It is no secret that with the influx of new residents who moved to South Florida during the pandemic, landlords have drastically increased rents – in some instances close to 50 percent from the prior year. This has created what Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Cava deemed an “Housing Affordability Crisis.” Even before the mayor declared […]
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Real Estate Law Blog Attorney Spotlight: Scott A. Marcus
We’re proud of all our Real Estate practice team members and know that their dedication to quality service is what elevates Becker above the competition. Take a moment to get to know the talent behind your next transaction!
Read MorePanic Is Setting In – The Housing Market Must Be About to Crash
Over the last few days, I have been flooded with articles about one mortgage company after another laying off hundreds, or thousands of employees because over the last several weeks, mortgage originations are down. Similarly, I am seeing articles that title companies who close residential loans, are laying off employees for the same reason. Armageddon […]
Read MoreWar In Ukraine Can Affect U.S. Real Estate Transactions
As we watch the news each night, we see images of the devastating war in Ukraine. Millions of Ukrainian citizens have been displaced from their homes and are now considered refugees. The humanitarian crisis grows every day. It’s hard to imagine how such suffering can reach our daily business transactions here at home, but it […]
Read MoreReal Estate Law Blog Attorney Spotlight: David K. Blattner
We’re proud of all our Real Estate practice team members and know that their dedication to quality service is what elevates Becker above the competition. Take a moment to get to know the talent behind your next transaction! Name David K. Blattner
Read MoreAre Commercial Tenants in for a Surprise?
In early January, we learned that the inflation rate reached a staggering 7%, the highest rate since 1982. Analysts blamed many things for this increase. COVID and supply chain issues are cited as two of the leading causes. I don’t suppose it matters much to the average person why everything costs so much. We all […]
Read MoreReal Estate Law Blog Attorney Spotlight: Hugo V. Alvarez
We’re proud of all our Real Estate practice team members and know that their dedication to quality service is what elevates Becker above the competition. Take a moment to get to know the talent behind your next transaction! Name Hugo V. Alvarez
Read MoreAre NFT’s and Mortgages in Real Estate Possible?
I recently wrote an article discussing how the use of cryptocurrencies in real estate transactions may one day soon be commonplace. Cryptocurrencies have the potential to revolutionize real estate transactions, but cryptocurrencies are not alone in that regard. NFT’s also offer the potential to change the way real estate transactions are conducted and completed.
Read MoreReal Estate Law Blog Attorney Spotlight: Michael E. Boutzoukas
We’re proud of all our Real Estate practice team members and know that their dedication to quality service is what elevates Becker above the competition. Take a moment to get to know the talent behind your next transaction! Name Michael E. Boutzoukas
Read MoreBuying Commercial Property? Take Property Inspections Seriously
Everybody who has ever bought a house knows that the property inspection is a crucial part of the purchase process. The property inspector tells the buyer whether the house is in good condition or if repairs are necessary. If nothing else, buyers pay close attention to the roof inspection. A defective roof will derail any […]
Read MoreChallenges to Address in the Anticipated Rise in Foreclosures
The third quarter of 2021 saw the largest quarterly percentage increase of foreclosures since 2014. Lenders started the foreclosure process on 25,209 properties and repossessed 7,574. That trend can be seen locally too. We have witnessed an increase in foreclosure filings in Miami-Dade County. For instance, one third of all foreclosures filings in 2021 have taken place […]
Read MoreReal Estate Law Blog Attorney Spotlight: Scott A. Marcus
We’re proud of all our Real Estate practice team members and know that their dedication to quality service is what elevates Becker above the competition. Take a moment to get to know the talent behind your next transaction! Name Scott A. Marcus
Read MoreReal Estate Boom Meets the Crypto Boom Here in Miami
Like our climate, there is no denying that South Florida’s real estate market has been scorching hot. But while South Florida is well known for its real estate booms and busts, the current cycle is also running right into the latest technological wave – cryptocurrency.
Read MoreFR BAR “AS-IS” Contract – Financing Section Face Lift
As some may know, I am a member of the committee that drafts the FR BAR contract. Yes, “FR” is correct, the “A for Association” was dropped. Among the other positive changes to the contract, the financing section received a much needed face-lift. The changes will go into effect November 1, 2021.
Read MoreReal Estate Law Blog Attorney Spotlight: Hugo V. Alvarez
We’re proud of all our Real Estate practice team members and know that their dedication to quality service is what elevates Becker above the competition. Take a moment to get to know the talent behind your next transaction! Name Hugo V. Alvarez
Read MoreBorrower Beware of Funding Reserves
Lending is a very competitive market today. When a lender presents a term sheet, it is very important to scrutinize all of the salient terms. How reserves are to be funded and held can change the dynamics of the transaction.
Read MoreReal Estate Law Blog Attorney Spotlight: Philip C. Rosen
We’re proud of all our Real Estate practice team members and know that their dedication to quality service is what elevates Becker above the competition. Take a moment to get to know the talent behind your next transaction! Name Philip C. Rosen
Read MoreWhen Does the Buyer Get the Keys After Closing on a House?
One of the most overlooked components of a real estate transaction is what happens when the ink dries on the stack of documents everyone signed during the closing, but funds are not immediately available. Buyers typically think they get keys right away upon signing.
Read MoreCommercial Real Estate Contracts: Choosing the Right Form
Commercial real estate transactions come in many “flavors” – each with its own particular strategies and objectives. Prudent buyers and sellers need to decide early on, sometimes even before they have an attorney involved, on what form to use. If you are not going to have an attorney draft the contract for you, or if […]
Read MorePerform Due Diligence Before Buying Property at a Foreclosure Auction
In Can Financial LLC vs. Niklewicz, Case No. 4D19-3668 (Fla. 4th DCA 2020), Jack Niklewicz thought he was buying his dream home for a significant discount. Instead, he purchased a nightmare because he neglected to perform any due diligence before buying the property at a foreclosure auction. Can Financial LLC had obtained a final judgment […]
Read MoreDavid Blattner Reminds Homebuyers to Establish & Trust Their Real Estate Team
As ‘pandemic migration’ continues, real estate markets outside of city centers are enjoying an infusion of serious buyers and motivated sellers. If you’re exploring a new home purchase, especially if that home is in a new city or state, it is crucial to surround yourself with a team you can trust. I’ve written several blogs […]
Read MoreQ&A with Appraiser Richard Pyle
It is no secret that the real estate market in South Florida is booming, but how has the surge in home values affected how residential properties are appraised? I asked appraiser Richard Pyle, who has served the Florida market for more than a decade, to explain how properties are appraised and how the pandemic has […]
Read MoreSo You Want to Be a Real Estate Agent
During my 26 years practicing real estate law, and with over ten thousand real estate closings under my belt, I have seen my share of real estate agents. Some great. Others, not so much. The great ones, however, all share the same traits, and, in my opinion, it is these characteristics that set them apart […]
Read MoreClosings During COVID-19: How RON Has Forever Changed The Real Estate Industry
Just months prior to the pandemic, the title and legal industry made some tremendous strides toward virtual closings. Florida’s remote online notarization (“RON”) law, passed in July 2019, went into effect January 1, 2020. Normally, new technology takes time to implement; however, lockdown/quarantine requirements allowed Becker and Becker Title to accelerate adoption and implementation of […]
Read MoreProperty Damage and Falls: When Things Go Wrong
As all real estate professionals know, it’s difficult to predict what bumps in the road may arise while a property is being marketed for sale. Even in the seemingly benign scenario of a vacant residential or commercial property, someone – be it a potential buyer, an agent, a vendor, a landscaper, or anyone else who […]
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