Fla. Stat. § 721.08 - Escrow accounts; nondisturbance instruments; alternate security arrangements; transfer of legal title

Cite asFla. Stat. § 721.08

(1) Prior to the filing of a public offering statement with the division, all developers shall establish an escrow account with an escrow agent for the purpose of protecting the funds or other property of purchasers required to be escrowed by this section. An escrow agent shall maintain the accounts called for in this section only in such a manner as to be under the direct supervision and control of the escrow agent. The escrow agent shall have a fiduciary duty to each purchaser to maintain the escrow accounts in accordance with good accounting practices and to release the purchaser's funds or other property from escrow only in accordance with this chapter. The escrow agent shall retain all affidavits received pursuant to this section for a period of 5 years. Should the escrow agent receive conflicting demands for funds or other property held in escrow, the escrow agent shall immediately notify the division of the dispute and either promptly submit the matter to arbitration or, by interpleader or otherwise, seek an adjudication of the matter by court.

(2) One hundred percent of all funds or other property which is received from or on behalf of purchasers of the timeshare plan or timeshare interest prior to the occurrence of events required in this subsection shall be deposited pursuant to an escrow agreement approved by the division. The funds or other property may be released from escrow only as follows:

(a) Cancellation.--In the event a purchaser gives a valid notice of cancellation pursuant to s. 721.10 or is otherwise entitled to cancel the sale, the funds or other property received from or on behalf of the purchaser, or the proceeds thereof, shall be returned to the purchaser. Such refund shall be made within 20 days after demand therefor by the purchaser or within 5 days after receipt of funds from the purchaser's cleared check, whichever is later. If the purchaser has received benefits under the contract prior to the effective date of the cancellation, the funds or other property to be returned to the purchaser may be reduced by the proportion of contract benefits actually received.

(b) Purchaser's default.--Following expiration of the 10-day cancellation period, if the purchaser defaults in the performance of her or his obligations under the terms of the contract to purchase or such other agreement by which a seller sells the timeshare interest, the developer shall provide an affidavit to the escrow agent requesting release of the escrowed funds or other property and shall provide a copy of such affidavit to the purchaser who has defaulted. The developer's affidavit, as required herein, shall include:

1. A statement that the purchaser has defaulted and that the developer has not defaulted;

2. A brief explanation of the nature of the default and the date of its occurrence;

3. A statement that pursuant to the terms of the contract the developer is entitled to the funds held by the escrow agent; and

4. A statement that the developer has not received from the purchaser any written notice of a dispute between the purchaser and developer or a claim by the purchaser to the escrow.

(c) Compliance with conditions.-

1. Timeshare licenses.-If the timeshare plan is one in which timeshare licenses are to be sold and no cancellation or default has occurred, the escrow agent may release the escrowed funds or other property to or on the order of the developer upon presentation of:

a. An affidavit by the developer that all of the following conditions have been met:

(I) Expiration of the cancellation period.

(II) Completion of construction.

(III) Closing.

(IV) Either:

(A) Execution, delivery, and recordation by each interestholder of the nondisturbance and notice to creditors instrument, as described in this section; or

(B) Transfer by the developer of legal title to the subject accommodations and facilities, or all use rights therein, into a trust satisfying the requirements of subparagraph 4. and the execution, delivery, and recordation by each other interestholder of the nondisturbance and notice to creditors instrument, as described in this section.

b. A certified copy of each recorded nondisturbance and notice to creditors instrument.

c. One of the following:

(I) A copy of a memorandum of agreement, as defined in s. 721.05, together with satisfactory evidence that the original memorandum of agreement has been irretrievably delivered for recording to the appropriate official responsible for maintaining the public records in the county in which the subject accommodations and facilities are located. The original memorandum of agreement must be recorded within 180 days after the date on which the purchaser executed her or his purchase agreement.

(II) A notice delivered for recording to the appropriate official responsible for maintaining the public records in each county in which the subject accommodations and facilities are located notifying all persons of the identity of an independent escrow agent or trustee satisfying the requirements of subparagraph 4. that shall maintain separate books and records, in accordance with good accounting practices, for the timeshare plan in which timeshare licenses are to be sold. The books and records shall indicate each accommodation and facility that is subject to such a timeshare plan and each purchaser of a timeshare license in the timeshare plan.

2. Timeshare estates.-If the timeshare plan is one in which timeshare estates are to be sold and no cancellation or default has occurred, the escrow agent may release the escrowed funds or other property to or on the order of the developer upon presentation of:

a. An affidavit by the developer that all of the following conditions have been met:

(I) Expiration of the cancellation period.

(II) Completion of construction.

(III) Closing.

b. If the timeshare estate is sold by agreement for deed, a certified copy of the recorded nondisturbance and notice to creditors instrument, as described in this section.

c. Evidence that each accommodation and facility:

(I) Is free and clear of the claims of any interestholders, other than the claims of interestholders that, through a recorded instrument, are irrevocably made subject to the timeshare instrument and the use rights of purchasers made available through the timeshare instrument;

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