Real Estate Law

License eligibility extended to December 31

DBPR Emergency Order (E.O.) 2020-08  (June 2020) The deadlines for licensure eligibility and state license examination eligibility are extended through December 31, 2020. The effective date of the Order is June 9, 2020. The Order supersedes section 4 of the DBPR Emergency Order 2020-03 issued on March 9, 2020. Specifically, the EO 2020-08 extends the …

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DBPR Reduces Fees for Licensees

The Florida Real Estate Commission reduced application and renewal fees for brokers, sales associates, instructors, and schools effective July 1, 2014.  Sales associates now pay a renewal fee of $64; brokers pay $72. This is a significant reduction (about 28%). The full list is shown in the table below: 61J2-1.011 License Fees and Examination Fees. (1) …

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Condo owners who are in arrears may not be able to use the pool

Recent changes to Florida law (Chapter 718) allow a condominium association to deny owners (or their tenants) the right to use common areas and recreational amenities when the owner is more than 90 days overdue in paying association maintenance fees. Additionally, the association may divert rent paid by a tenant and apply it to the …

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The Department of Community Affairs is abolished

In a controversial move, Florida’s growth management laws were significantly changed by the governor and legislature, effectively eliminating the DCA and transferring the few remaining employees into a new agency called the Department of Economic Opportunity. All administrative rules of the former DCA were repealed. Concurrency requirements were deleted. And DRI reviews were changed to …

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Licensees must notify DBPR of ANY convictions

A little-known change in the law (July 1, 2009) requires current licensees to report any conviction or plea to a crime, including misdemeanors, to the DBPR. Previously, licensees had to report only convictions or pleas for felony charges. What’s the effect of this? If you got a DUI five years ago, you must tell DBPR …

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A New Tax Deduction for Home Buyers

Home buyers who purchase in 2007 or later can deduct Mortgage Insurance Fees When Preparing Their Tax Returns. Mortgage insurance is NOT deductible for borrowers who purchased before 2007. Mortgage insurance is charged to buyers who purchase homes with less than a 20 percent down payment, a route used by most homebuyers. Because of the …

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