Florida
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Band-Aid, Not a Cure: Medical Debt Banned from Credit Reports
Easing the Burden of a Broken Medical System Millions of Americans burdened by medical debt are about to receive significant financial relief. A new federal rule finalized by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) will remove and prevent all medical debt from appearing on credit reports, significantly improving credit scores and boosting access to loans…
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New Florida Law May Allow Some Florida Hurricane Victims to Qualify for Property Tax Refunds
This time of year many Florida homeowners are understandably focused on property tax savings from the Florida homestead tax exemption. However, following the unprecedented 2024 hurricane season that we Floridians experienced, it’s important to remember that another valuable tax relief option exists: the Catastrophic Damage Tax Refund. This refund provides financial assistance to property owners…
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A Trojan Horse for Insurers? Florida’s 2025 Civil Procedure Rule Changes and their Impact on Injury Claims.
As of January 1, 2025, significant amendments to the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure take effect, raising serious concerns about access to justice for consumers, particularly in the context of injury claims against insurance companies. As someone who follows legal trends and advocates for consumer protection, I’ve been closely examining these changes, especially in light…
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Don’t Forget to File for the Florida Homestead Tax Exemption
The statutory deadline to file is March 1. Failure to timely file constitutes a waiver of your entitlement to the tax savings for the year. Homeowners in Florida may be entitled to a substantial tax benefit known as the Florida Homestead Tax Exemption, which is a two-pronged benefit in the form of: If you recently…
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The Right to Repair is the Right to be Free From Tyranny
From Light Bulbs to Washing Machines. A Culture of Disposable Tech. In the 1920s, a cartel of lightbulb manufacturers, including Osram, Philips, and General Electric, banded together and agreed to intentionally shorten the lifespans of light bulbs that they manufactured. A light bulb that breaks is a light bulb that needs to be replaced. A…
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Wholesaler? Partly Manure!
Something About This Stinks. As a board certified real estate attorney, I often am contacted by distressed homeowners who have fallen prey to some less than desirable real estate practices, particularly wholesaling. These homeowners, often desperate for a quick sale due to any number of reasons, but commonly due to financial hardship, become easy targets…
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Show Me the Money! Refunds of Estoppel Certificate Fees in Cancelled Florida Real Estate Transactions.
Know Your Rights Under Florida Law When a real estate transaction in Florida falls through, it can be a frustrating and costly experience. One often-overlooked expense is the estoppel certificate fee. These fees, charged by homeowners’ associations (HOAs) to verify information about a property, can be substantial. But what happens to these fees if the…
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Bought a New Build in Florida? You Might Be Owed Money From the Builder.
And we can help. Congratulations on your beautiful new construction home in the Sunshine State! But before you sink into those beachy vibes, there’s one important detail to consider: post-closing tax re-proration provisions. In plain English, this means you might be entitled to money back from the builder (the seller) due to potential discrepancies between…
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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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New Florida Law Aims to Keep Unsuspecting Buyers From Being Flooded by Loopholes
Florida is a state that is prone to flooding. This is due to a number of factors, including the state’s low-lying geography, its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, and its susceptibility to hurricanes. 2024 has definitely been one for the books, but it is likely to be a glimpse of…