Honestly, I have been told Florida is the WORST, I REPEAT WORST state for SO's. I'm not trying to fear monger but they did at one time force all SO's to live under a bridge..like a troll..under a bridge.

Not sure what county you are in but I can tell you this - THEY HAVE TO GIVE YOU AN ANSWER!! If you still encounter issues ask to speak to a supervisor - do not let them intimidate you! This I found out when they were trying to force my son out of his house - document everything! If the SO is on probation you need to get approval from a PO (document the name etc. and becasue you are buying ask for something in writing with the address the date and the approval) If you do not get action go down to the probation office -

Next you need to call the local sheriff office (or whomever does the registering in your county) you need to get their approval as well (and yes many times the requirements are different and contradict each other) Same thing - document everything and ask for it in writing with the date etc. If you can, take someone with you that sees and hears everything going on. I know it sounds like it is over the top but trust me on this one lol

Now I do not if you are the SO or a loved one. If you are the SO keep these documents with your other important papers concerning the home. If you are not the SO this next bit of info is very important - you need to make the SO a co-owner of the home. They do not need to necessarily be on the mortgage but their name needs to appear as co - owner. The reason for this is becasue anytime something is built in the neighborhood (a pocket park for instance) that makes the address non-compliant they WILL make the SO move out. If the SO is an owner of the home then they cannot make them move - Florida has a grandfather clause that says if an SO owns a home that is compliant and the home later becomes non-compliant they cannot make them move.

Next (and this is more rare but does exist in FL) Check with the city police department (if you are in an incorporated city) to make sure they do not have their own SO laws - for instance the state and the county where I live is 1000 feet restriction - but one city in this county enacted a 2000 foot law - so a home that is State and county compliant could and probably would be non-compliant in that city.

Congrats on being able to buy a home! It is the way to go - I wish I had the means to do so for my son but unfortunately I do not!

Just writing this stuff makes it so clear just how very wrong these laws are - as if I did not already know that! Also if the SO is incarcerated right now this part is very important - after the house sale is final make sure that the SO lists the new address as their permanent mailing address and have things sent in their name to that address! Anything - a magazine subscription , a letter, political ads ...

Amy is correct - FL is bad. In Miami FL they enacted a 2500 foot buffer (like an example above) and it forced almost all of the Sos to live under the Julia Tuttle causeway - unfortunately after the nationwide attention the city made a big deal that they were going to help the situation but the solution has ended up being worse than the original problem.

I moved myself and my business to PA from Floriduh. My son was serving 30 months for accidentally downloading cp. When they released him this January they let him move to PA.

Don't stay in Floriduh, it's hell for RSOs