In response to the sub-prime mortgage crisis of the latter part of the last decade, the United States government instituted several programs to help homeowners and tightened regulatory controls on the mortgage industry. One the programs created was the Home Affordable Modification Program,1 often referred to as “HAMP.” The program encourages lenders to lower homeowners’ […]
Category Archives: Real Estate Law
Unlike in many other states, people who are buying or selling a home are not required to have an attorney present at a real estate closing. This is not to say, however, that it is not a good idea to have an attorney thoroughly review the transaction in which you are about to enter, especially […]
Homeowners often face financial hardships that threaten their ability to make their mortgage payments on time. Because the family home constitutes the most significant asset for many households, the prospect of foreclosure can be an alarming possibility. Fortunately, a range of options including loan modification programs provide viable options that have enabled many people to […]
While the real estate market has turned around to some extent in Washington, the number of foreclosures in Tacoma continues to outpace other cities throughout the state. Approximately one in every 685 homes was subject to a foreclosure notice in November 2015, according to data from Realtytrac.com. Since many foreclosed residential properties are occupied by […]
Many individuals purchase residential real estate as a long-term investment. Others rent property as a temporary housing solution or simply to avoid the costs associated with ownership. When this occurs both landlords and tenants enter into a contract1 known as a residential lease. Below are some answers to a few of the most frequently asked […]
People who own residential property that they rent out to others have certain duties to their tenants imposed by law. In many cases, landlords can make mistakes that can result in problem tenants or legal liability for failing to meet these legal duties. Four of the more common mistakes made by residential landlords are detailed […]
With so many properties being subject to foreclosure in the past few years, it is not surprising that many tenants have become concerned that their building might be foreclosed upon, leaving them without a home. While eviction of tenants used to be common practice in rental property foreclosures, in 2009, the Obama administration enacted the […]
Many people believe that landlords have all of the power in a landlord-tenant relationship. After all, they have the title to building, have the power to approve or decline certain tenants, hand out the keys, and set out rules for the unit. However, the law does not exclusively protect landlords and provides tenants with protection […]
Since 2008, over five million property owners in the United States have lost ownership of their homes due to the foreclosure crisis. Now, seven years after the initial burst of the housing bubble, many Americans believe that the crisis is over considering foreclosure rates have significantly dropped since 2014.1 However, in 2015, many homeowners are […]
” alt=”Hand With Pen And Eyeglasses Over Eviction Notice” />When a landlord wants to evict a tenant for nonpayment of rent or violations of other terms of the lease agreements, it is understandable that the landlord wants the eviction to happen as quickly as possible so that they can find a new tenant and lose […]