In most county and city governments, the land use process is one that will allow for some basic decisions to be made at staff levels, with higher levels of review in the form of public hearings required for larger scale projects, or proposals that deviate too far from the established standards for a given development. […]
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Can You Lose Your Escrow Deposit Because Your Buyer’s Agent or Lender is Not Diligent?
In 2017, the Florida Bar and Florida Realtors made significant changes to the “As-Is” Residential Contract for Purchase and Sale and the FAR/BAR Standard Contract. One of the biggest and more controversial of the changes was the replacement of the phrase “loan commitment” with “loan approval,” and the duties such change imposed on any prospective […]
Read MoreIs Your Real Estate Agent On Your Side?
Buyers and Sellers of Florida real estate, particularly residential real estate, generally assume that their brokers and agents are working exclusively for them. And though I have no doubt that the vast majority of brokers are ethical, honest and hardworking, the fact is that Florida law provides that all broker relationships are presumed to be […]
Read MoreWhat Should a Buyer Do After They Have Purchased Their Dream Home?
Completing a home purchase is an exciting moment for everyone who worked on the real estate transaction. The seller has sold a property and perhaps made a nice profit from the sale. The real estate agents that worked hard on the transaction for several months are finally going to get paid for their services. The […]
Read MoreSimple Protections for Buyers in Commercial Real Estate Contract Negotiations
When entering into a contract to purchase commercial real estate, experienced investors and developers generally understand that dozens of things could go wrong before the closing date that would prevent the closing from happening or could make the acquisition less than attractive, giving the buyer pause as to whether to close at all. As such, […]
Read MoreCommercial Loan Document Review – Time Well Spent!
The day of closing arrives. You just wired the final amounts due and hope you can get to the notary or closing office on time. Getting to closing and getting the lender approval was no small task and the finish line lies just ahead. A pile of documents awaits your signature. The transfer of title […]
Read MoreDeveloper Is Preparing to Turnover the Association to the Owners. What Now?
Florida law governs the transition of association control from developer to owners. Some turnovers are smooth and accomplished in an expeditious manner. Other turnovers are difficult, complex, and result in litigation. A critical component to successful turnover from the developer perspective and community association perspective is communication. We encourage contacting our firm prior to the […]
Read MoreDon’t Want No Short Sales ‘Round Here
With apologies to Randy Newman and his classic 1970’s song, Short People, this refrain, “Don’t Want No Short Sales ‘Round Here,” equally applies to the lenders who must process and approve requests for short sales as well as the attorneys and closing agents and their clients who are tasked with processing and closing them. Why […]
Read MoreWill the Government Shutdown Affect Your Ability to Secure a Home Mortgage?
Thinking about buying a home or condo and wondering whether the government shutdown will hinder your ability to obtain financing and close on your property? South Florida has seen a tremendous surge in residential real estate sales in recent months and the momentum has continued through the start of the New Year. If you are […]
Read MoreNo Pets Allowed: Accommodating Pets in Housing and Public Places
Anyone who has had the honor of sharing their life with a dog can relate to the experience of looking into your fur-baby’s eyes and feeling a sense of calm. In fact, research has revealed that petting a dog for a short period of time may actually lower blood pressure.[1] So, does this type of […]
Read MoreEmotional Support and Service Animals in Housing and Your Business
Handy tips for property owners, landlords, property managers, developers, real estate agents, community associations, and business owners: Business owners of public accommodations, such as restaurants, hotels and stores, are not required to allow emotional support animals but they are required to allow service animals. The type of information needed to request a service animal or emotional […]
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