Miami Real Estate Law Blog

A bill that would have allowed lenders to publish foreclosure notices online has failed after being voted down in the Florida House of Representatives Civil Justice Subcommittee. Current law requires such institutions to post a notice of action in newspapers when they are unable to reach a homeowner who has gone delinquent on his or her mortgage payments. Likewise, a successful foreclosure must be followed by a notice of sale.

A Democratic representative from Miami Beach argued that requiring foreclosure notices to appear in newspapers is a public benefit. Another representative claimed the bill could potentially discriminate against Hispanic homeowners, 36 percent of whom do not have personal Internet access. He argued that the bill could lead to more foreclosures and would potentially infringe upon homeowners' legal rights.

As the eyes of Republican voters turn to Florida for the Sunshine State's upcoming primary election for the party's presidential nomination, residents are hoping that someone will come forward with a plan to help stem the tide of foreclosures that has swept through the state over the last few years.

Homeowners in Florida may be disappointed, as most of the GOP candidates have not offered many concrete plans to solve the crisis. According to one Florida company's analysis, 23 percent of all mortgages in the state are delinquent or in foreclosure, the highest rate in the country.