A title search is one of the most important components of the home-buying process. Besides helping you secure financing, a title search also gives you peace of mind knowing that the property you are about to invest in is clean.  A title search may seem like a simple formality. However, it is not. The outcome of a title search can help you make an informed decision. Most importantly, it can save you from making a costly mistake that can ruin your home ownership dream. So, what does the process of a title search look like? A title search involves examining multiple documents like contracts ..read more

Judges can use their authority to correct state records and protect someone's real property ownership interest. A quiet title action is when a property owner asks a judge to review and correct issues with a property's title records. New York County Recorder offices maintain thorough records of property ownership and the deeds that have transferred parcels and the improvements on them from one owner to the next. Sometimes, mistakes in those records necessitate a quiet title action so that the owner doesn't have to worry about outside claims and can prepare for upcoming financial transactions. W ..read more

What should I do if my neighbor encroaches on my real estate property? This is a question that many property owners ask themselves when they find out their neighbor has been using part of their property. Encroachment can be a serious issue that can lead to legal disputes if not resolved promptly. As a property owner, you’ll agree that it is quite frustrating. The good news is that there is a way to resolve this without blowing things out of proportion. Identify the problem The first step in addressing an encroachment issue is to identify the problem. This means determining the exact location o ..read more

It can be upsetting to look out of your window and see someone passing over your land without your permission. Yet, private property is not always as private as you might have thought. In most cases, you can inform the person they are trespassing and ask them to leave and not cross this way again. But sometimes, they may counter that they have the right to take that route. Some people have what’s known as an easement It’s a legal right to pass across someone else’s piece of land for access. Utility companies often have them, rail companies often have them, and sometimes one or more neighbors d ..read more

A boundary dispute involving neighbors sounds like a minor property issue. Sometimes, this is the case, and landowners can resolve disputes relatively quickly. Other times, however, even a tiny conflict can set the stage for an all-out war between neighbors, with each battle worsening the situation. Resolving the matter early on may spare you from property line disputes that have the potential to become horror stories. Resolve it privately You may be able to resolve the matter privately by taking your complaint to the owner of the neighboring property. If they disagree with you, suggest that y ..read more

As a New York City resident, you might find yourself sharing a party wall with your neighbor. A party wall is a common dividing wall between two separate properties, usually in a townhouse or row house setting. In New York, party walls are subject to specific regulations and require consideration when it comes to maintenance, repairs or improvements. To ensure you are respecting the party wall agreement, follow these guidelines: Understand shared responsibility You and your neighbor share the responsibility for the party wall's maintenance and repair. It's crucial that you communicate and coop ..read more

Co-owners are fairly common with real estate. The most common example of this is when two people are married, and they own a home together. But you also have joint business owners who hold real estate together, real estate investors who may purchase homes or plots of land simply for the value, and much more. Ideally, the two sides will always agree on what to do with their property and when to sell it. But this ideal is not always met. What happens in a situation where you want to sell a piece of real estate that you own jointly with someone else? You cannot sell it out from under them without ..read more

Real estate transactions are consequential in nature. Purchasing a home, selling a commercial lot or negotiating an easement can result in significant and lasting impacts on the lives of everyone who is immediately connected to the benefits and drawbacks of such an arrangement. As a result, contract terms must be written with care and a real estate contract should not be signed until it has been thoroughly reviewed by a legal professional and understood by all of the parties involved. With that said, “life happens.” Emergencies occur, unexpected influences impact the ways in which a situation ..read more

When two parties to a contract cannot see eye-to-eye, they may turn to mediation, arbitration or attorney-led negotiation to sort out their differences. Yet, negotiation doesn’t always “get the job done.” Sometimes, either due to the stakes or complexity of a matter, the non-responsiveness of one or more parties or the refusal of one or more parties to engage in good faith resolution efforts, litigation becomes necessary. In recent years, the “do it yourself” mentality has once again become fashionable. There are many reasons why taking a DIY approach to various challenges is laudable, especia ..read more

Real estate disputes can happen in a variety of ways between buyers and sellers. These legal disputes are often complex in nature and span a number of issues. Even what seems like a small dispute at the time could lead to a large legal battle. Many of these legal battles can take a long time to resolve and cost a lot of resources.   Whether you’re buying or selling, you should be aware of when a legal dispute can occur. By limiting the cause of real estate disputes, you can save time and money. Here’s what you should know: 1. Breaches of contract Nearly every business transaction abi ..read more