Developers who create residential subdivisions in Florida are typically obligated to form a homeowners’ association (HOA) to govern the community. Mandated by permitting authorities like counties, cities, and water management...more
In Florida, a Notice of Commencement (NOC) must be recorded in the public records of the county where construction of certain property improvements occurs. This document serves two key functions....more
Title fraud in Florida has increased significantly in recent years. This type of fraud typically involves a person forging a deed to transfer someone else’s real property to a shell company formed by the fraudster. The...more
Florida has attracted a lot of investors buying homes to rent out, as well as persons buying vacation or second homes. Additionally, some owners downsize or upsize their homes, keeping and renting out their old home after...more
It is customary for landlords to require their tenants to pay real estate taxes attributable to the landlord’s property being leased, along with other common area expenses like maintenance, insurance and the like. When there...more
3/22/2024
/ Commercial Leases ,
Florida ,
Landlords ,
Property Owners ,
Property Tax ,
Property Valuation ,
Real Estate Market ,
Rental Property ,
Residential Leases ,
Tax Assessment ,
Tax Liability ,
Tenants
The Canadian Broadcasting Corp. recently reported that Oberon Development Corp., a Toronto property management company and apartment project owner, banned the use and storage on its properties of electric vehicles like cars,...more
12/8/2023
/ Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ,
Automotive Industry ,
Charging Stations ,
Commercial Insurance Policies ,
Driverless Cars ,
Electric Vehicles ,
Fire Damage ,
Housing Discrimination ,
Infrastructure ,
Landlords ,
Liability ,
Lithium Batteries ,
Motor Vehicles ,
Negligence ,
Parking Lots ,
Property Owners ,
Rental Property ,
Risk Management
If you are a commercial landlord in Florida, you may inadvertently be subjecting your land and building to liens by contractors who perform work for your tenants. With the recent economic downturn, many commercial buildings...more
With Hurricane Idalia about to cross Florida, people are naturally focused on preparations and the potential adverse impacts that it will have. For businesses, that should include analysis of contractual obligations that...more
8/30/2023
/ Business Interruption ,
Commercial Leases ,
Commercial Real Estate Contracts ,
Contract Terms ,
Emergency Management Plans ,
Force Majeure Clause ,
Hurricane Season ,
Natural Disasters ,
Performance Standards ,
Severe Weather ,
State of Emergency
Effective July 1, 2023, the Florida statutes were revised to allow people to carry concealed weapons without a permit. However, permits are still available for those interested, and qualified persons may obtain them from the...more
In an economy where land prices are rising, it is not unusual for a buyer who has a property under contract to consider flipping all or part of the property to another purchaser for a profit. If a contract gives the buyer a...more
7/12/2023
/ Closing Agents ,
Closing Costs ,
Construction Project ,
Florida ,
House Flipping ,
Housing Developers ,
Real Estate Investments ,
Real Estate Market ,
Real Estate Transactions ,
Stamp Taxes ,
Title Insurance
The Federal Reserve is set to launch its FedNow service on July 1, 2023. Since this service was first announced in 2019, it has generated significant discussion about financial privacy, digital banking and central bank...more
In the current housing market, the cost of home ownership is still relatively high even though in many areas home prices have begun moderating. As interest rates rise, fewer people will be able to afford to buy a home,...more
Foreclosing on a mall or shopping center presents unique issues for a lender. Failing to anticipate these issues could cause problems, such as a lengthier foreclosure process or a lower resale value after the foreclosure....more
Owners and buyers of commercial buildings are increasingly using drones also known as unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), to inspect roofs and other exterior elements of buildings. In addition to making it easier to access the...more
11/2/2022
/ Airspace ,
Commercial Real Estate Contracts ,
Commercial Use ,
Drones ,
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ,
Florida ,
Infrastructure ,
Innovative Technology ,
Inspections ,
Privacy Concerns ,
Public Safety ,
Real Estate Transactions ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Regulatory Standards ,
Unmanned Aircraft Systems
With Hurricane Ian crossing Florida, people are naturally focused on preparations and the potential adverse impacts that it will have. For businesses, that should include analysis of contractual obligations that could be...more
Letters of intent (LOIs) are used to summarize the material terms of a proposed transaction, typically involving the leasing or sale of real property. Sometimes called term sheets, letters of interest or deal sheets, LOIs are...more
In recent years, many property owners have refinanced their mortgages to take advantage of low interest rates. When interest rates rise, buyers may prefer to assume a seller’s existing loan since new loans have higher...more
If you are buying or financing properties with businesses selling alcoholic beverages, Florida’s regulatory requirements may seem daunting. To successfully navigate the complexities of Florida alcoholic beverage licensing, a...more
7/18/2022
/ Alcohol Beverage Control ,
Business Development ,
Creditors ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Florida ,
Grocery Stores ,
Hospitality Industry ,
Lenders ,
Licensing Rules ,
Liquor Licences ,
Real Estate Investments ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Restaurant Industry ,
Retail Market ,
Wine & Alcohol
A utility company that provides service to an owner’s property usually requests the owner to sign a standard form of easement. The form of easement allows the utility company to enter onto the owner’s property to install and...more
Land in Florida continues to be rapidly developed due to the economic growth still taking place in the state. The housing market currently remains strong, and new residential developments (both apartments and single-family...more
Exclusive use clauses are not uncommon in shopping center leases. Tenants often request these clauses to prevent the landlord from renting space to other tenants who are competitors. Ideally, a shopping center includes a...more
It is not unusual to find mineral reservations in the chain of title to real properties located in Florida. When the State of Florida first conveyed title to state owned lands, it was customary for the state to reserve an...more
Wire fraud can result in significant loss, and it is permeating all types of transactions, including leasing. With tenants more frequently wiring funds to pay for security deposits and rents, it is important to take...more
Real estate developers in Florida are buying and improving rural land at a record pace. In many cases, this land has been devoted to purposes which resulted in the land being categorized as agricultural for real estate tax...more
Billboards are ubiquitous in the landscape along major Florida thoroughfares, at times seemingly blending into their surroundings. They dot (some would say mar) the landscape on farms and ranches along interstates and on...more