Although several states require an attorney to oversee the closing process for real estate transactions, Florida is not one of them. As such, many Floridians who purchase a beautiful piece of real estate wonder if hiring an attorney is necessary for their own closing. While it’s not required by state law, bringing an attorney into the closing process can remove a lot of the headache in doing things yourself - not to Read More
Senate Bill SB 2D Brings More Changes to Florida’s Insurance Market
In an effort to address the continually rising Florida insurance rates, Senate Bill SB 2D was signed into law on May 26, 2022. The new bill introduces some great new protections for Florida homeowners, and will hopefully be successful in addressing some of the issues currently plaguing the insurance market. New Rules for Insurance Companies Florida property insurance companies now have a few more rules to follow, Read More
Clarifying Florida’s Updated Wage Laws
Near the end of last year, Florida codified new wage laws that will have some substantial effects on businesses, including new minimum wage increases that will slowly ramp up over the next few years. Businesses should be careful to keep a close eye on the calendar, as they’ll need to adjust wages yearly to remain in compliance - and employees should keep a close eye on their wages to ensure they’re being fairly Read More
What does the FMLA mean to me?
The Family and Medical Leave Act provides important protections to employees throughout the United States. Unfortunately, many employees are not aware of the act or what rights it provides them - leading many businesses to violate the act, knowingly or not. Whether you’re a business owner or an employee, ensuring that your workplace follows the rules of the FMLA will allow for a healthier environment and prevent Read More
Florida Insurance Reform Brings Competition, and Potentially Change, to Market
Over the past few years, the market for home insurance in Florida has been tumultuous, to say the least. You’re likely already aware of this, or at least have noticed your premiums seemingly skyrocketing - an issue that insurance companies claim stems from Florida’s homeowner insurance statutes, and other litigation surrounding Citizens Property Insurance Corp., the state-owned “insurer of last resort”. The Florida Read More
Making Sense of Vaccine Mandates
One of the largest points of conflict for Americans during the pandemic has been on vaccine mandates. Regardless of opinions on the topic, it’s important for business owners to keep up to date on the regulations to keep out of trouble. Unfortunately, messaging throughout the pandemic and details of regulations have been cloudy, if not outright confusing. In January, the federal courts struck down vaccine mandates for Read More
Beware of Wire Transfer Scams During Your Next Closing
Closing on a new home is an exciting moment for anyone - but that moment could quickly turn to one of unparalleled disappointment, thanks to wire transfer scams. These scams have only risen in popularity since their inception, including an over 480 percent increase in 2016, leading to multiple billions of dollars stolen from potential homeowners. The next time you purchase a home, keep these tips in mind to avoid Read More
Facing Foreclosure? Sell Your Home First!
Low inventory has always been a key component of a seller’s market in Florida. Unfortunately, the pandemic has had a detrimental impact here, and demand for new homes has far outstripped supply. This factor, along other market challenges, hints at an upcoming wave of foreclosures. Moratoriums ended months ago and, last September, foreclosures increased by 17 percent in the Orlando area. If financial challenges have Read More
Florida Homeowners—Now is the Time to Sell
Mortgage rates for Florida homebuyers and refinancers continue to creep up in signs of a market correction. Prime rates have hovered just above 3 percent for months now, and they currently stand at around 3.5 percent. Last month, our blog covered the need for homeowners sitting on the fence to refinance mortgages. Homeowners are still in a good spot to refinance or sell. The market can still be considered a seller’s Read More
Refinancing Your Home Right Now May be the Best Move
You’re in a difficult situation at the moment. The current mortgage rates are incredibly tempting, but you don’t plan on selling for at least another few years. It can be tough to get the stars to perfectly align for a home sale—more on that in next month’s blog—but it just might be the right time to refinance. A typical mortgage rate for well-qualified borrowers is just above 3 percent. The best predictions at the Read More
