New Florida Law Restricting Certain Foreign Ownership of Real Property

On May 8, 2023, Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law Senate Bill 264, creating Part III of Chapter 692 (692.201-692.205) of the Florida Statutes “Conveyances to Foreign Entities”. This new law goes into effect on July 1, 2023 and places substantial prohibitions on foreign citizens and entities from certain foreign countries from purchasing property within […]

Why You Shouldn’t Pay for a Copy of Your Deed Immediately After Closing

Consumer Question – I just purchased a condominium and three weeks after closing I received a very official looking letter in the mail telling me how important it is to have a copy of my recorded deed and all of the tax information on my property and for $86.00 this company would make certain I […]

Are NFT’s and Mortgages in Real Estate Possible?

I recently wrote an article discussing how the use of cryptocurrencies in real estate transactions may one day soon be commonplace. Cryptocurrencies have the potential to revolutionize real estate transactions, but cryptocurrencies are not alone in that regard. NFT’s also offer the potential to change the way real estate transactions are conducted and completed. NFT’s are non-fungible […]

When Does the Buyer Get the Keys After Closing on a House?

One of the most overlooked components of a real estate transaction is what happens when the ink dries on the stack of documents everyone signed during the closing, but funds are not immediately available. Buyers typically think they get keys right away upon signing. But before they can get the keys to the property they just purchased […]

Real Estate Boom Meets the Crypto Boom Here in Miami

Like our climate, there is no denying that South Florida’s real estate market has been scorching hot.  But while South Florida is well known for its real estate booms and busts, the current cycle is also running right into the latest technological wave – cryptocurrency. Home prices have climbed to record numbers.  Those prices have […]

“Popular Contingencies,” Compass Q1 2021 Florida Market Report

Q: In light of this busy real estate market where homes are selling quickly or even before they hit the public market, what type of contingencies are you seeing become popular and what would be your most frequently asked concern for clients that you work with? A: Buyers are shortening or waving certain contingencies to […]

AGENT TIP: Open Permits & Title Insurance

One of the hallmarks of Becker Title is our Real Estate Agent Educational Enhancement Program. This program was developed to empower real estate agents seeking to improve their customer service additional understanding of the regulations governing the real estate industry. As part of this program, we offer Agent Tips. Open permits are not covered by […]

Q&A with Appraiser Richard Pyle

It is no secret that the real estate market in South Florida is booming, but how has the surge in home values affected how residential properties are appraised? I asked appraiser Richard Pyle, who has served the Florida market for more than a decade, to explain how properties are appraised and how the pandemic has […]

Closings During COVID-19: How RON Has Forever Changed The Real Estate Industry

Just months prior to the pandemic, the title and legal industry made some tremendous strides toward virtual closings. Florida’s remote online notarization (“RON”) law, passed in July 2019, went into effect January 1, 2020. Normally, new technology takes time to implement; however,  lockdown/quarantine requirements allowed Becker and Becker Title to accelerate adoption and implementation of […]

The Do’s and Don’ts of Buying a House – a Personal Experience

Two years ago, my wife and I sold our house of 23 years and decided to downsize.  We thought we would rent for a year and figure out what we wanted to do.  I had an accident, so one year became two and she (not me) started looking just as the COVID-19 crisis began.  I […]