MIAMI’S OWN RICHARD L. BARBARA, ESQ., ELECTED CHAIRMAN OF THE FLORIDA REAL ESTATE COMMISSION

There’s a new Chairman at the Florida Real Estate Commission (“FREC”) and it’s our very own Richard L. Barbara.  Barbara, a Gov. Ron DeSantis appointee, served as Vice Chair for the past year and was unanimously elected as the Commission’s new Chair for the coming year.  He is one of only two “consumer members” of the Commission.  

The FREC was created to protect the public through education and regulation of real estate licensees.  The Commission is comprised of seven members, all of whom are appointed by the Governor and who must be confirmed by the Florida Senate. The Commission has had a lot on its plate lately after having been tasked with creating an Affidavit to be signed by every purchaser of real estate in Florida in connection with the controversial Conveyances to Foreign Entities Act (the “Act”).  The Act became law in Florida as of July 1st of this year.

“Being on the Commission has been an incredible privilege. The real estate industry is the life blood of our great State, and it is an incredible honor to serve the citizens of Florida. I look forward to serving alongside my fellow Commissioners as this year’s Chairman we continue this important work for the State of Florida, our licensees, and our citizens” said Barbara.

When he is not serving our citizens, Barbara is General Counsel to the Barreto Group and COO of Coral Gables Title & Escrow, LLC. Born and raised in Miami, he has practiced law in his hometown for almost twenty years ad is the first FREC Chairman from Miami in quite some time. He succeeds Patricia Fitzgerald, the immediate past FREC Chair whose real estate practice is in Jupiter, Florida who remains on the Commission. We can confidently look forward to a great year from the Real Estate Commission.