Fund News and Alerts

Join us Wednesday, July 16 (12:00 - 1:00 PM) ET This 50-minute, intermediate-level course will acquaint title insurance agents and Florida real estate attorneys with the latest information on the new FinCEN Residential Real Estate Rule, effective Dec. 1, 2025. The new rule replaces and greatly expands upon the FinCEN GTOs in effect since 2016 and makes settlement agents the primary responsible party for reporting information regarding certain purchasers of residential real estate by business entities, non-profits and trusts without use of an institutional lender to the federal government to help identify and prevent money laundering. Register Now

Join us Tuesday, July 15 (12:00 PM - 1:00 PM) ET This intermediate-level course describes requirements and procedures for Summary Administration of Small Estates. Instruction includes a discussion on Protected Homestead in a Summary Administration as well as addressing short forms of Ancillary Administration for small Non-Resident Estates and will include title insurance requirements to be met for the sale of real estate upon an Order of Summary Administration. Register Now

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.