Real Estate Law Archives

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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Housing market recovery a mixed blessing for real estate agents

On behalf of Kaplin Stewart Meloff Reiter & Stein, P.C. posted in Real Estate Law on Jun 10, 2016.

Real estate agents in Pennsylvania and around the country have seen the amount of their commissions increase in recent years as the housing market gradually recovers from losses suffered during the 2008 financial crisis and subsequent recession, but these gains have been largely offset by the frequent reluctance of property owners to sell their homes as they wait for prices to climb even higher. The situation is made even more challenging by a recent surge in the number of real estate agents.

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The real estate market in Philadelphia has recovered

On behalf of Kaplin Stewart Meloff Reiter & Stein, P.C. posted in Real Estate Law on May 26, 2016.

Real estate investors in Philadelphia may use the real estate search engine Zillow to look for properties and get a sense of average home values in certain areas. Recently, rising home values in Philadelphia have caused Zillow to reclassify the city’s real estate market as ‘very hot.” The average home price in Philadelphia is now at a record high.

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Philadelphia School District challenges denial of building sale

On behalf of Kaplin Stewart Meloff Reiter & Stein, P.C. posted in Real Estate Law on Mar 25, 2016.

When it comes to land use in Pennsylvania, interested parties are not always on the same page. When one party opposes the proposed actions of another, there are multiple ways the matter might be addressed. When other methods are not effective, it is possible litigation could be employed to address the issue. This recently occurred in Philadelphia.

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Real estate market holding steady in Philadelphia area

On behalf of Kaplin Stewart Meloff Reiter & Stein, P.C. posted in Real Estate Law on Feb 17, 2016.

The decision to purchase a house is one of the biggest that may individuals who reside in Philadelphia ever make. Recently, information regarding residential sales in the Philadelphia area last year was shared with the public. The report, provided by Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Fox & Roach, indicates the market is stable.

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Work with lawyer to improve outcome of real estate transactions

On behalf of Kaplin Stewart Meloff Reiter & Stein, P.C. posted in Real Estate Law on Jan 15, 2016.

The process of purchasing real estate is generally complex and full of potential pitfalls. The failure to address every element correctly could result in problems down the line or a complete failure of the transaction. Either of these results could be devastating.

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Year end review finds Philadelphia’s real estate market strong

On behalf of Kaplin Stewart Meloff Reiter & Stein, P.C. posted in Real Estate Law on Dec 22, 2015.

As 2015 winds down, many people are looking back and reflecting on the year. This is not an uncommon practice and people do it for a variety of matters, including real estate. A reporter for the Philadelphia Business Journal recently did this for real estate in the Philadelphia area.

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In a condo, all assessments are not equal, p. 2

On behalf of Kaplin Stewart Meloff Reiter & Stein, P.C. posted in Real Estate Law on Nov 4, 2015.

We are talking about condominium association special assessments, the assessments that pay for unusual common area expenses. These are different from the regular payments (also called assessments in Pennsylvania statute) condo owners make to cover common area maintenance and shared expenses, like insurance or utilities.

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In a condo, all assessments are not equal

On behalf of Kaplin Stewart Meloff Reiter & Stein, P.C. posted in Real Estate Law on Nov 3, 2015.

In our series With condos and co-ops, ‘common’ may not mean ‘shared’ last May, we discussed the differences between condominiums and cooperatives at some length. The fundamental difference, of course, is that you buy into a cooperative, but you do not own your apartment outright. In a condo, you buy the apartment; everything from the paint in is your responsibility. Your monthly or annual dues go toward common expenses, including maintenance of common areas, property insurance and, in some cases, utilities. 

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