Monthly Archives: July 2016

Negotiation of commercial lease terms possible

On behalf of Kaplin Stewart Meloff Reiter & Stein, P.C. posted in Commercial Real Estate on Jul 13, 2016.

One possible way that Pennsylvania business owners can save money is by negotiating their commercial leases. Property owners understand that it is normal to negotiate the terms of commercial leases since there are no standard forms that are used. When the market is weaker or the property is not in a prime commercial spot, more terms may be negotiable.

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Real estate analysts say housing market is still strong

On behalf of Kaplin Stewart Meloff Reiter & Stein, P.C. posted in Real Estate Law on Jul 11, 2016.

Real estate investors in Pennsylvania may be interested to learn about some of the latest reports from Ten-X. The online real estate buying and selling platform regularly issues a report called the Residential Real Estate Nowcast. According to the June report, homes sales numbers are continuing their upward trend, but the pace is slowing down.

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Litigating issues relating to restrictive covenants

On behalf of Kaplin Stewart Meloff Reiter & Stein, P.C. posted in Land Use & Zoning on Jul 10, 2016.

Many residential neighborhoods here in Pennsylvania and elsewhere have homeowners’ associations (HOA). The function of these associations is to enforce the covenants, conditions and restrictions that everyone who owns property within the neighborhood is given. When disputes arise regarding the restrictive covenants that cannot be resolved outside a courtroom, litigation might be necessary.

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Easement basics

On behalf of Kaplin Stewart Meloff Reiter & Stein, P.C. posted in Land Use & Zoning on Jul 8, 2016.

Property owners in Pennsylvania and other states typically have exclusive use of their land. However, in some instances, property owners must allow others to access their land for specific purposes, or the property owners themselves may be restricted in how they use their own land. Collectively, these rights of land use are referred to as easements.

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The lure of new commercial real estate investment options

On behalf of Kaplin Stewart Meloff Reiter & Stein, P.C. posted in Commercial Real Estate on Jul 6, 2016.

Many investors in Pennsylvania and around the country are starting to take a closer look at the commercial and residential real estate markets. This interest is fueled partly by the persistently sluggish returns of more traditional investment vehicles like the stock and bond markets, but it is also being driven by a number of new real estate investment options that do not involve buying properties or tying up large amounts of capital for long periods.

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Brexit could bring more commercial real estate capital to U.S.

On behalf of Kaplin Stewart Meloff Reiter & Stein, P.C. posted in Commercial Real Estate on Jul 5, 2016.

Pennsylvania investors are likely wondering how the U.K.’s exit from the European Union will impact real estate markets in the U.S. and abroad. Some analysts believe that there will be uncertainty in the short term and that the move could potentially bring more foreign real estate capital to American shores.

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Several issues can lead to construction litigation

On behalf of Kaplin Stewart Meloff Reiter & Stein, P.C. posted in Development on Jul 3, 2016.

Building projects in Pennsylvania and elsewhere can experience a host of problems and issues. Weather delays and problems in the supply chain can bring a construction project to a halt. While these may be out of the control of the contractor or developer, sometimes problems with the project stem from the developers and/or contractors themselves. Those responsible for building or remodeling a structure have a legal obligation to fulfill the terms of the contract and to ensure that the construction is free from defects. Otherwise, that developer or contractor may be held liable for damages through construction litigation.

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Why do I need an easement to access my own property?

On behalf of Kaplin Stewart Meloff Reiter & Stein, P.C. posted in Real Estate Law on Jul 1, 2016.

First-time homeowners and those breaking into the world of real estate are often surprised to learn that they do not necessarily own every bit of the land they are purchasing. Easements allow individuals and even companies to reasonably use part of another person’s land. Initially, this might seem counterintuitive or even inconvenient, but in most cases the request for an easement is actually quite reasonable.

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