Real Estate
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Taxing Times: A Primer on Your Florida Property Tax Bill
Florida, with its beautiful weather and sandy beaches, attracts not only tourists but also residents seeking a permanent paradise. Paradise comes with a price tag, though, and a significant portion of that tag is property taxes. As a Florida real estate attorney, I get many questions from clients about property taxes, especially deadlines, discounts, and…
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Selling Your Florida Home? Don’t Skip That HOA Payment!
As a real estate attorney handling closings right here in Florida, specifically in the Sarasota, Bradenton, and Lakewood Ranch area, I get this question a lot from sellers: “Should I pay my upcoming HOA assessment if I’m selling my house?” I understand why the question comes up. You’re focused on packing, finding your next home,…
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You Wouldn’t Sit On a One-Legged Stool
Preventing Wire Fraud in Real Estate Closings, Three Legs at a Time. In today’s digital age, the convenience and speed of electronic transactions have revolutionized many industries, and the real estate closing and title industry is no exception. However, this convenience has also opened the door to a growing number of scams, particularly wire fraud.…
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How to Stop Junk Mail Addressed to a Deceased Loved One
When someone passes away, the family takes on a long list of tasks, and mail is usually near the top. You file a change of address, forward their mail to your own home, or ask the post office to hold it. Then the forwarded mail starts arriving, and it becomes clear how much of it…
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Machines Need Permits, Too
On July 8, the Sarasota County Commission voted 5-0 to freeze the acceptance or review of data center applications for a year. One of the commissioners stated, “For me, it’s a no. Not now, not ever.” I’ve spent a number of recent blog posts writing about the AI industry and what it takes from us…
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Reissue Me This, Batt, Man (What is Title Insurance Reissue Credit?)
Calculating Title Insurance Premium Savings Should Never Be a Riddle As a Florida real estate attorney, I think a closing should be smooth, transparent, and as cost-effective as the law allows. One of the easiest ways to deliver on that last part — and one of the most commonly missed — is the reissue credit…
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Article X, Section 4(c): The “Actually” Guy of Florida Real Estate Law
A version of this article appeared in the April 2026 issue of Elevate, the official newsletter of the Realtor Association of Sarasota Manatee. We all know an Actually Guy. He’s the one who corrects your pronunciation of “pho” and reminds you it’s just sparkling wine if it’s not from France. Florida real estate law has…
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Florida’s New “Gold Standard” and Documentary Stamp Tax
As a real estate lawyer practicing in Lakewood Ranch, our profession constantly navigates the interplay of property law, financial mechanisms, and state taxation. The recent enactment of Florida House Bill 999 (HB 999), effective July 1, 2026, which formally recognizes qualifying gold and silver coins as “specie legal tender,” will undoubtedly have wide-reaching implications. However,…
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Dear Florida HOAs, Enough with the Estoppel Extortion
As a real estate closing attorney here in beautiful Lakewood Ranch, board certified in real estate, in fact, I can honestly say that I love handling real estate closings. Having navigated the thrillingly adversarial waters of other practice areas earlier in my career, such as representing both the harried debtors and the hopeful creditors in…
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If They Build It, You Will Come: New Construction Contracts in Florida
So, you want to buy a brand new home in Florida? Join the crowd. As a real estate attorney in Lakewood Ranch, Florida, I am often asked by folks to review their new construction purchase contract for buying a home from a builder. I’m always happy to do it, but I will always caution that…