Board Certified Real Estate Attorney

Board Certified Real Estate Attorney

Real estate is often your most significant asset. Whether you are buying, selling, developing, or defending property rights, the legal issues involved can have lasting financial consequences. Mistakes in real estate transactions are expensive and sometimes irreversible.

Steele T. Williams holds Board Certification in Real Estate from the Florida Bar - one of only two board certifications he carries. This certification covers both transactional and litigation aspects of real estate law, meaning Steele can handle your deal and defend your rights if a dispute arises.

Real Estate Matters We Handle

• Residential transactions. Purchase and sale agreements, title review, closing representation, and post-closing disputes. We protect buyers and sellers from hidden defects, title issues, and contractual problems.
• Commercial transactions. Office, retail, industrial, and multi-family acquisitions and dispositions. Due diligence, lease review, environmental considerations, and complex closing structures.
• Title disputes. Quiet title actions, boundary disputes, easement conflicts, adverse possession claims, and resolution of title defects that threaten ownership rights.
• Seller and broker misrepresentation. When sellers fail to disclose material defects or brokers misrepresent property conditions, we pursue claims for damages on behalf of buyers.
• Landlord-tenant disputes. Both commercial and residential lease disputes, including evictions, lease enforcement, security deposit claims, and constructive eviction.
• Construction disputes. Defective construction claims, contractor liens, payment disputes, and Florida Construction Lien Law compliance.
• HOA and condominium disputes. Disputes with homeowners associations and condominium associations over assessments, restrictions, maintenance obligations, and governance.
• Real estate fraud. Fraudulent transfers, mortgage fraud, deed fraud, and scams targeting property owners - particularly elderly homeowners.

Florida Real Estate Transactions

Florida real estate transactions have unique requirements that differ from other states:

• Florida is a "title theory" state where the lender holds legal title until the mortgage is paid
• Title insurance is customary and strongly recommended for both buyers and lenders
• Florida does not require attorney representation at closing, but having one protects your interests in ways a title company cannot
• Documentary stamp taxes and intangible taxes apply to most transactions
• The Florida Residential Real Estate Contract (FAR/BAR) is the standard form, but its provisions can and should be modified to protect your specific interests

Why You Need a Real Estate Attorney

Title companies facilitate closings, but they do not represent your legal interests. A real estate attorney reviews contracts for hidden risks, negotiates terms that protect you, identifies title defects before closing, ensures proper documentation, and stands ready to litigate if a dispute arises after the transaction.

The cost of attorney involvement in a real estate transaction is a fraction of the cost of litigation when a problem surfaces months or years later.

Real Estate Litigation

When disputes cannot be resolved through negotiation, we are prepared to litigate. Steele's dual Board Certification means he brings both deep real estate knowledge and proven trial skills to every case. His 10+ published appellate decisions include real estate matters that have shaped Florida law.