BUYERS & SELLERS

BUYERS & SELLERS

Canadians, are you an Alien?

USA Alien Registration Requirement Government website below for all information: https://www.uscis.gov/alienregistration On Jan. 20, 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, which directed the Department of Homeland Security to ensure that aliens comply with their duty to register with the government under section 262 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) (8 […]
BUYERS & SELLERS, Real Estate Local Market

Understanding Assignability of Contract

Understanding Assignability of Contract By Meredith Caruso Many real estate contracts allow buyers to “assign” their rights and obligations under the contract, and sellers can suddenly find themselves working with Joe rather than Sally. What’s a Realtor to do? Ask the right questions – and don’t give legal advice. ORLANDO, Fla. – Florida Realtors® […]
BUYERS & SELLERS, Real Estate Local Market

20 Ways to Save Money on Homeowners’ Insurance

By Hillard Grossman Most money-saving tips have a secondary side effect, such as increasing out-of-pocket costs after a disaster or no coverage at all for something you may need. MIAMI – Living in a Barbie’s World is getting more challenging as homeowners’ insurance rates soar. But, there are ways you might be able to keep […]
BUYERS & SELLERS, Real Estate Local Market

Gov. Signs 3 Property Insurance Bills into Law – JUNE 2023

Gov. Signs 3 Property Insurance Bills into Law By Kerry Smith HB 881 expands the My Safe Florida Home program to most areas and increases minimum home values. SB 7052 boosts consumer protections and insurer accountability. HB 799 changes Citizens’ price increase “glide path” mainly for non-homesteaded properties. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Gov. Ron DeSantis signed […]

BUYERS & SELLERS Canadians, are you an Alien? USA Alien Registration Requirement Government website below for all information: https://www.uscis.gov/alienregistration On Jan. 20, 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, which directed the Department of Homeland Security to ensure that aliens comply with their duty to register with the government under section 262 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) (8 […]

BUYERS & SELLERS Understanding Assignability of Contract Understanding Assignability of Contract By Meredith Caruso Many real estate contracts allow buyers to “assign” their rights and obligations under the contract, and sellers can suddenly find themselves working with Joe rather than Sally. What’s a Realtor to do? Ask the right questions – and don’t give legal advice. ORLANDO, Fla. – Florida Realtors® […]

BUYERS & SELLERS 20 Ways to Save Money on Homeowners’ Insurance By Hillard Grossman Most money-saving tips have a secondary side effect, such as increasing out-of-pocket costs after a disaster or no coverage at all for something you may need. MIAMI – Living in a Barbie’s World is getting more challenging as homeowners’ insurance rates soar. But, there are ways you might be able to keep […]

BUYERS & SELLERS Gov. Signs 3 Property Insurance Bills into Law – JUNE 2023 Gov. Signs 3 Property Insurance Bills into Law By Kerry Smith HB 881 expands the My Safe Florida Home program to most areas and increases minimum home values. SB 7052 boosts consumer protections and insurer accountability. HB 799 changes Citizens’ price increase “glide path” mainly for non-homesteaded properties. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Gov. Ron DeSantis signed […]

BUYERS & SELLERS Florida insurance policyholders hit with 1% emergency ‘assessment’ fee – April 2023 Florida insurance policyholders hit with 1% emergency ‘assessment’ fee 1% emergency ‘assessment’ to be collected to cover costs of claims https://www.clickorlando.com/news/2023/04/17/florida-insurance-policyholders-hit-with-1-emergency-assessment-fee/ TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – State insurance regulators last week signed off on a plan that will lead to policyholders throughout Florida paying extra on their bills because of property-insurer insolvencies. Insurance Commissioner Mike Yaworsky issued […]

BUYERS & SELLERS What’s ‘Special’ About Special Assessments? April 26, 2023 by Meredith Caruso What’s ‘Special’ About Special Assessments? By Meredith Caruso Special assessments appear in various places of the Florida Realtors/Florida Bar contract, but Paragraph 3(c) on the Condo Rider has confused more than a few members. ORLANDO, Fla. – The contracts and riders/addenda Florida Realtors offers members mention “special assessments” in various places. However, one tends […]

BUYERS & SELLERS InterNACHI’s Estimated Life Expectancy Chart for Florida Homes, AUG, 2022 SOURCE: https://www.nachi.org/myowncopy.htm The following chart details the predicted life expectancy of appliances, products, materials, systems and components for homes in the state of Florida. (It may also be applicable to states in the nearby coastal region with similar climate and weather conditions on a typical basis.) While many components and systems in homes located in […]

BUYERS & SELLERS Remodel or buy? How to make the right move With home prices and interest rates rising across the country, you may be reevaluating your housing situation: Should you take advantage of the seller’s market and upgrade before interest rates rise further? Or should you leverage your home’s equity to finance a renovation? It’s a significant decision that will depend on your specific financial situation […]

BUYERS & SELLERS Property Fraud Alerts, a growing Problem … 2021 Property Fraud Alerts in Sarasota and Manatee Counties…. Property and identity fraud are a nationwide problem. By filing fake deeds, scammers appear to own property, and can fraudulently rent or sell the property without the knowledge of the true owner. Your Sarasota Clerk and Comptroller wants to help you in protecting against property fraud. By […]

BUYERS & SELLERS ADU’s Approved in Manatee County & Sarasota City, 2021 ADU’s Approved in Manatee County and City of Sarasota In a big win for property owners, during the month of August both the Manatee County Commission as well as the Sarasota City Commission voted to allow homeowners to construct accessory dwelling units (ADU) on their property. REALTOR® Associations throughout the country have long touted the […]

BUYERS & SELLERS Qualifying for a Mortgage During Retirement Buying a home after Retirement – how is it done ? For many retired homeowners, relocating or downsizing is a common goal, but determining the best way to pay for their next home may seem complicated. Without a steady employment paycheck, many retirees assume they can’t qualify for a mortgage, leaving them with two options: […]

BUYERS & SELLERS Can’t Afford to Buy a Home? Have You Considered Down Payment Assistance? 2019 Can’t Afford to Buy a Home? Have You Considered Down Payment Assistance? What’s the number one hurdle for renters making the leap to homeownership? That pesky down payment. Even with an FHA loan that only requires a minimum of 3.5% down, the thought of setting aside several thousand dollars is daunting (and for some, darn […]

BUYERS & SELLERS Home Improvement Projects Worth Cost and Time. 2019 NAR Survey: Home Improvement Projects Worth Cost and Time Remodeling isn’t always more money at resale, though that’s important. NAR’s “Joy Score” analyzes the level of current owner satisfaction with remodeling projects. WASHINGTON – Homeowners who undergo a home improvement project, whether it be interior or exterior modifications, often find that the task was worth […]

BUYERS & SELLERS Wire Fraud is Real – Before wiring any money … Wire Fraud is Real Before wiring any money, call the intended recipient at a number you know is valid to confirm the instructions. Be safe. Review recommended steps below to safeguard your hard earned dollars…. There are steps homebuyers should take to make sure they are protecting themselves from falling victim to fraudsters, […]

BUYERS & SELLERS FIRPTA – Foreign real estate owners ….. Excellent FIRPTA Overview IRS FIRPTA info Video FIRPTA WithholdingWithholding of Tax on Dispositions of United States Real Property InterestsThe disposition of a U.S. real property interest by a foreign person (the transferor) is subject to the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act of 1980 (FIRPTA) income tax withholding. FIRPTA authorized the United States […]

BUYERS & SELLERS FEMA 50% Rule Substantial Improvement/Damage FEMA 50% Rule Substantial Improvement/Damage March 23, 2018. – Berlin Patten Ebling Blog Post LINK “Sarasota in the 1950s was one of the most important places in the world for architectural creativity, where the greatest design movements of the day came together.”- Carl Abbott FAIA, original […]

BUYERS & SELLERS 6 Costs Homeowners Overlook and How to Pay for Them… 6 Costs Homeowners Overlook and How to Pay for Them Source; Posted on Aug 15 2018 – 11:05am By the Experts at Hippo Insurance For many people, a house is the biggest investment they’ll ever make. And whether you’re a first-time homeowner or you’re buying your third property, you’re bound to end up covering some unexpected […]

BUYERS & SELLERS What is the Coastal Construction Control Line? CCCL: What is the Coastal Construction Control Line? https://floridadep.gov/water/coastal-construction-control-line/content/locate-coastal-construction-control-line-cccl What is the Coastal Construction Control Line? In order to protect, preserve, and manage Florida’s sandy beaches and coastal system, the Legislature adopted the Florida Beach and Shore Preservation Act, contained in Parts I and II of Chapter 161, Florida Statutes. The Coastal Construction Control Line (CCCL) […]

BUYERS & SELLERS Sellers Property Disclosure … Florida, like many other states, now requires sellers of homes and other residential properties to make certain disclosures to buyers about the property’s condition and history. This is a shift from the traditional legal principle of “let the buyer beware,” which basically made it the buyer’s responsibility to inspect the home and discover whether there […]

BUYERS & SELLERS Canadians ! As a fellow Canadian, I know how your winters can be and how we cherish a wish for a warm winter get-a-way close to home…. For years now, we Canadians have been buying up Florida real estate and businesses. I am here to help you through the many phases of a Florida real estate purchase. […]