Learn the Florida Contract for Sale and Purchase
Title? What is the Title? It is Not Just a Hook for A Video!
🧾 CRSP-17 Breakdown – Section 10: Title Isn’t Just a Formality
Welcome back to the series where we break down the Florida real estate contract, CRSP-17, line by line — no fluff, no myths, no skipped fine print.
Today we’re digging into Section 10: Title.
Not “title” like clickbait.
Title as in:
Who really owns the house, and can they give it to you cleanly, legally, and without drama?
Let’s roll. 🏡⚖️
🔑 What Does Section 10 Cover?
Section 10 of CRSP-17 sets the legal and procedural standard for what kind of title a buyer is supposed to get — and what the seller is required to provide.
This isn’t optional or vague. It’s a concrete set of obligations backed by Florida law, and it gets enforced at the closing table whether you paid attention or not.
📜 SELLER'S DUTIES – "What the Seller Must Provide"
Here’s the punch list of what sellers are required to deliver under Section 10:
1. 🧼 Marketable Title
This means clean ownership — no weird liens, rogue heirs, or cloudy paperwork.
Must conform to Florida Bar title standards.
Seller delivers this via statutory warranty deed (or trustee/personal rep/guardian deed if appropriate).
2. 📄 Acceptable Title Evidence
The seller must provide one of two forms of title proof:
✅ (1) Title insurance commitment issued by a Florida-licensed insurer
✅ (2) Abstract of title from a reputable firm
→ Or a prior owner’s title policy that qualifies for reissue
⚠️ If the seller can’t produce this, option (1) becomes the default.
3. 🕓 Timing Requirement
Seller must deliver title evidence at least 5 or 10 days before closing (depending on cash vs. financing).
This is called the "Title Evidence Deadline."
4. 🔧 Cure Period
If a buyer finds defects in title (a lien, gap in ownership chain, etc.):
Seller has 30 days to fix it (“Curative Period”).
If cured: close as planned or within 10 days after notification.
If not: buyer can walk, extend, or close anyway.
🛡️ BUYER'S RIGHTS – "What Buyers Are Entitled To"
1. 🔍 The Right to Examine Title Evidence
Once delivered, the buyer has 5 days to:
Review the title.
Deliver written objections to any defects that make the title “unmarketable.”
2. 📏 The Right to Get a Survey
At their own expense, the buyer may order a boundary and encroachment survey.
If that survey shows an issue (like the pool is over the lot line), it’s treated as a title defect.
Seller must fix it or buyer can cancel.
3. ❌ The Right to Cancel (with cause)
If defects:
Are found,
Are timely objected to,
And seller can’t fix them in 30 days...
➡️ Buyer has options:
Cancel and walk away 🏃♂️
Extend time to cure 🕰️
Accept the defect and close anyway 🧾
💡 Why This Matters
A lot of agents act like title is some invisible back-office magic handled by the title company. It’s not.
This section gives real power and protection to buyers — if they know what to look for. And it creates clear deliverables for sellers, who need to stop assuming “everything is probably fine.”
✍️ Real Talk Takeaways
🔸 Sellers: If your title is messy, you need a heads-up before the buyer finds it — or you’re risking a blown deal.
🔸 Buyers: If you skip the survey or fail to object on time, you’re accepting the property as-is, title warts and all.
🔸 Agents: Read this section like it’s gospel. It’s not a “checkbox.” It’s a system with legal obligations, timelines, and options.
🧠 Pro Tip of the Week
Always review the “Title Evidence Deadline” date in your calendar.
That one box controls when the clock starts on all your downstream rights.
🔗 The Series So Far – Learn the Florida Contract for Sale and Purchase (CRSP-17 Sections 1–20)
✅ Section 1 – Parties and Property Description
✅ Section 2 – Purchase Price
✅ Section 3 – Financing
✅ Section 4 – Closing Date; Occupancy
✅ Section 5 – Closing Procedure; Costs
✅ Section 6 – Inspection Periods
✅ Section 7 – Real Property Disclosures
✅ Section 8 –Maintenance and Repairs
Next up: Section 11 – Time, Deadlines, and Force Majeure ⏳🌪️
If you thought this was rigid, just wait.
Subscribe if you haven’t already — and share this with someone who still thinks the contract is “just a form.” 🙄