sarasota
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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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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?” The short and sweet answer is a resounding YES! I understand why the question comes…
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Five (5)
I am honored to announce the fifth anniversary of Battaglia Law, PLLC! On January 23, 2020, I embarked on a journey. And over the past five years, Battaglia Law, PLLC has been dedicated to reimagining the real estate closing process in Lakewood Ranch and the surrounding areas. We endeavor to make the process as seamless…
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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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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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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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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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Lakewood Ranch Real Estate Attorney Joseph Battaglia named an SRQ Magazine Elite Top Attorney for 2024
For the fourth year in a row, Lakewood Ranch real estate attorney Joseph Battaglia has been included in SRQ Magazine’s Elite Top Attorney Honoree List. The list was published in the September 2024 issue of SRQ Magazine, and Mr. Battaglia was included amongst the other attorney honorees in the real estate law category. Mr. Battaglia…
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House Bill 621: Reclaiming Your Property Rights in Florida
Florida’s House Bill 621 (HB 621), which went into effect on July 1, 2024, has significantly impacted the state’s landlord-tenant landscape. This legislation, which created Florida Statutes § 82.036, addresses the growing issue of unauthorized occupants in rental properties, offering a streamlined process for eviction in specific situations. Expedited Eviction for Unwanted Tenants Prior to…
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Curb Appeal or Curb Your Enthusiasm? Florida HB 1203’s Collision Course with the Contracts Clause
Florida’s House Bill 1203 (2024), which goes into effect on July 1, 2024, significantly impacts a slew of HOA laws. Despite its broad impact, in this post I’m going to focus on one particular aspect of the new legislation, which amends Florida Statutes § 720.3075 to address restrictions on homeowners parking work vehicles on their…