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?
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.
When a seller discloses property information, they could face liability if they share only part of a story and leave out negative details.
A rental housing provider is paying $300K to settle HUD fair housing allegations – not because they directly discriminated, but because tenants harassed other tenants, the landlord failed to stop them, and an order to vacate included the complaining parties.
Making an offer? Received one? Don’t skim over the important parts about key dates and timeframes. Hint: If there is an asterisk near a contract page number, a blank on that page should be reviewed.
One condo owner offered to buy an additional parking spot from their neighbor who had two spots. Is that legal? And if so, is it smart?
The Code of Ethics is a dynamic document, evolving and adapting along with the real estate industry for over 100 years now. Updates usually go into effect at the beginning of each year. Here’s what’s new in 2024.
