Florida Realtors Legal News
Legal News Archive
Your exhausted seller received five offers in one day. Four are over asking price, but the last one offers $50,000 less, possibly making it a waste of time for an already overwhelmed seller. Must you still present it? Perhaps not – but only under very specific conditions.
While U.S. tax law supports the current definition of an “independent contractor,” recent changes to U.S. labor law call it into question, and that could potentially impact Realtors.
Before leaving a real estate brokerage firm, associates should thoroughly review their independent contractor agreement to find out what portion of commission, if any, the associate will be entitled to after leaving.
Real estate branding helps you create and grow a recognizable identity. Protect your brand from infringement by registering it as a federal trademark.
A Realtor® thought he was helping when he drafted a power of attorney for a friend. But, after a complaint was filed, the Realtor is found in violation of the Code of Ethics. How can that be if the power of attorney was directly related to real estate matters? Doesn’t that mean that Realtor provided real estate, not legal, services?
If an associate or broker representing a seller says over the phone that a seller accepts an offer, but the seller changes their mind before signing, is there a contract?
Chapter 475 oversees real estate licensees, but Florida licensees also have other obligations under Chapter 455. It’s a growing problem for licensees called before FREC because “I didn’t know I had to report that” doesn’t carry much weight.
The Florida. Dept. of Commerce finalized its rules and their effective date pertaining to certain foreign principals who must register property ownership under a 2023 law.
To fight property fraud, Fla. law will require witnesses for deeds and “recording instruments affecting real property” to include their full name and mailing address.
The law that applies to some foreign principals who own/acquire certain Fla. properties has registration deadlines. Buyers should speak to counsel about legal obligations.