Crypto-Backed Mortgages
Randy Gilbert, J.D. Chief Happiness Officer Florida’s Title Insurance Company [email protected] (954) 500-Title (8485) CRYPTO-BACKED MORTGAGES In this article, I interviewed crypto-lender Milo, because it is locally headquartered in Miami, was a featured speaker at the Miami Association of Realtors’ 2022 Global Congress at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables last month, closed over $100

The SEC vs. Realtors
Randy Gilbert, J.D. Chief Happiness Officer Florida’s Title Insurance Company [email protected] (954) 500-Title (8485) THE SEC vs. REALTORS Watch What You Promise Buyers. In October 2022, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) filed a multi-count Federal lawsuit against a Florida real estate agent and his real estate companies. The SEC sought a permanent injunction

Buying Property During Hurricane Season
Randy Gilbert, J.D. Chief Happiness Officer Florida’s Title Insurance Company [email protected] (954) 500-Title (8485) We know major storms come, so how should realtors and practitioners in disaster prone areas prepare to minimize disruptions in their transactions? According to the National Hurricane Center, Florida’s hurricane season runs from June 1st to November 30th. Facebook also likes

Anti-kickbacks Respa for Beginners
Randy Gilbert, J.D. Chief Happiness Officer Florida’s Title Insurance Company [email protected] (954) 500-Title (8485) Why RESPA was enacted. In the 1970’s the title and mortgage industry asked Congress to step in to stop real estate agent from demanding that they be paid kickbacks in exchange for referring homebuyers. Real estate agents reasoned that referral fees

Florida Gives $25,000 Real Estate Aid to “Hometown Heroes”
Randy Gilbert, J.D. Chief Happiness Officer Florida’s Title Insurance Company [email protected] (954) 500-Title (8485) First let me point out, I said “Gives $25,000,” I did not say “Forgives $25,000.” So here is how Florida’s newly funded, $100 Million Dollar Hometown Heroes program works; and if you qualify, then it is an amazing program! If you

Real Estate’s 2022 Legislative Changes and Updates
Randy Gilbert, J.D. Chief Happiness Officer Florida’s Title Insurance Company [email protected] (954) 500-Title (8485) S.B. 1006 (Fla. Stat. §15.0522). Official State Dessert is Strawberry Shortcake. With more than 10,000 acres of strawberries planted annually. Don’t worry, Key Lime Pie is still the Official State Pie Fla. Stat. §15.052. H.B. 1557 (Fla. Stat. §1001.42). Dubbed the

Decrypted – Phrases Realtors Use to Sell
Randy Gilbert, J.D. Chief Happiness Officer Florida’s Title Insurance Company [email protected] (954) 500-Title (8485) Secure, private, retreat. You’re safe from Corona. Price Reduction. Seller priced it too high, was already told this by their Realtor in the first place, and is now finally willing to listen. Location, Location, Location. You’re paying more to live here.

Real “Estates” – How Should I Take Ownership?
Randy Gilbert, J.D. Chief Happiness Officer Florida’s Title Insurance Company [email protected] (954) 500-Title (8485) Why is it called Real Estate? Florida has a limited number of estates in land. The term ‘’estates’’ refers to interests in land. This article discusses types of estates recognized in Florida. I. Fee Simple Absolute a/k/a Fee Simple. “A title

Can Texts/emails Create a Real Estate Contract?
Randy Gilbert, J.D. Chief Happiness Officer Florida’s Title Insurance Company [email protected] (954) 500-Title (8485) Issue Presented To The Court. On March 23, 2022, a case of first impression was decided in Florida, answering whether texts and emails between real estate agents sufficiently complied with the Statute of Frauds so as to create a binding and

“Real” Estate in the Metaverse
Randy Gilbert, J.D. Chief Happiness Officer Florida’s Title Insurance Company [email protected] (954) 500-Title (8485) What is the Metaverse? The Metaverse is the next version of the internet. Interest in metaverses skyrocketed when Mark Zuckerberg announced Facebook is changing its name to Meta, and spending $10 billion developing its own metaverse. We have gone from desktops

Spotting Title Company “Junk Fees”
Randy Gilbert, J.D. Chief Happiness Officer Florida’s Title Insurance Company [email protected] (954) 500-Title (8485) Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) On January 26, 2022, the CFPB launched an eight (8) page initiative to crack down against Junk Fees charged in real estate. The CFPB is a unit within the Federal Reserve charged with ensuring markets for

iBuyers vs. Real Estate Agents
Randy Gilbert, J.D. Chief Happiness Officer Florida’s Title Insurance Company [email protected] (954) 500-Title (8485) What is an iBuyer? A novel and innovative tool in real estate has flipped the script by providing sellers a platform, not to list their home for a certain price, but instead to ask, “How about you make-me-an offer?” iBuyers (short
