Kevin M. Koushel
Of Counsel
305-350-2447
kkoushel@bilzin.com
Area of Focus:
Real Estate
Kevin M. Koushel
Of Counsel
305-350-2447
GET TO KNOW
KEVIN
Bringing with him a breadth of sector experience in the construction, maintenance, and operation of real property, Kevin focuses his practice on real estate acquisitions, dispositions, and financing. He also possesses a deep understanding of condominium and community association law, frequently advising real estate developers on deals involving condominiums or projects that include a condominium component.
Q & A
How has your prior training and experience outside of law shaped your current practice?
My background is in construction and property management, and I am a certified residential contractor and real estate broker in Florida. This non-legal training supplements my current practice, especially with issue spotting from a business and operational perspective. This is important in transactional work because seeing all the angles upfront can help mitigate problems beyond the closing.
Are there any recent legislative developments that should be on the radar for Florida real estate developers?
On May 26, 2022, Florida enacted new legislation in response to the Champlain Towers South tragedy to address safety concerns for condominiums and cooperative buildings. Although there are talks of a potential glitch bill in 2023, the consensus is that the substantive measures (e.g., on milestone inspections and structural integrity reserve studies) will cause a dramatic increase in assessments for a large number of unit owners across the state. This will incentivize many of them to sell out to redevelopers, as they look to avoid the costly repair and retrofitting work that will now be mandatory for some older buildings. Accordingly, I expect to see a significant and sustained uptick in condominium terminations in the coming years, which will require experienced counsel familiar with the complexities of condominiums and their unit owner-controlled associations.
EXPERIENCE
Served as counsel to a borrower in connection with a $61 million mortgage loansecured byaninterest ina luxury condo tower in Miami, Florida.
Local counsel to a Lender making a $50 million loan to a buyer of a hotel and water park project in Orlando.
Counsel to an affordable housing developer in connection with the Lofts at Bahama Village development in Key West, Florida. Representation in connection with the $40.5 million 98-unit affordable housing development covered ground lease acquisition, construction financing, and Federal Low-Income Hous...
Servedas counsel to a borrower in connection witha $40 million mortgage loanfor a commercial retail property containing luxury brands in MiamiDesign District.
INSIGHTS
On February 6, 2025, new rules go into effect for implementing Section 692.204, Florida Statutes—the law restricting the purchase of real property by certain persons or entities from China. The rules touch upon various aspects of potential acquisition of real property in Florida by such entiti...
As we approach the end of 2024, several legal and economic developments are coming to a head for condominiums. From a key statutory deadline and long-awaited court rulings to an imploding market for older condominium units, here is what to watch for in the coming months as Florida’s condominiu...
Florida's latest community association bill (HB 1021) contains additional changes to the new condominium inspection and reserve requirements first introduced in 2022 — approximately one year after the collapse of Champlain Towers South. Some of the changes include a new exemption for milestone...
On February 1, 2024, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit ruled on a motion for an injunction pending appeal in Shen v. Simpson. This is the federal challenge to Florida’s new law (SB 264) that restricts certain individuals from China and other “foreign countries o...
The Florida Real Estate Commission’s new form buyer’s affidavits are now available as part of rule 61J2-10.200, F.A.C., which goes into effect on January 17, 2024. The affidavits were established to help implement portions of SB 264—last year’s controversial law that restrict...
SB 264 (Chapter No. 2023-33, Laws of Florida)—which restricts some individuals and entities associated with China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela, and Syria from owning certain real property in Florida—has been in effect since July 1, 2023. This is despite the current lack of...
CREDENTIALS
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University of Miami, LL.M., Real Property Development, 2023Nova Southeastern University, J.D., magna cum laude, 2014Georgia Institute of Technology, B.S., high honors, 2008
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Community Associations InstituteGeorgia Chapter, Member, 2009 - 2011, 2015 - 2022
Magazine Committee, Member/Former Chairperson, 2015 - PresentThe Florida BarReal Property, Probate, and Trust Law Section
Condominium & Planned Development Committee
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FloridaGeorgia
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PRACTICES