Fund News and Alerts

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

The Broward Attorneys’ Real Estate Council (BAREC) is excited to help raise funds again for Special Olympics Florida - Broward County through the Sallarulo’s Race for Champions! In times like these, it is incredibly important to raise money to continue the mission of Special Olympics Florida.

On September 5, The Fund and the Broward Attorneys’ Real Estate Council hosted Legal Lane Lane Live: Speed Rounds with Attorneys’ Council at the Tower Club in Fort Lauderdale.  This annual event held in partnership with the Broward, Palm Beaches & St. Lucie Realtors® attracted nearly 100 agents, and featured updates on hot topics, as well as timed round table discussions allowing attorneys and real estate agents to build rapport and discuss issues in detail.

On September 4, the Attorneys’ Real Estate Council of Miami-Dade County and the North Dade & Beaches Real Estate Council hosted a joint meeting at The Fund’s Miami-Dade Branch featuring a program entitled, Annual Real Property & Business Case Law Update, presented by attorney Manuel Farach.

We’re nearing the end of the year, so it’s time to review your REC’s Member Directory to ensure it is accurate. You can view the Directory at https://www.thefund.com/resources/flarecs/directory.  For Real Estate Councils wishing to update their rosters, please direct those changes to RECManager@flarecs.com.  

Title insurance claims related to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) subordinate mortgages, which secure partial claims on Federal Housing Administration (FHA) mortgages, are a nationwide concern. These claims typically arise when such mortgages are not paid and satisfied at the time of sale, leading to the issuance of title insurance policies that do not include an exception for the outstanding mortgage. This issue was previously addressed in “Unsatisfied HUD Subordinate Mortgages Trigger Insurance Claims,” 68 Fund Concept 51, (Jul. 2019). Read the article

Join us December 10-12 for a three-day online course. This in-depth 3-day course walks attorneys and staff through aspects of a Commercial Real Estate transaction, from pre-contract to closing. The course is geared toward those who are new to commercial transactions and seeking to expand their residential practices into the commercial sphere. More good news: you can earn CLE credits while adding new capabilities to your practice. Participation is limited, so if you’re interested, sign up quickly.

Searching for lien search services? Start with our Marketplace vendors! Learn what services Elite Property Research, Exacta Land Survey | Lien Search, Florida Lien Search, Florida Municipal Lien Search, Quality Lien Services, REAL RES, Reliable Lien Search, and Skyline Title Support offer your practice. Visit the Vendor Marketplace today.

Join us Wednesday, November 5 (12:00 PM - 12:30 PM) ET  Join Shannon Widman, Fund Deputy General Counsel, and Marc Hall, Qualia’s VP of Sales, for a 60-minute deep dive on how Qualia can streamline your workflow and explore it’s features and capabilities. No CLE credit, but, hey, IT’S FREE!!

Real estate fraud is on the rise, posing serious risks to buyers, sellers, and other industry professionals alike. From forged documents to identity theft and wire diversion, the real estate market is facing increasingly sophisticated threats that demand heightened awareness and fortified security protocols. This article introduces a simple yet powerful framework: Don’t Be a ‘Fraud Magnet.’ Fund Members are the frontline in safeguarding closings. This article outlines a two-tiered strategic approach to combat real estate fraud: establishing minimum standards (SECURITY) and adopting enhanced, strongly recommended standards (PROTECT) to reinforce defenses against increasingly sophisticated threats further. Read the article

By: Frederick W. Jones, Past President, Attorneys’ Real Estate Councils of Florida

Notice to Florida Residential Real Estate Attorneys – UPDATE

Re: Florida Realtor®–Attorney Joint Committee Appointments for the 2026–2027 Term
Deadline for Submitting Applications to The Florida Bar is October 27, 2025!