sarasota
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Florida Hurricane Victims May Qualify for Property Tax Refunds Thanks to Florida Statutes § 197.319
Hurricane Milton was a devastating blow to our community, leaving many homeowners facing significant property damage and financial hardship. As we approach the 30-day mark since the storm, there’s some good news: property tax relief may be available for those whose homes were rendered uninhabitable. Florida Statute § 197.319 enables some homeowners to receive a…
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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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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…
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Document Preparation Fee? Not On My Watch.
Protecting Your Interests During Real Estate Closings The sale of Florida real estate signifies a significant financial transaction, often marking a new chapter for sellers. However, navigating the intricacies of closing costs can be a complex and potentially contentious process. It’s no secret that every transaction has closing costs, some of which are paid by…
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SCAM ALERT – Be Aware of a Recent Scam Targeting People with Open Court Cases
The Twelfth Judicial Circuit of Florida has warned of a recent scam it has become aware of. Fraudsters will target people with open court cases and pretend to be someone else, such as someone from the clerk’s office, someone from the court, or possibly even someone else. They will reference information found in the court…
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HOA Estoppel Certificate Fees: Junk or Justified?
As a board certified real estate lawyer in Florida, I frequently deal with estoppel certificates, including reviewing them and ordering them from associations and their management companies. If you are unfamiliar with what an estoppel certificate is, here is a previous blog post that provides some general information. But, briefly, estoppel certificates are official statements…
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Don’t Forget to File for the Florida Homestead Tax Exemption
The statutory deadline to file for 2024 was March 1, 2024. 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:…
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FinCEN Renews and Expands Geographic Targeting Orders in Florida Real Estate Transactions
The ever-evolving landscape of Florida’s real estate market is marked by both significant growth and heightened vigilance against potential financial irregularities. Amidst this dynamic environment, the recent expansion of Geographic Targeting Orders (GTOs) has garnered attention, particularly for practitioners such as myself, whose practice primarily focuses on Sarasota and Manatee Counties. What is a GTO?…
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Lakewood Ranch Real Estate Attorney Joseph Battaglia named an SRQ Magazine Elite Top Attorney for 2023
For the third 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 2023 issue of SRQ Magazine, and Mr. Battaglia was included amongst the other attorney honorees in the real estate law category. Mr. Battaglia…