| 5/24/2021
Florida Realtors file lawsuit seeking end to CDC eviction moratorium
A major Florida real-estate group is challenging a federal moratorium on evicting renters during the COVID-19 pandemic. The group Florida Realtors filed a lawsuit Monday in federal court in Tampa that described the moratorium imposed by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as “an unprecedented and unlawful federal administrative order.” The lawsuit contends that the CDC overstepped its legal authority in imposing the moratorium, which is scheduled to expire June 30. [Source: News Service of Florida]
Major funding source for affordable housing in Florida slashed in half
A major funding source for affordable housing in Florida has been slashed by 50%. But an expert in the field says there could be a silver lining. The state Affordable Housing Trust Fund (known in Tallahassee as the Sadowski fund) covers things like down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers, repairs of ol
1341 South Ocean Boulevard, Palm Beach (Lawrence Moens)
Edward G. Watkins sold his oceanfront Palm Beach estate for $95 million, marking the second most expensive sale this year in the ritzy town.
Records show The Goodrich Florida Realty Trust II sold the mansion at 1341 South Ocean Boulevard to The 1341 South Ocean Boulevard Trust. The buying entity borrowed $60 million from Deutsche Bank Private Wealth Mortgage to finance the purchase.
Watkins was the true owner, and had the mansion homesteaded, according to the Palm Beach County property appraiser.
Watkins, who is known as Chris, is the grandson of E.G. Watkins, the creator of the punch time clock. E.G. Watkins founded Simplex Time Recorded in 1894, and Chris Watkins began leading the company in 1967, according to Forbes. He expanded the company to include security systems, later selling Simplex to Tyco for $1.2 billion in 2001.
Moens’ marketing materials described the house as “an oceanfront residence of unparalleled quality and timeless appeal.”
Property last sold in 2001
Edward Watkins formerly owned Simplex Time Recorder, a Massachusetts company started by his grandfather. Watkins expanded the company into fire alarms and security systems, and sold it for $1.2 billion to Tyco International in 2000, according to news reports at the time.
The Watkins trust paid a recorded $17.68 million for the South Ocean Boulevard property in 2001, according to property records. Crews demolished a seven-year-old house there to accommodate the mansion that just sold.
The Watkinses have a lakefront Georgian-style house at 735 Island Drive on Everglades Island, which they bought in October 2017 for a recorded $23.8 million using an ownership company, property records show.