Gary M. Kaleita

With 40 years of experience in real estate law, including 30 years as a board-certified expert, Gary Kaleita navigates sophisticated real estate deals with relative ease. His experience spans real estate development, finance, transactions, condominiums, property owners’ associations, commercial leasing, commercial lending, and title insurance.

Known for his proactive problem-solving approach, Gary focuses on finding pragmatic solutions to complex issues. He understands that clients value sensible and realistic advice delivered promptly.

Before entering law, Gary served as a U.S. Naval officer for four years in the Mediterranean Sea, gaining extensive travel experience throughout Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. He attributes his practical problem-solving skills to this military background.

Relevant Experience

• Managing the purchase, sale, and financing of commercial and residential properties, such as office, industrial, retail, multi-family, single-family, condominium, resort, hotel, and golf course properties.
• Preparing and negotiating sales and purchase contracts.
• Conducting due diligence investigations.
• Handling all aspects of closings, including issuing title insurance and legal opinions.
• Facilitating tax-free exchanges (both forward and reverse) under Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code.
• Managing closings for housing revenue bond financing transactions with the Florida Housing Finance Corporation and various local housing finance authorities.
• Obtaining land use approvals, plat approvals, and permits for developments from multiple Central Florida jurisdictions, including planned developments (PDs) and Developments of Regional Impact (DRIs).
• Drafting and negotiating complex land use documents, including development agreements, cost-sharing agreements, and declarations of covenants, conditions, restrictions, and easements.
• Assisting developers with selecting, forming, and operating business entities, including commercial and residential property owners' associations (including condominiums).

Local Counsel Work

Gary has also developed a boutique practice, serving as local counsel to support out-of-state lenders, investors, and law firms in navigating Florida's intricate real estate laws. He is often sought after by major national and international law firms seeking assistance with various matters for their clients operating in Florida.

In this role, Gary offers guidance on Florida law and customs related to purchase and sale contracts, loan documents, and local due diligence matters. He also addresses inquiries concerning titles, surveys, title insurance, and provides Florida legal opinions.

BearWise Communities

After a neighbor in Gary's own community was mauled by a Florida black bear in 2013, he took the initiative to research what measures his homeowners’ association could implement to prevent future attacks. Through his efforts, he became an expert in "bearwise" communities and crafted a policy that his association adopted, making them the first residential community recognized as bearwise by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Additionally, his HOA received recognition from the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.

Since then, Gary has written and spoken extensively on the topic, serving on the FWC’s Central Bear Management Unit Stakeholder Group. He has also become a valuable resource for the FWC, educating other communities in Florida about the importance of bear-wise practices in areas with black bear habitat.

Representative Clients

Gary has built a loyal base of repeat clients who appreciate his work in managing their real estate transactions, including purchases, financing, sales, title insurance, and property development. Some of his clients include:

• Park Square Homes
• Savi Investments, LLC
• Intram Investments, Inc.
• AHG Group, LLC
• Tower Realty Partners, Inc.
• The Klein Company
• Personal Mini Storage Companies
• Blue Cord DevGroup, LLC

News

Speaking Engagements

Publications

Recognition

• Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated
• The Best Lawyers in America guide, Real Estate Law, 2018-2025
• Top Author in Real Estate, JD Supra Readers' Choice Awards, 2023, 2024
• Florida Super Lawyers, 2006-2013
• Legal 500 USA
• Chambers USA: America's Leading Business Lawyers,  2015-2016
• "Living with Wildlife" Award, Florida Wildlife Federation, 2018

Community Activities

• Ivy League Alumni Club of Central Florida, Business Advisory Board
• St. Andrew's Chapel
• Stakeholder Group of the Central Bear Management Unit of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Appointed Member
• Alliance for Therapy Dogs, Therapy Dog Handler
• Greater Orlando Builders’ Association
• U.S. Navy Patrol Gunboat Association
• Military Officers' Association of America
• Contributing author to The National Law Review, The Real Estate Finance Journal, The Florida Real Estate Journal, The Financial Fraud Law Report, Law360, Florida Realtor Magazine, JDSupra.com and Mondaq.com
• Former speaker for continuing legal education seminars offered by Lorman Education Services and National Business Institute

Professional Certifications & Memberships

• Board Certified: Real Estate Law, Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education since 1993
• Orange County Bar Association
• The Florida Bar
  • Real Property and Business Law Sections
• American Bar Association