need for non lawyer disclosure when purchase condo florida

by Meghan Jaskolski 6 min read

Fill out disclosure from nonlawyer optional This disclosure is only required to be filled out if someone who is not a lawyer will be helping you fill out the forms during this process. The nonlawyer helping you must also put their name, address, and telephone number on the bottom of the last page of every form that they help you complete.

Full Answer

What are Florida’s real estate disclosure laws for buyers?

May 31, 2017 · Required Disclosures Similarly, Chapter 720 Section 401 of the Florida Statutes requires a seller to provide a corresponding homeowners’ association disclosure to a potential buyer. Both the developer sellers and nondeveloper sellers must provide a buyer with a disclosure form containing statutorily mandated language and information.

What are the laws for buying a condo in Florida?

Jan 20, 2015 · Florida Condo Disclosures. Florida Statute 718.503 (1), (2), and (3) are laws that apply to the purchase of Florida condos and make it illegal for any residential condominium developer or unit seller in Florida to fail to let condo buyers know in advance of purchase of many specifics that apply to the condo lifestyle and the particular condo being purchased. These …

What are the disclosure requirements for non-developer sellers of condominiums?

Florida condo disclosures, are governed by Florida Statute §718.503 (1), (2), and (3), and pertain to the purchase of a condominium in Florida. These laws make it illegal for sellers and developers to not disclose prior to purchase all of the specificities that go along with condo ownership.

Do Florida homeowners association (“HOA”) disclosures have to be delivered to buyers?

Non-Lawyer Disclosure. Florida Virtual Notary, LLC is not a law firm. Our Company cannot provide legal advice for any situation or case. We cannot make personal recommendations as to what documents should or should not be used and cannot attempt to predict the legal impact of using any certain document. The notaries employed by Florida Virtual ...

image

Is Hoa disclosure required in Florida?

Required Disclosures Similarly, Chapter 720 Section 401 of the Florida Statutes requires a seller to provide a corresponding homeowners' association disclosure to a potential buyer.May 31, 2017

Are disclosures required in Florida?

While a seller's property disclosure form is not required under Florida law, Florida law does require seller's and their realtors to disclose any significant property defects that may not be easily visible to the buyer. Buyers still have the responsibility to have the property inspected.

What does a seller have to disclose in Florida?

Florida case law provides that, with some exceptions, a home seller must disclose any facts or conditions about the property that have a substantial impact on its value or desirability and that others cannot easily see for themselves. This originally came from the court case of Johnson v. Davis, 480 So.

Is Florida a disclosure state?

According to the FL State Law, sellers must disclose any known material facts regarding the property. This means anything that may impact the property's purchasing price or alter the home's power to attract interested buyers.Feb 20, 2020

Can buyer Sue seller after closing Florida?

Under Florida law, a buyer can sue for damages, and even rescind a transaction, where a seller or real estate agent doesn't reveal a material problem with the home prior to purchase.Apr 14, 2021

Is radon disclosure required in Florida?

A disclosure statement about radon is required on Real Estate Documents [Section 404.056(5), Florida Statutes (F.S.)]: a notification shall be provided “at time of, or prior to, contract for sale and purchase of any building or execution of a rental agreement.” Learn more. Contact the Radon Program at 800-543-8279.

Do I have to disclose I am a Realtor in Florida?

REALTORSÂŽ must disclose their true position to prospective buyers when listing a property that they have any ownership interest in. In presenting offers for themselves, an immediate family member or any entity in which they have ownership, REALTORSÂŽmust also comply with this requirement.Jan 3, 2019

What is passive misrepresentation in real estate?

Fraud can also be “passive,” i.e., where a broker deceives a buyer by failing to reveal a material defect in the property that he knows to exist and would likely change the buyer's actions in purchasing the property if he was made aware of it. Intentional Misrepresentation or Active Fraud.

Do you have to disclose mold when selling a house in Florida?

CORAL SPRINGS, November 21, 2016 – Florida law requires the seller of a residential property to disclose to the buyer facts materially affecting the value of the property which are not readily observable and unknown to the buyer. Failure to discharge this duty of disclosure is deemed to be fraudulent concealment.Nov 21, 2016

Can a broker represent both buyer and seller in Florida?

FLORIDA LAW ALLOWS REAL ESTATE LICENSEES WHO REPRESENT A BUYER OR SELLER AS A SINGLE AGENT TO CHANGE FROM A SINGLE AGENT RELATIONSHIP TO A TRANSACTION BROKERAGE RELATIONSHIP IN ORDER FOR THE LICENSEE TO ASSIST BOTH PARTIES IN A REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION BY PROVIDING A LIMITED FORM OF REPRESENTATION TO BOTH THE BUYER AND ...

Can you sell a house with mold in Florida?

Selling a House With Mold Problems You may be surprised to know that yes, it is legal to sell a house with fungi-including toxic black mold. There aren't any legal restrictions barring this.

What is a disclosure statement?

The disclosure statement is a document that a landlord has to provide you as the incoming tenant of retail premises. It provides a summary of the major commercial terms of the lease. You should review your disclosure statement carefully before entering into a lease.Feb 22, 2019

What documents are required for a condominium association in Florida?

The required documents include the bylaws and articles of incorporation for the condominium association, declaration of condominium and other documents specifically listed in Section 503 of Chapter 718 Florida Statutes. Upon the receipt of the last required document, a three day right of rescission period begins.

How long does a condominium contract last in Florida?

When purchasing a condominium from a developer, Florida Law requires all buyers are provided with a 15 business day rescission period. This period begins once the buyer has signed an acknowledgment form that they are in receipt of all condominium documents.

What is a nonwaivable provision in Florida?

Pursuant to Chapter 718 Section 503 of the Florida Statues, a residential contract for the sale of a condominium unit contains a nonwaivable provision that requires copies of certain documents to be furnished at the seller’s expense to the prospective buyer.

Is it necessary to have an experienced real estate attorney involved in a transaction?

Requirements such as these can be problematic for even the most experienced real estate agents. Therefore it is imperative to have an experienced real estate attorney involved in the transaction to verify such requirements are met and protect the client’s best interest.

What are Florida's disclosure laws?

What Are Florida’s Disclosure Laws in Residential Property Transactions? In Florida, there is no one, overall disclosure law that applies to residential real estate. Instead, there are a series of laws that have been passed over time regarding residential disclosure requirements.

What are the laws that protect home buyers in Florida?

Florida home buyers are protected by specific laws passed by the Florida Legislature that force developers, realtors, real estate agents, and real estate brokers to reveal certain conditions about the property they intend to buy. Of course, these statutes were passed only after so many buyers were harmed by the failure of an unethical real estate ...

What is the Florida Statute 720.401?

Florida Statute 720.401 specifies that anyone buying a home in a community with a homeowner’s association must be notified that they will be required to be a member of the association, and that as a member, they will be asked to pay for things like assessments and fees (at the risk of a lien being placed on their property for failure to pay these sums). The law also provides for voiding the sale if the proper disclosures have not been made.

What is Florida law 161.57?

1. Coastal Property Disclosure. Florida Statute 161.57 requires disclosure of things like the possibility of coastal erosion; meaning, that the property is subject to federal, state and local regulations on limitations regarding construction; and there are environmental regulations that apply, such as protections for marine turtles. 2.

Is it illegal to buy a condo in Florida?

Florida Statute 718.503 (1), (2), and (3) are laws that apply to the purchase of Florida condos and make it illegal for any residential condominium developer or unit seller in Florida to fail to let condo buyers know in advance of purchase of many specifics that apply to the condo lifestyle and the particular condo being purchased .

Do real estate agents have to tell the buyer about an illegal addition?

Some real estate agents don’t think they need to tell the home buyer about something like an illegal home addition or conversion, or the fact that the agent is really working on behalf of the seller and not the buyer.

Is it illegal to disclose radon gas in Florida?

Florida Statute 404.056 (5) makes it illegal for a real estate professional to fail to disclose in writing of the dangers of radon gas. The law mandates that specific language be included in the purchase documents that states:

What Are Material Defects In Real Property?

The most general way that a seller’s disclosure obligation is minimized is the requirement to disclose only material defects. Material defects refers to substantial defects that would likely have an effect on the value of the property or the buyer’s readiness to purchase the property.

Hidden Defects In Real Property?

Defects that are not easily observable are commonly referred to as latent defects. Disclosure laws in most state’s carry a requirement that there must be disclosure of defects that would not be clearly obvious to an average buyer who is looking at the home.

Sellers Exemptions From Disclosure Requirements On Real Property

While some states have written into law certain details that a seller is not required to disclose. If a buyer asks the seller a specific and direct question about a problem with the property the law that grants the seller certain nondisclosure rights will not shield the seller if he or she lies.

Sellers Disclosure Obligation For Property Defects In Florida Regulatory Laws

In Florida, there are many laws that apply to residential disclosure requirements. Two of these laws are Florida Statute §689.25, and Florida Statute §475.278.

What happens if you don't disclose your property in Florida?

When a buyer is not told about a material issue related to a residential property in Florida, the buyer may have the right to rescind the deal and/or sue for money damages resulting from the failure to disclose (however, most standard form contracts now require most disputes to be mediated before litigation may commence – check your contract).

What is the Florida Statute 720.401?

In Florida residential real property transactions, sellers have a legal duty to disclose to someone who is considering purchasing a piece of real estate all known material facts about that property, as a general rule. Specific laws, in fact, have been passed to make sure that buyers are informed ...

Why does Florida have environmental regulations?

Environmental regulations under federal law may even apply in Florida because of our unique natural resources and risks (e.g., the Everglades, Flooding, Mold, Hurricanes, etc.).

Is HIV a disclosure in Florida?

Other issues, however, are not specifically required to be disclosed to the buyer under Florida law – for example, Florida Statute 689.25 regarding disclosure of any homicide, suicide, deaths, or diagnosis of HIV or AIDS infection in an occupant of real property. (1) (a) The fact that an occupant of real property is infected or has been infected ...

Do sellers have to disclose defects in real estate in Florida?

Fortunately for buyers, Florida law requires that sellers disclose known defects involving Florida residential real estate; sellers who fail to disclose these defects will most likely be held to account under Florida’s real estate disclosure laws. Does a Florida seller have to disclose a copy of the HOA Rules?

Does Florida require disclosure of real estate?

Disclosure of facts that materially affect the value of real estate doesn’t always happen in residential real estate sales because sellers fret that if the buyer hears something bad, they’ll walk away — or, counter with a price which is much lower than the listed sales price. Fortunately for buyers, Florida law requires that sellers disclose known defects involving Florida residential real estate; sellers who fail to disclose these defects will most likely be held to account under Florida’s real estate disclosure laws.

Can a failure to disclose a material issue to a residential real estate buyer in Florida lead to litigation?

Short answer: the failure to disclose a known material issue to a residential real estate buyer in Florida can lead to litigation. There are several statutory laws (both federal and state) that come into play here, along with Florida court cases (precedent). Environmental regulations under federal law may even apply in Florida because ...

Why is a nondisclosure claim based on actual knowledge of the alleged defect?

Florida case law explains the reason a claim for nondisclosure must be based on actual knowledge of the alleged defect is to prevent converting those involved in selling the property into guarantors of the condition of the property. “As Is” Contract Does Not Relieve Disclosure Obligation. “Not to worry, it was an “As Is” Contract”, you might think.

What is the duty of a seller to disclose?

It is a decision that every seller of real property is burdened with, to disclose, or not disclose….damage, defects or other problems with the property. Charged with knowledge and a history of the property, the law imposes a duty upon sellers to provide the buyer with a candid assessment of the condition of the real property, for their due diligence purposes, even if it jeopardizes closing the deal.

What is Davis action for non disclosure?

Davis action for non-disclosure, requires that a buyer must plead: “ [W]here the seller of a home knows of facts materially affecting the value of the property which are not readily observable and are not known to the buyer, the seller is under a duty to disclose them to the buyer.”. Johnson v.

Can a seller disclose the condition of a property in Florida?

However, sellers can also disclose information on the condition of the property orally or in a less formal writing. Under Florida law, a seller must disclose all known defects or damage to their property. Non-disclosure of known defects or damage is actionable and commonly known as a “Johnson v. Davis” action. A Johnson v.

Can a seller be liable for non disclosure?

Sellers who are legitimately unaware of defect will not be liable for non-disclosure. Under that same logic, constructive knowledge of the alleged defect and damage is insufficient to hold a seller liable for non-disclosure.

Is a seller liable for a defect in Florida?

Sellers are protected from liability where the defect is unknown. Florida law requires actual knowledge and a seller will not be held liable for a defect which it should have known or constructive knowledge. Actual knowledge of the defect is required for a seller to be liable for non-disclosure of the defect. Jensen v.

Download PDF Fillable Form 12.900 (a)

To download our free PDF Fillable form (shown above) just enter your info below...

Legal Documents Preparation Services

Our Petition Preparer Service can have all your documents professionally prepared after a brief interview with our experienced Legal Document Specialists.

image