Category: Real Estate
Category: Real Estate
Closing Cost Confusion: The 2025 Update to FAR/BAR Paragraph 9
- March 20, 2026
- Real Estate
The question of who pays closing costs in Florida has become clearer thanks to a recent 2025 update to the standard FAR/BAR residential purchase agreement. Paragraph 9, which governs how closing expenses get divided between buyers and sellers, now includes explicit language about "Closing Services" fees. This change addresses a source of frequent disputes at Florida closing tables. Before this update, buyers and sellers often disagreed about which party owed[ ... ]
New 2025 Condo Rider: You Now Have 7 Days (Not 3) to Cancel
- March 10, 2026
- Real Estate
Buyers in Florida now have seven business days to cancel a condominium purchase after signing and receiving the required documents. This expansion from the previous three-day window reflects Florida's response to condominium safety concerns and enhanced disclosure requirements. The seven-day period applies to resale contracts entered into on or after July 1, 2025. Many buyers sign contracts without realizing when their cancellation clock actually star[ ... ]
You Don’t Need to “Assign” Your Rights: Claiming Funds as the Owner of Record
- February 24, 2026
- Foreclosure Defense Real Estate
The Florida statute governing foreclosure surplus provides direct rights to the former homeowner, who is the owner of record. Many people receive letters claiming they must sign an "Assignment of Rights" to recover their money. Florida law says otherwise. Recovery companies often present assignment agreements as the only path to surplus funds. This creates unnecessary confusion and may cost former homeowners thousands in fees. The truth is simpler: if you wer[ ... ]
Did You Get a Letter Saying You Owe 30%? Florida’s 12% Fee Cap Explained
- February 20, 2026
- Foreclosure Defense Real Estate
A letter arrives claiming you have surplus funds from a foreclosure sale. The company offers to recover your money for a 30% fee. Before you sign anything, Florida law has something important to say about surplus funds recovery fees in Florida. Many former homeowners receive these letters. The funds often sit unclaimed with the court clerk for a long time after the property loss. The amounts often reach thousands of dollars, making a 30% cut feel like a secon[ ... ]
Contingency Clauses and EMD: When Can a Florida Buyer Legally Get Their Deposit Back?
- February 2, 2026
- Real Estate
A Florida buyer generally recovers their Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) if they cancel a real estate contract strictly in accordance with a valid contingency and provide proper written notice before the deadline expires. These contingencies, typically related to financing, inspection, title issues, or mandatory disclosures, are the legal exit ramps built into most purchase agreements.[ ... ]
Marketable Title vs. Insurable Title: Why the Difference Matters in Your Florida Closing
- February 2, 2026
- Real Estate
When you buy property in Florida, you are acquiring a legal bundle of rights known as title, which encompasses more than just the physical land and building. But not all titles are created equal. In the world of real estate, the distinction between a marketable title and an insurable title is a point of frequent confusion and significant risk. The difference determines whether you are buying a clean asset or a potential future legal headache. He[ ... ]
Florida Earnest Money Deposit Dispute: Who Gets the Money When a Deal Fails?
- January 28, 2026
- Real Estate
It’s a common scenario: Your real estate deal just collapsed. Now thousands of dollars sit frozen in escrow, and nobody agrees on who gets it back. The seller claims you breached the contract. You believe the seller's failures killed the transaction. Meanwhile, the escrow agent refuses to release a penny without written authorization from both sides or a court order. Florida earnest money deposit disputes trap buyers and sellers in expensive stando[ ... ]
How to Navigate Probate When Real Estate Is the Main Asset
- November 18, 2025
- Real Estate
Navigating probate when real estate is the main asset involves a court-supervised process to transfer the property’s title to the rightful heirs or beneficiaries, and it often presents unique challenges. When a property is part of an estate, specific legal steps are required to manage and eventually distribute it, a process that can become complicated. A real estate attorney can offer crucial guidance on handling these matters, fr[ ... ]
What to Expect in a Partition Lawsuit
- November 17, 2025
- Real Estate
When co-owners of a property cannot agree on how to manage or divide it, disputes can escalate into a partition lawsuit.. This court-ordered process aims to resolve disputes over joint ownership. These situations are often complex and emotionally taxing, but they don’t have to reach the courtroom. However, by address[ ... ]
What Happens When a Loved One Leaves a Home Behind Without an Estate Plan?
- November 3, 2025
- Real Estate
Losing a loved one often raises questions about what happens to their property, especially if a home is left behind. Families sometimes find themselves in a situation where no will or estate plan exists, which often creates uncertainty about ownership, financial responsibilities, and how the property should be used. What happens when a loved one leaves a home behind without an estate plan? The answer involves Florida’s intestacy laws, probate court, and the[ ... ]
