Does a residential buyer have more protections than a commercial buyer? There's at least one difference: a federal law called the Truth in Lending Act.The TILA imposes certain disclosure requirements on lenders in a residential mortgage transactions. The consequences...
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and the Business of Your Life
For the Life of Your Business and the Business of Your Life
Residential Real Estate
Buying a home? Consult with an attorney to for ease of mind
A recent homebuyer's guide recommended consulting with an attorney before closing on a real estate deal. That advice should be heeded for several reasons.An attorney can review a purchase agreement for potential legal consequences. Often, a seller and/or the seller's...
Buy a house based on due diligence, not emotion
Although making an "as-is" purchase may be a calculated risk in certain situations, an attorney that focuses on real estate law might caution against applying this approach when buying real estate. In the parlance of real estate law, such "as-is" language might be...
Municipal program offers mortgage assistance to Boston buyers
Readers may not have known about an incentive home buying program offered by the city of Boston.Specifically, prospective buyers who have completed two classes offered by the Boston Department of Neighborhood Development may qualify for financial assistance toward the...
An important distinction: initiated versus completed foreclosures
According to data from a local real estate tracking firm, foreclosures against Massachusetts homeowners rose for the eighth consecutive month in October. Since October 2013, initiated foreclosures have nearly doubled, according to data from the Warren Group. Of...
What are some issues that can arise in a condominium conversion?
As greater Boston communities continue to grow and develop, urban planners may have an eye toward converting older warehouses or buildings. In a recent example, a three-level East Boston firehouse constructed in 1860 was converted into two luxury condos. Given the...
Taking a look at Boston’s pricey residential real estate market
Does a first-time homebuyer need a real estate attorney? In Boston's uncertain residential real estate market, the answer might be yes.According to data from the National Association of Realtors, the percentage of first-time buyers has dropped to its lowest point...
Forecast may be changing for Boston residential real estate
According to a recent article, trends in the Boston residential real estate market are shifting. An attorney that focuses on real estate law can help individuals and entities adapt to those changes.Specifically, one source characterizes the current residential real...
Ways to approach lease disputes
Housing co-ops and condominiums are attractive to many Massachusetts tenants for their convenience, shared approach to common maintenance and repair issues, and affordability compared to more traditional housing alternatives. However, that shared ownership can also...
Ways to approach a zoning or building permit denial
There's no denying that Boston and many of its surrounding suburbs have a great deal of history. According to the city of Boston's website, there are nine local Historic District Commissions that review property owners' requests to make exterior design changes to real...