Florida Realtors offers a number of contracts for members to use when handling transactions. Of course, as I’ve said before, not all contracts are the same – and knowing which addenda or rider to use with whatever contract is being used in a transaction can make a world full of […]
Paraphrasing vs. Quoting
Have you ever played the telephone game? It’s a simple group game that starts when the leader thinks of a phrase. The leader then whispers that phrase to one person, who in turn whispers it to another. This process is repeated until the final person playing the game hears the […]
Can New Landlord-Owner Require a New Security Deposit?
Question: Our landlord sold the home we have rented for many years. The new landlord wants us to make a new security deposit. We told him that we still have the one from when we moved in. He feels that is the prior owner’s problem and is withholding repairs to […]
What Happens When Developers Turn HOAs Over to Residents?
Question: The owners in our community are assuming control from the developer at the end of the year. We want to prepare for turnover and the developer is reluctant to let us have any formal structure or authority. What should we be doing to prepare? – A.T., Stuart Answer: An […]
Supreme Court Ruling Strengthens Private Property Rights
On June 21, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a private property rights decision that gives plaintiffs an option to pursue their case in either federal or state courts. Prior to the ruling, they had to begin the process in state courts. According to the National Association of Realtors® (NAR), the […]