Fund News and Alerts

Join us Tuesday, July 22 (12:00 PM - 1:00 PM) ET Following the collapse of the Champlain Towers South in 2021, Florida has enacted a series of laws aimed at ensuring the structural integrity of Florida’s condo and co-op high rises. Most recently, the Florida legislature passed House Bill 913, which Governor DeSantis has said he will sign into law. This bill significantly affects the obligations imposed on condominium associations by the “Surfside legislation,” with the goal of lightening the financial burden on Florida’s condominium owners. In this refreshed webinar, we review key elements of HB 913 and consider how they impact and modify existing laws. Attendees will learn about the current state of Milestone Inspections, Structural Integrity Reserve Studies, mandatory reserves and contractual disclosures.  Register Now

Join us Wednesday, July 23 (12:00 PM - 12:30 PM) ET Join Deputy General Counsel Shannon Widman on Wednesday, July 23 at noon for a 30-minute conversation with CertifID’s Tom Cronkright. Tom is very knowledgeable about how cyber criminals have successfully targeted businesses just like yours. He will have information about how it works, new schemes and what you can do to protect yourself. No CLE credit, but, hey, IT’S FREE!!

Your New Closing Software is Just a Guide Away! To help you find the best closing software “fit” for your office, we’ve created a Closing Software Buyer’s Guide that includes a range of questions. Start identifying your must-haves, your deal breakers, and the best fit for your office. Explore your options today!

To help you find the best closing software “fit” for your office, we’ve created a Closing Software Buyer’s Guide that includes a range of questions like:

When title to real property is held by the trustee of a Qualified Personal Residence Trust (QPRT), Fund Members are sometimes surprised that a Commitment involving a QPRT requires review of the QPRT agreement by the title examiner prior to completion of the Commitment. Title issues involving the ability to rely on the Sec. 689.073, F.S., statutory trustee powers, homestead concerns, and who needs to execute the deed from the QPRT, all cannot be determined until the QPRT agreement has been reviewed. To understand why such review is necessary, the Fund Member must first know what a QPRT is to understand the need to “get a jump” on having the QPRT reviewed. The goal of this article is not to delve into the complex tax ramifications of a QPRT, but rather to provide a general understanding of what a QPRT is, how it works, and what is necessary to insure title. Read the article

Earn up to 11.5 CLE credits including 3.0 Ethics credits anytime, anywhere with Fund Assembly On-Demand. Start learning & earning today.  Purchase Now

When you need notary services, look no further than The Fund’s Vendor Marketplace! Learn how CASi, CYNA Notary, GoGreenNotaries, OR Signing Pro, Pardoca Advantage, Remote NotarEZ, Signature Xcel, SIGNiX, and True Closings can support your practice. Check out their Member benefits too! Visit the Vendor Marketplace today.

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

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

For decades, we’ve helped Members successfully close commercial deals throughout Florida. Regardless of your deal’s size or scope, the commercial experience, expertise, and services you need to get it done right are right here.