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Modern House with a Pool

REAL ESTATE COURSES

Seminar Series

Continuing Education
Credited & Unaccredited Courses
Courses Instructed By Michael H. Merino, Esq.

Proptech | The Future of Real Estate: Blockchain, Asset Tokenization, Cryptocurrencies:
Unaccredited 1 Hour

Course Overview:

  • A Primer on New Technologies Affecting Real Estate

  • In-Depth Discussion of Smart Contract and Tokenization
  • Discussion of Cryptocurrencies & Tokens
  • Overview of Artificial Intelligence in Real Estate
  • The Internet of Things
  • An overview: Blockchain & Digital Ledger Technology
  • Fractional Ownership of Real Estate through Digital Tokens
  • Crowdfunding of Real Estate on the Blockchain
  • Augmented in Virtual Reality
     
  • Use of Robot & Drones

Condominium Transactions after Surfside:
Unaccredited 1 Hour

Course Overview:

  • Discussion of various issues surrounding the purchase and sale of older condominiums in the wake of Surfside

  • Examination of Rights and Duties of Unit Owners and Tenants
  • Review of the Condominium Rider
 
  • Traps to avoid
  • Brief Discussion of the 40 Year Recertification and which counties it applies to
  • Discussion of what documents a look for when purchasing older condominiums
  • Discussion of existing condominium laws related to the maintenance and improvement of condominium buildings

Commercial Contracts: FAR Commercial Contract Overview:
Unaccredited 1 Hour

Course Overview:

  • Guide on how to complete the FAR Commercial Contract Form

  • Discussion of Due Diligence
     
  • Brief Overview of a Commercial Transaction
  • 1031 Exchanges & Opportunity Zones
  • Entity Selection and Deal Structuring
     
  • Warranties and Representations in Commercial Transactions
  • Title Issues
     
  • Overview of Various Commercial Contract Concepts

Foreign National Representation | A Realtor Guide to Assisting the Nonresident Investor and Landlord:
Unaccredited 1 Hour

Course Overview:

  • Brief Discussion of Nonresident Investor Trends and Tendencies

  • Brief Overview of Marketing to the Foreign National
     
  • Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act and Other New Transparency Laws
  • How to Avoid, Minimize and Defer Taxes for the Nonresident Investor
  • Overview of Nonresident Investor Issues
  • Privacy, Liability, Asset Protection, Estate and Tax Planning Issues for Nonresidents
  • Overview of FIRPTA
     
  • Entity Structuring
     

Foreign National Representation | A Realtor Guide to Assisting the Nonresident Investor and Landlord:
Unaccredited 1 Hour

Course Overview:

  • Brief Discussion of Nonresident Investor Trends and Tendencies

  • Brief Overview of Marketing to the Foreign National
     
  • Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act and Other New Transparency Laws
  • How to Avoid, Minimize and Defer Taxes for the Nonresident Investor
  • Overview of Nonresident Investor Issues
  • Privacy, Liability, Asset Protection, Estate and Tax Planning Issues for Nonresidents
  • Overview of FIRPTA
     
  • Entity Structuring
     

Marketing to the Foreign National | A Realtor Guide to Establishing a Successful Marketing Plan:
Unaccredited 1 Hour

Course Overview:

  • A Comprehensive Guide with a Wide Variety of Techniques and How to Market to Foreign Nationals

  • Brief Overview of Nonresident Investment Trans and Tendencies
  • Overview of Nonresident Investor Issues
  • Overview of the Most Recent Statistics on Foreign Investment in the United States
     
  • Brief Overview of Entity Structuring
     

Basic Estate Planning & Asset Protection: A Guide for the Florida Real Estate Professional:
Unaccredited 1 Hour

Course Overview:

  • Revocable & Irrevocable Trusts

  • Florida Land Trust
  • Simple Asset Protection
  • Tenants in Common, Joint Tenancies & Marital Property
  • Wills
  • Life Estate Deeds & Lady Bird Deeds
  • Probate Issues
  • Non-Residents: the 40% Estate Tax & How to Avoid it

Defaults, Disputes & Demands: An Overview of the Default Provisions of the FAR BAR Contract & Other Common Real Estate Disputes:
Unaccredited 1 Hour

Course Overview:

  • Overview of the Default Provisions in the FAR BAR Contract

  • Overview of the Attorney Fee Provision of the FAR BAR Contract
  • Overview of Specific Performance
  • Course Will Cover Common Disputes & Resolution Tips
  • Review of Recent Court Cases
  • Discussion of Dispute Resolution Including Mediation and Litigation
  • Discussion of Deposit Disputes
     
  • Overview of a Lawsuit
  • Discussion of Common Traps to Avoid

FAR BAR Express | Title, Surveys and Disclosure:
Unaccredited 1 Hour

Course Overview:

  • Overview of the Title, Survey and Disclosure Provisions of the FAR BAR Contract

  • Discussion of Title Defects
     
  • In-Depth Discussion of How to Read a Title Commitment
  • Review of Recent Case Law
  • Detailed Review of a Title Commitment and Survey
     
  • In-Depth Review of Surveys, Encroachments, Boundary Issues
  • Overview of Florida Disclosure Law
     

FAR BAR Express | Financing & Inspection Provisions:
Unaccredited 1 Hour

Course Overview:

  • Overview of various FAR BAR Contract Provisions including Financing and Appraisal

  • Discussion of Appraisal provision and Appraisal Rider
  • Occupancy Issues
  • Practice Tips
  • Overview of Loan Approval definition

     
  • Discussion of the Inspection Provision
     
  • Brief Review of Contract Fundamentals
  • Discussion of Recent FAR BAR Court Case

Survival Guide for the Florida Real Estate Professional: Part 1 - Contract Fundamentals & An In Depth Analysis of the FAR/BAR Contract Form:
4 Credit Hours

Course Overview:

  • Discussion of Paragraphs 13 through 18 of the FAR BAR Contract. The Various Transaction Standards Found in the FAR/BAR

  • Assignments of Contract
  • Review of Various Contract Fundamentals & Concepts
  • Discussion of Numerous Traps & Pitfalls to Avoid
  • In-depth discussion of Financing & Inspection Provisions.

     
  • In-depth Discussion of Closing Costs
  • Practice Tips & Real Life Scenarios
     
  • Discussion of Common Closing Issues
     

Survival Guide for the Florida Real Estate Professional: Part 2 - An In Depth Analysis of the FAR/BAR Contract Form Transaction Standards, Riders & a Discussion of Various Specific FAR/BAR Related Issues:
4 Credit Hours

Course Overview:

  • An in-depth review of paragraphs 1 through 12 of the FAR/BAR Contract Discussion of Deposit Issues, Time for Acceptance, Occupancy and Possession

  • Discussion of the Most Common Transaction Related Problems & Issues when Negotiating, Processing & Closing a Florida Residential Real Estate Transaction
  • Municipal Lien & Permit Issues
  • FIRPTA: Dealing with Non-Residents
  • An in-depth Discussion of the Riders to the FAR/BAR Contract & when to use them

     
  • Discussion of Common Title Defects & How to Resolve Common Title Problems


     
  • Overview of the Closing Process
  • Discussion of Title Insurance, Surveys & Exceptions

Survival Guide for the Florida Real Estate Professional: Part 3 - Investor Series - Investor Techniques, Advanced Contract Techniques, Flips, Assignments, & Traps to Avoid:
4 Credit Hours

Course Overview:

  • Overview of Florida Real Estate Law & Business Fundamentals

  • Overview of Various Real Estate Investment Techniques
  • Discussion on Flips, Assignment Deals & Options
  • Note Purchases
  • Opportunity Zones
  • Avoiding Fraud & Scams & a Variety of Other Investor Closing Related Issues
  • Discussion of Invaluable Investor Practice Tips
  • Overview of Entity Selection: LLC's, Corp's, Land Trusts, Parnerships
  • Overview of Tax Certificates & Tax Deeds
  • Buying at Courthouse Auctions
  • Discussion on Resolving Permit Issued & Code Violations

Foreign National Representation: Tax Traps & Consequences of Assisting the Foreign National in the Purchase, Sale & Management of U.S. Property Including FIRPTA & FACTA Update
3 Credit Hours

Course Overview:

  • Discussion of Various Methods & Marketing Techniques Designed to Capture the Foreign National Market

  • Discussion of Various Legal & Tax Issues Related to Foreign Investors
  • Entity Selection Issues for Foreign Nationals: Which Entity is best?
  • Overview of Withholding Liability in the Context of Property Management for Foreign Nationals
  • Overview of Various Foreign Investor Issues & Traps to Avoid
     
  • Overview of FIRPTA, FACTA & OECD
     
  • An Overview of Investor Visas
     
  • Discussion of Asset Protection, Privacy, Taxation, Estate Planning & Liability Issues Related to the Foreign National

TRAPS & PITFALLS OF BEING A FLORIDA LANDLORD: An Overview of Florida Landlord Tenant Law, Property Management & Florida Evictions:
3 Credit Hours

Course Overview:

  • Overview of Practical & Legal aspects of Managing Real Property for Florida Landlords

  • Overview of Florida Landlord Tenant Law including a Review of Various Federal & State Laws affecting Florida Landlords
  • Overview of the Eviction Process in Florida
  • Discussion of Various Practice Tips for Realtors & Property Managers
  • Discussion of Lease Preparation Considerations
     
  • The new HUD rule regarding Criminal Backgrounds
     
  • Discussion Related to the process of Collecting on Rent Judgments
  • Overview of Property Management Agreements

ADVANCED CONTRACTS
3 Credit Hours

Course Overview:

  • Overview of Transactions involving Assignments of Contract, Option Contracts, Rights of First Refusal, & Various other Commercial & Investor Related Deals
  • Discussion of Various Types of Contracts & Contract Clauses Related to Residential & Commercial Deals
  • Discussion of Specific Clauses such as rights of First Refusal, Options to Buy, Kick Out Clauses & other similar Clauses
  • Confidentiality & Non-Disclosure Agreements & Non-Compete Clauses
  • Overview of 1031 Tax Deferred Exchanges

     
  • Overview Commercial Purchase Transaction
     
  • Purchases & Sale of Businesses

     

COMMERCIAL LEASING 101
3 Credit Hours

Course Overview:

  • Overview of Commercial Lease Transactions
  • Overview of Pre-lease Considerations
     
  • Zoning Considerations, Contemplated use & Other Transaction Specific Considerations
  • Discussion of Various Lease Clauses
     
  • Discussion of Entity & use Considerations
  • Overview of Pre-lease checklists

     

BUSINESS ENTITIES 101
3 Credit Hours

Course Overview:

  • Discussion of the Basics of Florida Business Entities
  • Discussion of Tax Implications related to Entities
  • Practice Tips
  • Selecting the Best Entity for your Particular Transaction
  • Discussion of the Advantages/Disadvantages of using Corporations, Limited Liability Companies, Partnerships & Florida Land Trusts

COMMERCIAL TRANSACTIONS 101
3 Credit Hours

Course Overview:

  • Overview of Various Types of Commercial Transactions
  • Discussion of Preliminary Pre-Contract Considerations
  • Identifying Contemplated use & other Transaction specific Considerations
  • Overview of Commercial Loan Commitments & Commonly Negotiated Points
  • 1031 Tax Deferred Exchanges & How to Avoid Capital Gains Tax altogether
  • In depth discussion on the FAR Commercial Contract Form
  • Practice Tips for use in the Commercial Context
  • Overview of Warranties & Representations & Due Diligence
  • Discussion of the Basics of Business Purchases & Confidentiality Agreements
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