{"data":{"id":"us-fl/fla.-stat.-697.08","jurisdiction":"us-fl","citation":"Fla. Stat. § 697.08","heading":"Equity skimming.","body":"(1) It is unlawful for any person, with intent to defraud the owner of real property, to engage in equity skimming, which is, to:\n(a) Purchase, within a 3-year period, two or more single-family dwellings, two-family dwellings, three-family dwellings, or four-family dwellings, or a combination thereof, that are subject to a loan that is in default at the time of purchase or within 1 year after the time of purchase, which loan is secured by a mortgage or deed of trust;\n(b) Fail to make payments under the mortgage or deed of trust as the payments become due, regardless of whether the purchaser is obligated on the loan; and\n(c) Apply, or authorize the application of, rents from such dwellings for the person’s own use.\n(2) A violation of subsection (1) constitutes a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.\nHistory.—s. 1, ch. 94-288; s. 775, ch. 97-102.","path":["CHAPTER 697 INSTRUMENTS DEEMED MORTGAGES AND THE NATURE OF A MORTGAGE"],"source_url":"https://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute\u0026URL=0600-0699/0697/0697.html","current_through":"2026 Florida Statutes","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-27T02:12:27Z","sha256":"9d74ec05654b2f0959e81b974022e77a646cebd8e39004438723782503671cca","source_id":"us-fl","stale":false,"prev":"us-fl/fla.-stat.-697.07","next":"us-fl/fla.-stat.-697.10"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}