Fire quickly causes tragedy, but don’t let the aftermath cause further tragedy. All of us have been touched by the trauma and tragedy of a structure burning, all of our life long possessions up in smoke. If the house has a mortgage, chances are, there is insurance to protect those…
For years most attorneys representing sellers of real estate in New York State have been counseling not to complete a Property Disclosure Statement. This recent case is an example of why, in New York, the Property Condition Disclosure Statements (PCDS) can cause trouble. Sellers in New York are required to…
So your thinking of living in Pearl River, Rockland County. Originally called Muddy Brook, the town was renamed in around 1870 after a resident said he had discovered pearls in mussels from the waterway. The community boasts wonderful people, active community involvement and modestly priced homes. Read a recent New…
As of January 1, 2010, the federal government will enforce rules that require mortgage lenders and brokers to prepare a three-page ‘Good Faith Estimate’ report that provide home loan estimates to consumers. Implemented by the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA), lenders and mortgage brokers must now give consumers standard…
Real Property Taxes are at the front of everyone’s mind these days because property values in New York have declined so dramatically. Did you know that the tools to grieve your taxes are often right at your finger tips. For example, in Dutchess County, the Real Property Tax Service Agency’s…
This blog has identified recent legislation in the State of New York discussing adverse possession. Adverse possession is a method of gaining title to property based upon use of the property (not written). Although not a favored means to procure land, depending upon the facts a person may acquire title…
You hear the old adage– “if its too good to be true . . . . ” Homeowners in New York and elsewhere should be on the look out for the newest form of fraud on the rise–“house theft.” Under various permutations of the fraud, con men and thieves conspire…
I get calls every week from family members concerned that another family member might be abusing a power of attorney issued by an elderly or infirm client. We take these concerned calls very seriously, as did the New York State Legislature, who recently amended the General Obligations Law relating to…
We recently discussed hidden dangers lurking under the ground with USTs (Underground Storage Tanks-Fuel). A similar problem exists with aging septic tanks and fields in New York State. Who’s responsible for finding the problems? What are the problems? How are the problems with septics fixed? These are all common questions,…
Have you been sued for foreclosure in New York State, are you ignoring the certified mail or the papers taped to your door. Well, that’s not the best response to a foreclosure action, where they want to take your home away. Increasingly, as this mortgage foreclosure debacle ripens, courts, litigants,…