Broward County Real Estate Attorney Serving Fort Lauderdale and Surrounding Communities
Real estate transactions and disputes in Broward County involve substantial money, complex contracts, and Florida statutes that often catch buyers, sellers, landlords, and tenants by surprise. I’m Eric J. Goldman, and for more than twenty years I have represented clients across Broward County in residential and commercial real estate matters from my Fort Lauderdale office.
My boutique practice means you work directly with me. From a residential closing on a Fort Lauderdale waterfront home, to a commercial purchase in Pompano Beach, to a contested HOA matter in Coral Springs, I handle each case personally. Call (954) 536-7557 for a free consultation.
Broward County Real Estate Services
- Residential Transactions — Single-family home purchases and sales, condominium closings governed by Florida Statute Chapter 718, and homeowner-association properties under Chapter 720.
- Commercial Transactions — Office, retail, industrial, and mixed-use purchases and sales, lease negotiations, and 1031 exchanges throughout Broward County.
- Contract Review — Purchase agreements, FAR/BAR contracts, listing agreements, lease drafting and review, and addenda specific to your transaction.
- Landlord-Tenant — Eviction proceedings, security deposit disputes, lease enforcement, and habitability claims under Chapter 83 of the Florida Statutes.
- Property Disputes — Boundary disputes, quiet title actions, easement conflicts, HOA enforcement matters, and partition actions.
What Makes Broward Real Estate Different
Broward’s real estate landscape is among the most diverse in Florida. The county spans waterfront luxury along Las Olas Isles and Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, dense condominium stock in Hollywood and Pompano Beach, master-planned communities in Weston and Parkland, working-class single-family neighborhoods in Hialeah-adjacent western Broward, and a thriving commercial corridor along Federal Highway, Andrews Avenue, and Cypress Creek Road.
Each of those markets carries its own legal considerations. Waterfront properties trigger riparian rights, dock and seawall maintenance obligations, and flood zone disclosures. Aging condominiums — especially in light of the Surfside collapse and the 2022 condo reform legislation — now require careful review of milestone inspection records, structural integrity reserve studies, and any pending special assessments. Master-planned communities mean HOA estoppel certificates, restrictive covenants, and architectural review processes that can affect what you’re allowed to do with the property you’re buying.
Broward’s commercial market is equally varied — from Class A office in Cypress Creek and Plantation to retail in Sawgrass Mills’ shadow and industrial inventory near Port Everglades and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. Each requires different due diligence and contract terms.
Broward Closings and Title
Florida is a “title theory” state, and the closing process centers on delivering clear, marketable title. In Broward, that means working through the records of the Broward County Records Division, which sits at the Broward County Governmental Center in Fort Lauderdale. I personally review title commitments, address any clouds or exceptions, coordinate with the title insurance underwriter, and make sure that what’s recorded after closing matches what you actually bargained for.
Broward Real Estate Disputes
When a transaction goes wrong or a property dispute arises, litigation may proceed in the 17th Judicial Circuit Court at the Broward County Courthouse on SE 6th Street. I handle quiet title actions, partition suits, breach of contract claims arising from FAR/BAR contracts, HOA enforcement disputes, and landlord-tenant proceedings. Where appropriate, I work to resolve matters before litigation — through demand letters, settlement negotiations, or mediation — but I prepare each case as if it will be tried.
Broward Communities I Serve
I represent clients throughout Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Pompano Beach, Coral Springs, Plantation, Sunrise, Davie, Weston, Pembroke Pines, Miramar, Parkland, Deerfield Beach, Coconut Creek, Margate, Tamarac, Oakland Park, Wilton Manors, Lauderhill, Dania Beach, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, and surrounding Broward communities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an attorney for a Broward residential closing?
Florida does not legally require an attorney at every residential closing — title companies can conduct closings — but having an attorney represent you specifically (rather than the transaction generally) is one of the most valuable protections you can buy. Title companies are neutral and cannot advocate for either side when something goes wrong.
I’m buying a condo in Broward. What should I be especially careful about right now?
Following the 2022 Florida condo reform legislation, Broward condominiums three stories or higher are required to complete milestone inspections and structural integrity reserve studies. Before closing on any condo, you should review the building’s milestone inspection status, the reserve study results, pending special assessments, and the level of fully funded reserves. A surprising number of older Broward condos are now facing six-figure special assessments. I review all of this before you commit.
I’m a landlord in Broward dealing with a non-paying tenant. What’s the process?
Florida’s eviction process under Chapter 83 starts with proper notice — typically a 3-day notice for nonpayment of rent. After the notice period expires, suit is filed in Broward County Court, the tenant has five business days to respond, and if no defense is filed, a default judgment can be obtained relatively quickly. Procedural errors at the notice stage can derail the entire case, which is why getting the early steps right matters.
What if the title search reveals a lien or other cloud on the property?
Most title issues can be resolved before closing — payoff of liens, satisfaction of mortgages, quiet title proceedings, or curative documents. Some require more work than others. I evaluate each issue and recommend the right path to clean title.
Talk to a Broward County Real Estate Attorney
Whether you’re buying, selling, leasing, or dealing with a real estate dispute anywhere in Broward County, call (954) 536-7557 or reach out through my contact page for a free consultation.