| The Historic Homeowner -- State and Local Preservation Laws |
|
| The issue of historic preservation is governed by a myriad of federal, state, and local laws. Generally speaking, the purpose of preservation laws is to encourage the recognition of historic resources, as well as the preservation of those resources. Without question, historic preservation is a legitimate governmental objective. On the state and local levels, historic preservation controls may be enacted subject to the applicable constitutional constraints. More... |
|
|
| Breach of Contract |
|
| A breach of contract occurs in the event one of the parties to a contract fails to fulfill his or her part of the deal. More... |
|
|
| Community Property |
|
| The origins of the concept of community property are ancient. Briefly said, the phrase "community property" refers to a form of property ownership that exists between a husband and a wife in which each party has a one-half interest in all property acquired by the labor of either party during the course of the parties' marriage. Perhaps the most widely recognized form of community property is the amount of wages earned by one party during the course of a marriage. Several states, mostly clustered in the southwestern United States, continue to recognize the concept of community property. More... |
|
|
| Title Insurance |
|
| By the terms of a real estate contract, a seller agrees to convey clear title to a buyer. As a condition of being approved for a mortgage to buy the property, the buyer's lender usually requires the buyer to purchase a lender's insurance policy, which is paid for when the real estate transaction closes. Every closing is conditioned on proof of the seller's ability to convey clear title, the release of prior encumbrances, and the ability of the buyer's lender to have a superior interest in the property to be conveyed. More... |
|
|
| Water Damage -- When a Property Owner Is Liable to a Neighbor |
|
| The issue of a property owner's liability for water damage is largely a matter of state law. However, a property owner is not liable for things he or she cannot control. More... |
|
|