Fund News and Alerts

By: American Land Title Association, TitleNews Online Archive

Title professionals are encouraged to remind clients about the risk of wire fraud. To combat this problem, title and settlement companies have:

By: Nishad Khan, Nishad Khan P.L., Orlando, Florida

Condominium and homeowners association estoppel certificates have been a popular topic in Tallahassee for the last couple of years and it appears that this year we will have revised requirements under SB 398. The Bill and its companion have been approved by the house and senate and are headed to the Governor’s desk.

By: Roy Oppenheim, Oppenheim Law, Weston Florida

Preparing for a marathon race can only be accomplished with the right advice and preparation to help you overcome obstacles and reach the finish line. Buying a home is analogous to the kind of preparation needed to reach the finish line. Having your real estate professional team prepare and coach you in order to avoid hurdles and make the process of closing on a residential home easier.

By: Michael J. Posner, Esq., is a partner in Ward, Damon, Posner, Peterson & Bleau

Realtors and Community Association Managers provide valuable real estate services to sellers and buyers of real estate, as well as managing homeowners and condominium associations respectively. However, in providing their respective services, they frequently have issues that have substantial legal ramifications in connection therewith and, in providing advice and opinions on same, run the risk of being accused of the unlicensed practice of law. Knowing what is permitted and what requires specific use of a licensed attorney is important for both Realtors and Community Association Managers.

De: Alexander G. Cubas, Esq., Alexander G. Cubas, P.A.

Discusión de Victoria Moreno vs. First International Title, 176 So.3d 301.

By: Ira B. Price, Esq., Ira B. Price, P.A. & Legal Title Services, Inc.

Discussion of Victoria Moreno vs. First International Title, 176 So.3d 301.

By: René Rutan, Real Estate Council Relations Manager, Florida ARECs

If you have been shopping for a new home recently, as I have, you have undoubtedly discovered the Community Development District, or CDD. Many large, multi-phase communities with lifestyle amenities are now relying on this method of funding development, so it is essential that homebuyers and the real estate agents serving them have a full understanding of what CDDs are and how they work.

FIRPTA CHANGES – How much are you really making on your U.S. real property investments?

By: Sarah Gulati, Esq.

Prior to the PATH Act of 2015 (“Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes 2015”, effective 12/18/2015), if the seller of real property is a foreign person, Federal law required buyers to withhold 10% of the gross sale price and provide it to the IRS. With the implementation of the PATH Act, this 10% tax requirement has been altered. Effective February 16, 2016, the 10% withholding tax will be increased to 15%. Meaning, if you are a foreign person selling U.S. real property, 15% of the gross sales price of that property will go to the IRS in the form of a tax.

By: René Rutan, Real Estate Council Relations Manager, Florida ARECs

Title insurance is a mystery to most consumers and it really shouldn’t be. Confusion can often occur because lenders require title insurance to be purchased in order to obtain a mortgage, but it is not offered through your normal insurance agent where you purchase your homeowner’s or automobile policy. Instead, title insurance is typically issued by the party who conducts your real estate closing and is often lost in the shuffle of other concerns about obtaining the loan, finishing property inspections, and getting ready for your move. Title insurance is one of the most important things you can purchase to protect one of your largest investments and deserves a little more attention!

Title Insurance Through Lawyers (TITL) is your voice in the political arena of Tallahassee, and this election season all 160 legislative seats between the Florida Senate and the Florida House of Representatives will be on the ballot! This typically only happens once every 10 years, so now is the perfect opportunity for TITL to make a difference by educating and building strong relationships with Florida’s legislators, and we can’t do it without you!