SPOTLIGHT: Elana Friedman Polashuk, Director of Operations

At Becker Title, we’re proud of every member of our team and know that their dedication to quality service is what elevates our company above the competition. Take a moment to get to know the talent behind your next property title!

Name

Elana Friedman Polashuk

Service

Director of Operations

What is your favorite Florida neighborhood? Why?

Brickell because of the walkability. When you live in Brickell, you are footsteps away from the Whole Foods, Publix, great dining, shopping, parks, running paths and more. You are also close to Coconut Grove, Wynwood, Design District, and Miami Beach.

What do you like best about living in Florida?

• The Beaches
• Spectacular Weather (mostly)
• Art & Music Scene
• FOOD!
• Easy International Access

Where are you from?

I am a South Florida native. I was born in Miami Beach, grew up in Hollywood (FL), and now live in Brickell.

What are your hobbies outside of work?

I enjoy exercising (outdoors these days), going to the beach, trying new restaurants and exploring new neighborhoods. I really do enjoy real estate and staying up to date on the latest developments throughout the South Florida market.

What three traits define you?

Honest, hard-working and sincere.

What is your favorite place to eat? 

I have too many favorites to just pick one: LPM, Osaka, Milos and Joe’s Stone Crab.

What is the TOP thing homebuyers should keep in mind when working with a title company? 

Always verbally verify wiring instructions prior to sending funds.

What is the most surprising real estate question/issue you have heard or handled? What was your solution?

The surveyor’s legal description of a townhome that a Buyer was purchasing did not match up with the legal description in the governing documents for the HOA.

Upon reviewing the governing documents, I also discovered that the survey sketches for the townhomes did not match with the survey sketch that our surveyor sent us. The developer had actually altered the configuration for the development, but had not updated the governing documents.

In order to fix the problem, the developer had to amend the declaration and include the correct legal descriptions and surveys for all of the townhomes in the development prior to closing.

What are some current trends/issues in the real estate world you find interesting?

Pandemic migration! The residential real estate market in South Florida is at its peak. Additionally, because of pandemic-related safety concerns, utilizing the highest level of technology and services is vital. Becker Title offers remote online notarization, mobile notaries, and e-signing services.

What advice do you have for anyone looking to buy or sell right now? 

Make sure you hire industry-specific professionals to guide you through your purchase or sell. This includes your lender, realtor, attorney/title company, and vendors. This has always been important, but it is especially important right now.

Also: Homebuyers need to keep in mind that the main job of a title company is very specific – transfer clear title and issue the Owners and Lenders Title Insurance policies. Even though Becker Title assigns an attorney from our law firm, Becker, to oversee each real estate transaction, the homebuyer is not officially represented by that attorney. If s/he wants legal representation, we are happy to explain what is necessary to engage an attorney from the start of a transaction, and, of course, homebuyers are always welcome to retain Becker if any legal questions or issues come up during the transaction.