Legacy Title and Escrow
If you are Buying, Selling Refinancing or Building – We can Help
We work hard to keep closings as simple as possible and on time. Our team consists of licensed title agents, processors and customer service representatives who are committed to a smooth closing experience for all parties involved. Our team is well versed on the intricacies of the local real estate market. Whether it’s a short sale, a foreclosure, or a residential or commercial property, we are your best resource for getting deals done.
What We Do
Our Service Areas
Our team is well versed on the intricacies of the local real estate market. Whether it’s a short sale, a foreclosure, or a residential or commercial property, we are your best resource for getting deals done.
- Commercial & Residential Real Estate Transactions
- Closings & Short Sales
- Title Insurance
- 1031 Exchanges
- Land Trusts
- Estate Planning Trusts & Will Planning
- Probate Administration
- Landlord/Tenant Law
- Corporate, Limited Liability Company & Partnership Law
- Contract Review and Negotiations
Real Estate Transactions
Real estate is big business these days in Florida and so many buyers take their chances with the average title insurance company. What many parties do not realize is that having a lawyer involved in the closing and acting as the title insurance agent is no more costly than using the average title insurance company because the cost of title insurance is set by Florida statute for every title agent. Therefore you will be having a lawyer handling your closing at no additional cost to you. We are not only comparably priced to an average title insurance company, but we have a fiduciary responsibility to our clients to look out for your best interests.
Title Insurance
We will walk you through the process to make sure you completely understand what is going on and to make sure there are no “hidden” surprises. We will also look for any “oddities” in the transaction and bring them to your attention. We also handle other real estate affairs such as 1031 Exchanges, landlord/tenant, eviction, condominium formation, condominium conversion, foreclosure and land use and zoning concerns.
Our services
Title insurance is an exclusively American invention. Its purpose was well stated in the first advertisement for title insurance back in the late 1800s: “This company insures the purchaser’s of real estate and mortgages against loss from defective titles, liens, and encumbrances. Through these facilities [the] transfer of real estate and real estate securities can be made more speedily and with greater security than hereto before.” [circa 1876] Protecting purchasers against loss is accomplished by the issuance of a title insurance policy, which states that if the status of the title to a parcel of real property is other than as represented, and if the insured suffers a loss as a result of title defect, the insurer will reimburse the insured for that loss and any related legal expenses, up to the face amount of the policy.
Title insurance differs significantly from other forms of insurance. While the functions of most other forms of insurance is risk assumption through the pooling of risks for losses arising out of unforeseen future events (such as death or accidents), the primary purpose of title insurance is to eliminate risks and prevent losses caused by defects in title arising out of events that have happened in the past. To achieve this goal, title insurers perform an extensive search of the public records to determine whether there are any adverse claims to the subject real estate. Those claims are either eliminated prior to the issuance of a title policy or their existence is excepted from coverage.
A short sale transaction is one in which a seller wishes to sell a property wherein they have a mortgage loan balance that exceeds the value of the property. In these situations the seller’s mortgage lender must approve the sale. We assist our clients by acting as an intermediary between themselves and their lender in order to obtain short sale approval; generally, the short sale client will not incur any legal charges for our services. Our short sale team is devoted exclusively to the timely completion and closing of short sale transactions.
The short sale team has valuable experience facilitating short sale approvals and a high short sale approval success rate. The short sale team handles all aspects of short sale transactions from the initial listing with a real estate agent, to lender approval, and the ultimately transaction closing. Our team works closely with Realtors, Sellers and Buyers to establish a sales contract, which includes the conditions of the short sale, as well as the appropriate exhibits and necessary amendments (e.g. Seller hardship information) to achieve a transaction acceptable to all parties. Once lender approval is obtained, the short sale team coordinates all the details to efficiently conduct the transaction closing and settlement, and issue the appropriate title insurance policy.
Whether you are buying or selling residential/ commercial real estate, in Sarasota, Venice, Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch and through out Florida our firm can represent your interests during the process. We represent both buyers and sellers (individuals, investors, developers and commercial entities) in a vast array of real estate matters throughout the State of Florida.
We insure the chain of events in your transaction take place methodically and carefully, communicating with you at every step to ensure a seamless experience. We assist in all aspects of the closing process from the review of the contract to closing. We draft and negotiate contracts for sale, building, development and leasing along with other real estate related documents.
OUR AREAS OF EXPERTISE INCLUDE
- Rental and Lease Agreements
- Lease Termination
- Security Deposit Returns
- Landlord Rights
- Tenant Rights
- Landlord/Tenant Disputes
- Repairs and Maintenance Rights and Duties
- Eviction and Eviction Defense
When preparing for the future of your estate, it is important that there be a plan of action that gives you the confidence in knowing your estate will be handled in the manner you desire. Legacy Title and Escrow LLC. will assist you with the precise execution in the transfer of your estate to your heirs. We will keep estate taxes at a minimum and work with you to develop a plan that preserves the estate for your loved ones. Depending on the client’s unique circumstances, the probate process can be relatively straightforward, or it can be extremely complex.
Legacy Title and Escrow LLC. will guide you through every step, including formal probate administration, ancillary probate administration, estate distribution without administration, and more. In some cases, there are homestead issues that must be considered in order to avoid creditor claims
While most of our clients are local residents, Sarasota, Venice, Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch we also work with many foreign and non-resident purchasers of Florida residential and commercial property. We have advised many individuals and businesses from outside of the state of Florida who have purchased waterfront property, real estate in golf course communities, and open acreage in the state. We know from experience that there are many benefits to living and working in Florida.
While the beaches and recreational opportunities are second to none, there are also tax benefits to being a Florida resident. Florida has no state personal income tax and no intangible tax on stocks and bonds. Residents also enjoy an unlimited homestead protection from creditors and pay no inheritance tax when your estate passes to your heirs.