Why Sellers Need a Real Estate Attorney Too

We have written in the past about the importance of having a Real Estate attorney working with you while buying a house, not just a Real Estate agent. An attorney oversees the process with an eye for the legal aspect of the transaction, making sure everything is in your favor in a way that a realtor cannot. Working with a Real Estate attorney is also important for Title Insurance. Title Insurance helps ensure that Read More

How To Prepare For Florida Probate Court

When a loved one passes away, the last thing you want to deal with is a complicated legal matter. Unfortunately, that is what many Florida residents will face. This is because all of the assets which were owned by the deceased loved one (collectively called their estate) need to be evaluated and distributed to the appropriate next of kin. If your loved one engaged in Estate Planning prior to their death, they may Read More

5 Tips for Buying a House During Florida’s Real Estate Boom

In Florida, there’s only one thing hotter than the temperatures right now: the housing market. Accelerated by the pandemic, residential real estate booms are happening all over the country. In Florida, where many aspire to homeownership, the market is especially lively. Prices have risen across the board, resulting in much higher sale amounts than during the pre-COVID days. While this trend can make shopping for a Read More

Estate Planning isn’t Just for the Rich and Famous in Florida Anymore

Most people have heard of an Estate Plan, even if they haven’t realized that they have. Everyone has heard of a Last Will and Testament, commonly just known as a Will, where they list that they leave everything they have to their kids or spouse or long-lost twin. Some adults plan on just writing this in a Google Doc or scribbling it on a napkin if they ever get sick. Unfortunately, in Florida, that doesn’t cut Read More

6 Tips for a Stress-Free Refinancing Process

Refinancing your home’s mortgage allows you to replace your current home loan with a new one. It is a great option to get into a more advantageous financial situation, especially if it has been a long time since you took out your original home loan. At Schlegel Livingston, LLC, refinancing is one of our specialties. Here are our 6 tips for a stress-free refinancing process: Decide What Your Goal is Knowing Read More

Wills vs. Trusts: Which is Right For You?

Estate Planning, though universally necessary, is very specialized in execution. Just as no two people are exactly the same, no two Estate Plans  will have the same needs and desires. Though most people have heard of a Will, they may not know that a Trust would be a better fit for them - or some combination of the two. For the uninitiated, an Estate Plan is a legal document that dictates what someone wants to Read More

Do I Really Need Title Insurance When Buying a House?

No one has ever accused the homebuying process of being straightforward, quick, and easy. Even in the best of cases, it is easy for important things to slip through the cracks. One of the most important aspects of the home buying process is getting Title Insurance, which is all too easily overlooked by those who don’t understand it. For the purpose of this article, we are going to discuss buying a home to live in, Read More

How Divorce Affects Your Estate Plan

Divorce is never easy. It affects all aspects of a couple’s lives - their living situation, financial situation, emotional situation, familial situation, and their work. It even affects their Estate Plan, which many people do not realize. Updating your Estate Plan is unlikely to be the first thing that comes to mind when you finish going through a divorce - but maybe it should be. Making an Estate Plan is Read More

7 Tips on Preparing for an Open House

An Open House is an exciting part of the real estate selling process. It is the time where you will probably have the most people inside your house at one time. It will invite potential buyers inside your home who wouldn’t be able to see it usually. You’ll have a lot of people asking you questions all at once. For how exciting it is, it can also be overwhelming. Sometimes it feels like you don’t even know where to Read More

9 Things You Didn’t Realize Were Digital Assets

When you think about estate planning, you probably know most of what you want to put in your Will. You might think about your money, home, vehicles, and possessions. You might not even consider your digital assets - even though they are increasingly important. Before we continue: what exactly are digital assets? Your digital assets include: Your smartphone… (Even if it will be outdated in two years!) Read More