Lutz, Florida
Real Estate Attorneys Serving Lutz, Hillsborough & Pasco Counties
Board certified counsel for Florida purchases, sales, title work, contracts, and foreclosure defense. Lutz real estate matters range from clean closings to title defects and foreclosure defense. Board certified counsel matters when a Lutz deal has real closing deadline pressure.
How we approach real estate matters in Lutz
Our State Road 54 office sits in Lutz. This is home. David has coached hockey here, and Gwen has served on Tampa Bay nonprofit boards rooted in the Lutz community for decades. Our clients come from every corner of Lutz, including Cheval, Heron Preserve, Cypress Creek, the older neighborhoods around Lake Keystone, and the newer developments along Bearss Avenue. Being a Lutz firm isn't a marketing claim for us; it's an accurate description of the place we go home to every night.
Hillsborough & Pasco Counties courts and local practice notes
Pasco County real-estate matters split between East and West Pasco courthouses, and we know both benches.
Directions from Lutz: Our office is at 24714 State Road 54 in Lutz, on the south side of the road. From central Lutz, take US-41 or Dale Mabry Highway north to SR-54, then turn east. Typical drive time from most Lutz neighborhoods is 10–15 minutes.
About our real estate practice
For most Floridians, a home is the single largest investment they will ever make. When something goes wrong with that investment, the stakes compound quickly. DHW Law has been handling Florida real estate matters for twenty years, with David Walkowiak’s Board Certification in Real Estate Law by The Florida Bar shaping the approach. This is the practice area the firm was built around.
Buying or selling property in Florida
Every transaction is an accumulation of details that can go wrong. We draft and review purchase and sale contracts, order and review title searches, coordinate inspections, review loan documents, and handle closing for both buyers and sellers. For for-sale-by-owner transactions, we represent one side or the other, never both, and make sure the contract protects the client who hired us.
Foreclosure defense: the first 20 days matter
Florida is a judicial-foreclosure state, which means the lender must file a lawsuit and give you an opportunity to respond. You have 20 days from the date you are served to file your response with the court. Missing that deadline exposes you to a default judgment and makes every subsequent option harder.
When homeowners call us after a foreclosure complaint, we review the loan documents, the service of process, the notice of default, and the assignment chain before we decide on strategy. Available options depend on the facts, but typically include:
- Loan modification. A renegotiation of the loan terms with the lender.
- Forbearance. A temporary pause in payments.
- Short sale. Sale of the property for less than the loan balance, with lender approval.
- Reinstatement. Paying the arrears and returning the loan to current status.
- Raising defenses. Standing, notice, accounting, and procedural defenses that can change the outcome of the lawsuit itself.
- Bankruptcy. When nothing else fits, Chapter 7 or 13 can protect your home and reset the timeline.
Not every option fits every situation. The right answer depends on your income, your equity, the lender’s posture, and the stage of the litigation. That determination is the first conversation we have.
Real estate litigation and disputes
Beyond transactions and foreclosure defense, we handle quiet title actions, boundary disputes, HOA and condominium matters, landlord-tenant litigation, and real estate contract disputes. When a case needs to go to trial, we try it. When mediation is the better tool, David’s Supreme Court certified mediator credential often lets us resolve the dispute without a courtroom.
Common questions
Frequently asked about real estate in Lutz
Can DHW Law handle a Lutz real-estate closing remotely?
Yes. We close Lutz real-estate transactions with remote e-signing, wire coordination with the title company, and document exchange through our secure portal. Board-certified real-estate counsel does not require in-person meetings to deliver.
I just got served with a foreclosure. How long do I have?
Twenty days from the date you were served to file your response with the court. Missing the deadline risks a default judgment, which is far harder to undo than to prevent. Call us the same day you're served if you can.
What options do I have if I can't pay my mortgage?
Depending on the facts, options include loan modification, forbearance, a short sale, refinancing, bankruptcy, or raising defenses to the foreclosure itself. Not every option fits every situation, and some are time-sensitive.
Do I need a real estate attorney for a standard purchase?
Florida lets title companies handle closings, but a real estate attorney catches problems a title company isn't paid to catch. Contract terms, disclosure issues, inspection results, and title defects can cost you years later. A house is the single largest investment most people ever make.
What does "Board Certified in Real Estate Law" actually mean?
The Florida Bar Board Certification is awarded after written examination, peer review, and documented trial and transactional experience. Approximately 2% of Florida attorneys hold any board certification. David H. Walkowiak holds it in real estate law.
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Schedule a free 30-minute initial consultation. We'll explain your real estate options plainly and tell you whether we're the right firm.