Title Insurance and Your Transaction
For those of you who question whether an owner’s policy of title insurance is a waste of money, please remember that examining title is still an essential component of due diligence investigations. Real estate investments are...more
Hosted by the Canadian Institute, the 23rd Annual Canadian Forum on Anti-Money Laundering and Financial Crime returns for another exciting year. The event features carefully curated programming providing practical guidance...more
On March 8, 2024, the CFPB issued a blog post signaling a new front in its focus on “junk fees”—mortgage closing costs. Notably, the CFPB suggests that title insurance, credit report and appraisal, origination, and other...more
Tonkon Torp real estate attorney Kimberlee Stafford discusses title insurance, an important part of every real estate purchase and sale transaction, loan transaction, and some long-term lease transactions. Contact:...more
Real Property Update - Foreclosure / Compliance with HUD: finding, as a matter of first impression in Florida, that a lender can prove compliance with HUD notice requirements by evidence other than a certified mail receipt...more
Real Property Update - Condo Termination / Mandatory Arbitration: Unit owner could not pursue claims relating to condo termination for failure to comply with Florida Statutes section 718.117(16), which required unit...more
As commercial real estate deal flow has significantly decreased due to the novel coronavirus/COVID-19, there is no better time than the present for sellers of commercial real estate to plan in advance for the successful sale...more
In JTREO, Inc. v. Hightower & Assocs., the buyer of a note and mortgage sued the attorney for the lender who facilitated the transaction by loaning money to the buyer for breach of fiduciary duty arising from the fact that...more
On June 9, 2020, the CFPB published four new TRID FAQ’s and a TRID Factsheet (“Factsheet”). While the Factsheet is focused solely on the handling of title insurance disclosures under the rule, the FAQ’s cover various topics,...more
In a case having broad implications for residential real estate transactions, title insurance companies, and the mortgage industry, the Rhode Island Supreme Court on May 29 addressed the issue of whether residential real...more
Real Property Update - Foreclosure / Rehearing: Order denying rehearing on summary judgment motion and denying continuance affirmed where (1) affidavit in support of rehearing failed to disclose any genuine issue of...more
Real Property Update - Foreclosure / Notice: Mail log sufficient evidence to establish mailing of notice to borrower of default and possibility of foreclosure – Stacknik v. U.S. Bank, N.A., No. 2D18-2156 (Fla. 2d DCA Nov....more
Financial Services Update - FDCPA & FCCPA / Debt Collection Activity / Monthly Mortgage Statements: Monthly mortgage statements required by TILA and sent to plaintiff did not amount to “debt collection” because they did...more
Real Property Update - • Special Tax District Bond Validation: hospital center special tax district could not validate bonds intended to finance the construction of a hospital outside the geographic boundaries established...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 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 - 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/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
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 - Foreclosure/Standing/Lost Note: if plaintiff did not have right to enforce note when lost, plaintiff should present evidence of assignment from payee to plaintiff or affidavit of ownership - ...more
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE - Foreclosure/Deficiency Judgment: where a foreclosing bank acquires in rem jurisdiction via service by publication in underlying foreclosure action, bank may still seek personal service over an...more
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE - Foreclosure/Condition Precedent: servicer did not meet its burden of proving it satisfied condition precedent of giving notice of acceleration by failing to provide evidence that notice letter had...more
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE - Foreclosure: where foreclosing bank, who purchased debt from original mortgagee, failed to establish standing to enforce lost note “through evidence of a valid assignment, proof of purchase of the...more
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE: Foreclosure/Sufficiency of Notice: although lender’s notice of default did not expressly state that property could be sold in foreclosure, it substantially complied with notice provision (paragraph...more