025

Teach The Fund’s Condo Seminar

03/10/2025

Congratulations to the following new REC Leaders for 2025:

03/10/2025

Teach the Fund’s Condo Seminar

Last year, The Fund collaborated with Florida REALTORS® to create a 2-hour FREC-accredited seminar entitled Real Estate Agent's Guide to Florida’s Condo Safety Laws Post Surfside, and it has been a big hit. Since launching it in September, we have presented it to over a dozen local Realtor® associations and nearly 1,300 real estate agents. Now it’s your turn! 
 

03/10/2025

This article is the fourth in a series of articles addressing specific title objections that may arise from a lender or borrower’s counsel. Like its predecessors, this article is designed to help Fund Members analyze the merits of specific objections and provide potential resolutions. Read the article

03/03/2025

By: Rene Rutan, Manager, Events & Affiliate, REC & Realtor® Relations

02/05/2025

On November 21st, The Fund hosted its Annual Highlands Town Hall, which celebrates our amazing area Fund Members. The luncheon featured an Industry and Underwriting Update from Melissa Scaletta, The Fund’s Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Operations Officer & Deputy General Counsel.

02/05/2025