Blog
Homeowner’s Associations: How They Work
Homeowner’s Associations (HOA) were first developed in the 1980s as a means to help retain order and visual appeal in new communities that were being developed. To this day, HOA rules and regulations determine things like the color you can paint the home's exterior, r...
Understanding Wills and Trusts
A will is a written document that defines how your assets will be distributed after you die. Trusts are legal arrangements that involve a separate legal entity to hold and distribute assets -- during your life, after your life, or both. As an alternative to wills, t...
Florida Homestead Exemption for Permanent Residents
If you have a property in Florida that serves as your permanent residence (sorry winter residents!), then you may be eligible for a homestead exemption that keeps you from having to pay tax on a certain portion of your property’s assessed value. If your home is worth ...
What You Need To Know About Earnest Money
In most real estate transactions the seller will require that the buyer deposit earnest money. This money demonstrates good faith by the buyer to purchase the property from the seller, although most have no idea what role the earnest money plays in the transaction. The ...
Eviction Rights and Rules
The conditions and steps involved in a landlord forcing a tenant to leave a rented property - eviction - are defined by state and local laws. As both landlord and tenants have legal rights, eviction requires methodical and documented steps.
Unpaid rent w...
How A Notary Helps Prevent Fraudulent Transactions
A notary public plays an important role in many transactions. Often acting as a witness to the signing of important, life-changing documents, notaries offer a level of protection against fraud that is invaluable.
The Fraud-Deterrent Services Of A Notary...
Continuing Education Credit Opportunity: Home Staging By The Book
In Florida, real estate agents are required to participate in Continuing Education (CE) classes and activities in order to maintain their real estate licenses. This is to make sure they stay up to date on current trends and developments in the real estate market so they...
What is an S Corporation?
In United States law, corporations are organizations authorized to act as a legal entity. United States and state tax laws allow a special 'S Corporation' tax status that changes how corporate taxes are handled. The government taxes regular 'C' corporations directly...
Choosing the Best Mortgage For You In 5 Steps
When looking for a mortgage, it can be tough deciding which option is right for you. You have to know what to look for, and then decide what works for you and your family as you shop around to make the most of your mortgage decision. To help put the process in perspecti...
Closing Costs Defined
First timers in the world of real estate and closings are bound to come across terminology they’ve either never heard of before, or don’t completely understand. So to help with that, we’ve outlined some common closing cost terms to assist new homebuyers with their...