Title Insurance and Your Transaction
I’ve heard that more than once. I have also heard that if I have a title search or title commitment which doesn’t identify any issues, I’m in the clear. Statements like these are shortsighted and show a misunderstanding of...more
Real Property Update - Foreclosure / Reverse Mortgage: Surviving spouse who did not sign the note did not qualify as a “borrower” by signing the mortgage and related documents – OneWest Bank, N.A. v. Leek-Tannenbaum, No....more
As part of an effort to revamp and modernize title insurance policies and land surveys, this year, the American Land Title Association (ALTA) and the National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS) updated their standards,...more
Real Property Update - Foreclosure Sale / Challenge: borrower failed to meet his burden of establishing that gross inadequacy of foreclosure bid price resulted from "mistake, fraud or other irregularity" in the sale -...more
Foreclosure / Amendments to Conform to Evidence: trial court erred in allowing Wells Fargo to amend its complaint during trial to conform to evidence presented of two unpled modification agreements – Tracey v. Wells Fargo...more
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE - Condition Precedent: trial court properly rejected motion to dismiss for failure to satisfy condition precedent of pre-litigation non-binding arbitration, required by Chapter 718, Florida Statutes,...more
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE - Foreclosure/Standing: borrower's standing arguments failed because they were based on notion that note changed hands after it was delivered to World Savings Bank in 2007, when in fact the note...more
Misrepresentation/Concealment: genuine issues of material fact remained in dispute regarding whether board-certified real estate attorney committed fraudulent or negligent misrepresentation or concealment by falsely assuring...more
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE - Standing/Foreclosure: pursuant to Florida Rule of Procedure 1.260, the assignee of a note during pendency of a foreclosure acquires standing of original plaintiff lender - Spicer v Ocwen Loan...more
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE - - Foreclosure/Errors in Legal Description: error in legal description did not preclude judgment of foreclosure because property was sufficiently identified by accurate lot and tract, street address,...more
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE - Receiver/Barton Doctrine: individual could not bring negligence action against discharged receiver of commercial property until individual first obtained leave to do so from the court that appointed...more
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE FINANCIAL SERVICES UPDATE TITLE INSURANCE UPDATE - Misrepresentation: developer entitled to directed verdict on claims of fraudulent and negligent misrepresentation asserted by condominium association...more
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE FINANCIAL SERVICES UPDATE TITLE INSURANCE UPDATE - Foreclosure: witness may testify as to business records of another company so long as that witness can lay proper foundation of personal knowledge...more
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE - - Constructive Notice: a memorandum of agreement that is recorded in the official records of the county in which the property is located and refers to an unrecorded agreement entered into by the...more
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) recently entered into a consent order with Meridian Title Corporation (Meridian) under the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA). ...more
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE - Summary judgment: trial court erred by denying borrower’s motion to amend answer and defenses, and therefore erred in entering summary judgment in favor of lender. Reyes v BAC Home Loans Servicing...more
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE - Foreclosure / Statute of Limitations: trial court improperly found that, because payments due under a note and mortgage were accelerated in a prior 2009 action, the second action filed over five...more
Foreclosure: general reservation of jurisdiction in a foreclosure judgment is very limited, and certainly does not give trial court jurisdiction to eliminate a lien more than three years after Final Judgment of Foreclosure...more
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE - Foreclosure/Short Sale/Statute of Limitations: Florida Statute section 95.11(5)(h)’s one year statute of limitations period does not apply to bar Bank’s cause of action for deficiency judgment arising...more
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE - Foreclosure/Redemption: foreclosure sale conducted without knowledge of bankruptcy affirmed, but trial court orders denying mortgagor opportunity to redeem property before certificate of sale actually...more
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE - Foreclosure/Standing: note owner had constructive possession of promissory note in original servicer’s physically possession of blank-endorsed note when it filed the complaint, and had standing to...more
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE- Takings/Declaratory Relief: plaintiff’s request for a declaration that its further pursuit of a zoning application was futile was not a proper claim for declaratory relief – GolfRock, LLC v. Lee...more
Title insurance companies and closing agents handling transactions involving homeowners’ and condominium associations have long been frustrated by the timing and cost associated with obtaining estoppel letters from these...more
A significant change to one of the standard title insurance forms recently took effect. The new 2016 ALTA Commitment with Florida Modifications both streamlines the existing features of the title insurance commitment and, for...more
Real Property Update - Lease: where lessee transfers leasehold interest to third party, but retains easement in leased property, lessee transfers less than “entire interest” in property, and such sublease not tantamount to...more