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Kansas City Real Estate Lawyer in Missouri – Book same-day, online document reviews for transfer of beneficiary & quit claim deeds, marital waivers, commercial & residential contracts, Investments & more.
Home » Kansas City Real Estate Lawyer in Missouri – Book same-day, online document reviews for transfer of beneficiary & quit claim deeds, marital waivers, commercial & residential contracts, Investments & more.
Kansas City Real Estate Lawyer in Missouri – Book same-day, online document reviews for transfer of beneficiary & quit claim deeds, marital waivers, commercial & residential contracts, Investments & more.
INVESTOR SERVICES Our office assists in connecting BUYERS and SELLERS of NON PERFORMING REAL ESTATE ASSETS and NON PERFORMING REAL ESTATE NOTES. NON-PERFORMING REAL ESTATE ASSETS Inherited Properties – You …
SPEAK DIRECTLY WITH AN ATTORNEY NOW !! Our office offers online legal video/audio consultations directly with Real Estate Lawyer and Broker Mark Roy. You pick the day and time – …
WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF SELF-BOOKED AND PAID-FOR, ONLINE AUDIO/VIDEO LEGAL CONSULTS. LET POTENTIAL NEW CLIENTS SELF-BOOK AUDIO/VIDEO CONSULTATIONS ON YOUR WEBSITE FOR A FEE FROM ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD. …
ASSISTANCE/SERVICE ANIMAL AS AN EXCEPTION TO LANDLORD PET POLICY BASED ON FAIR HOUSING ACT What Is an Assistance Animal? An assistance animal is an animal that works, provides …
APPEALING YOUR REAL ESTATE TAX ASSESSMENT IN KANSAS Website: https://www.ksrevenue.gov/pvdindex.html In Kansas, you have two opportunities to appeal the value of your property. If you appeal the Valuation Notice …
Frequent Questions About Tax Foreclosure Auctions How do I find out what properties will be in the next tax sale auction? A list of the properties and maps …
TAX SALES AND TAX OVERAGES IN MISSOURI “Missouri state statutes require that properties with three or more years of delinquent real estate taxes are offered at the Collector of …
REAL ESTATE TAX ASSESSMENT APPEALS Every two years in Missouri, (odd years), all real estate is reassessed for purposes of determining a fair market value for real estate …
What is Rental Arbitrage? As a landlord, you may have been approached by someone wishing to lease your property to rent it out on Airbnb or a similar short-term rental …
What is a Side Letter Agreement? “A Side Letter Agreement is an agreement considered separate and apart from the underlying contract but facilitative of the underlying contract” A side letter …
570.095. Filing false documents, offense of, elements — penalty, enhancement — restitution, when — system to log suspected fraudulent documents, procedure. — 1. A person commits the offense of filing false documents …
Top 10 Creative Financing Techniques Sometimes a loan from your bank isn’t going to meet your needs. Below are ten techniques to get your creative financing wheels turning! Interest-only loans — If you …
INVESTMENT FIRMS MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS Democratic lawmakers are scrutinizing whether the American dream of a suburban home and white picket fence is being seized …
On July 2, 2020, Governor Mike Parson signed Senate Bill (SB) 591, which makes a number of reforms to the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act (MMPA) and statutes governing the standards and …
The Federal Trade Commission today took action against online home buying firm Opendoor Labs Inc., for cheating potential home sellers by tricking them into thinking that they could …
I have been practicing law for 32 years and I never thought I would see the day tenants would have free legal representation at a landlord-tenant docket. Last week I …
Jackson County Tenant’s Bill of Rights and Ordinance 190935 This bill was introduced in October 2019 by Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas. The bill, which becomes law on June 1, …
Kansas Marital Property Law and Real Estate Law “Marital property” is the legal term that refers to all of the possessions and interests acquired after a couple gets married. …
Thousands of Midwest home sellers are eligible to join a lawsuit challenging real estate fees KCUR | By Dan Margolies Published April 25, 2022, at 4:17 PM CDT A …
WHAT IS HOUSE HACKING? Have you been curious about getting into real estate investing but feel discouraged because you haven’t even purchased your own home yet? Are you someone who …
America conceives of itself as an “ownership society”. Nearly two-thirds of U.S. households own their home, and the idea of renting is inseparable from ownership in the U.S. context. Renting …
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT REAL ESTATE CONTRACTS A real estate contract is a contract between parties for the purchase and sale, exchange, or other conveyance of real …
Land Trusts A land trust is a private agreement, where one party, the trustee, agrees to hold title to property for the benefit of another party or parties, the beneficiary(ies). The one …
How Interest Rates Affect Property Value Interest rates, especially the rates on interbank exchanges and Treasury bills, have as profound an effect on the value of income-producing real estate as …
One of the first steps in evaluating a commercial property is determining the total rentable square feet. While this might seem like a straightforward calculation, it, unfortunately, doesn’t always …
As you prepare to finance a new home, chances are you’ve come across mortgage pre-approval, mortgage pre-qualification, or possibly even both. So what does it mean to get pre-approved vs. …
Short-Term Rental Restrictions and Home Owners Associations If the Association’s declaration prohibits rentals (short-term or long), then the HOA can likely enforce the prohibition unless there is some other reason …
2020 Missouri Revised StatutesTitle XXIX – Ownership and Conveyance of PropertyChapter 442 – Titles and Conveyance of Real EstateSection 442.600 Psychologically impacted real property, defined — disclosure to buyer not …
Before your buyers write that earnest money check, find out the purpose of an Earnest Money Deposit (EMD), how to avoid costly mistakes on the home purchase and ways to …
One of the most important steps in the contracting process can be hiring a contract lawyer to review your written agreements, as the wording and format often have to be …
IS A CONTRACT VALID IF NO EARNEST MONEY IS EXCHANGED? A real estate contract is valid whether there is an earnest money deposit or not. While a contract, to …
A contract is an agreement enforceable by law. A void agreement is one that cannot be enforced by law. Sometimes an agreement that is enforceable by law, i.e, a contract, …
If you’re the buyer in a real estate transaction, you’ll receive a copy of the title commitment before closing and have several days to review it. Here’s why that document …
Getting a mortgage isn’t free. Before you get those house keys, you’ll go to the closing table to sign loan documents and paperwork that transfer home ownership from the seller …
Seller financing is when you get a mortgage to buy a home from the home’s seller instead of a bank. Let’s review when this approach is suitable, as well as …
What is the Attorney Review Period in a Real Estate Contract? Many states have statutes that provide for an attorney review period. Kansas and Missouri are not one of those …
The housing market may not reach the incredible heights of 2021, but Zillow economists predict it will be anything but slow next year. Expect the strong sellers market to persist, …
CAN A SELLER REQUIRE A BUYER TO USE A PARTICULAR TITLE COMPANY? YES AND NO Section 9 of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) prohibits a seller from requiring …
POSSESSION IS NINE-TENTHS OF THE LAW Possession is a key issue in real estate transactions and possession does not always transfer at the time of closing. Standard real estate contracts …
What Is a Partial Release? The term partial release refers to a mortgage provision allowing some of the pledged collateral to be released after there is partial satisfaction of the …
REALTOR DANGER SIGNS FOR HOME SELLERS Real estate agents are people, and as with all industries, there are some who you prefer to work with, and some you don’t. When …
What Is A Property Survey? A property survey confirms a property’s boundary lines and legal description. It also determines other restrictions or easements included in the property. While you can …
“I applied to refinance my jumbo mortgage and was almost through the process when the loan officer asked if there had been any remodeling done. I am in the process of …
MULTIPLE STRUCTURES ON ONE PARCEL A PROBLEM FOR SELLERS “We have a beautiful home with 5 acres, and there is a second smaller structure on the property. We have been …
2021 National Housing Market Forecast and Predictions To say 2020 was a year of surprises is an extreme understatement. What started off as a bright year for the housing market …
“Title theft” was a term unknown just a generation ago. Now advertisers bombard us daily with warnings about it. They say that thieves can “steal” our homes by forging our …
What Is Accelerated Amortization? Accelerated amortization is a process by which a mortgagor makes extra payments toward the mortgage principal. With accelerated amortization, the loan borrower is allowed to add …
MISSOURI CHARGING ORDER ON LLC A charging order can be an effective way to collect on a judgment. A person who obtains a judgment is commonly called a “judgment creditor”. A person …
The Kansas City housing market is intense, with soaring prices and limited availability challenging the city’s reputation for affordability. Nationwide, record-low interest rates and rising demand are met with a …
With recent appreciation in real estate, we are seeing more clients interested in 1031 exchanges. These exchanges (often called “like-kind” exchanges) can be complex. But as long as you follow …
Since most builder contracts favor the builder, you need to read them carefully and have your attorney review the contract as well. Before you sign anything, educate yourself and …
3 Different Types of Commercial Real Estate Leases There are three basic types of commercial real estate leases. These leases are organized around two rent calculation methods: “net” and “gross.” …
Novating a contract Sometimes businesses enter into agreements, which they later need to give up, be it because of internal restructuring or following an asset purchase. In these types of …
Typical Steps in an FSBO Home Sale Transaction To successfully complete the sale and legal transfer of one’s home, the following steps are generally taken: 1) The property must be …
If you’ve noticed a person in an orange vest carrying around a brightly colored tripod with a metal device on top, you’ve likely come across a property surveyor. Property …
Save to Pinterest We all learned how to share as children, but that concept tends to work easier with crayons and cookies rather than property.Take a shared driveway, for instance. …
When homeowners sell the family home to a loved one, they may wish to do so at a discounted rate. When this happens, the difference between the home’s market value …
A land patent is a form of letters patent assigning official ownership of a particular tract of land which has gone through various legally proscribed processes – such as surveying …
When homeowners sell the family home to a loved one, they may wish to do so at a discounted rate. When this happens, the difference between the home’s …
Here are some of the most common HOA rules violations you should know about: 1. LandscapingHOAs are responsible for the community’s curb appeal, so expect yours to have rules about …
At first blush, short-term rentals seem like a win-win situation. You can find a nice place to stay for a few nights, and it is frequently cheaper than booking a …
A tenancy in common is a popular way for co-owners to take title to a home. This way of vesting offers an alternative to joint tenancy, in which a home …
Quitclaim Deed Quitclaim Deeds can be complicated legal documents. They are commonly used to add/remove someone to/from real estate title or deed (divorce, name changes, family and trust transfers). Last …
Warranty Deed, the Most Common Deed in Real Estate Of all the real estate deeds, General Warranty Deeds provide the most protection to the grantee (buyer). This type of deed …
Grant Deed A grant deed is a legal document that is used to transfer (convey) rights in real property from one entity or person (the grantor) to another (the grantee). …
Correction Deed – Correcting A Recorded Deed Once a deed has been recorded, it is part of the public record and cannot be changed. It is possible, however, to amend …
Transfer on Death Deed Setting up real estate to be transferred upon your death. Real estate is often one of the most significant assets to consider in a comprehensive estate …
Affidavit of Deed Protect Yourself from Unrecorded Real Estate Transfers In general, a real estate deed must be delivered to and accepted by the grantee(s) to be properly executed or …
An Estoppel Certificate (or Estoppel Letter) is a document often used in due diligence in Real estate and mortgage activities. It is a document often completed, but at least signed, by a tenant used in …
At the coronavirus pandemic’s onset in March 2020, millions of people saw cuts to their work hours, and millions more were laid off. The result of this was an inability …
What Buying Subject-To Means Buying subject-to means buying a home subject to the existing mortgage. It means the seller is not paying off the existing mortgage. Instead, the buyer is …
Have you claimed the first-time homebuyer tax credit? For some buyers, it’s time to start repaying Uncle Sam. Introduced in 2008, the first-time homebuyer tax credit originally was a type …
The Assignment and Assumption Agreement An assignment and assumption agreement is used after a contract is signed, in order to transfer one of the contracting party’s rights and obligations to …
What is the difference between an executors deed and an administrators deed? When dealing with the distribution of an estate after a person dies, you will likely either hear the …
IS AN ORAL AGREEMENT FOR THE SALE OF REAL ESTATE ENORCEABLE? Generally, a verbal contract is binding in Missouri. However, there are certain circumstances in Missouri when a verbal contract …
Checklist of Closing Documents for Home Buyers So, what kind of paperwork will you have to sign when you close? While the process can vary from one borrower to the …
What Is a Final Walkthrough? A final walkthrough is just like it sounds—it’s a walk through the house you’re about to buy. It’s an opportunity for you and your real …
What Is a Special Warranty Deed? Although general warranty deeds are more common in residential real estate transactions, there is one area where the special warranty deed becomes the norm. …
The Definition of a Certificate of Trust When creating a revocable living trust, you are acting as a trustee. This means that you can move property within the trust at …
How Much Should an HOA Have in Reserve? Choosing to live in a condominium complex or gated townhouse community certainly has many perks as to the maintenance of the property. …
Ways Inflation Affects the Real Estate Market Inflation from January 2007 through December 2016 was extremely low, averaging only 1.77% per year in the U.S. and 2009 was actually negative …
Buying or selling a home can be a complicated process. Sometimes, homebuyers have trouble qualifying for a mortgage. Other times, sellers yearn to cut through the red tape and net …
SUMMARY A party to a lawsuit intended to affect real estate may record a notice on the land records containing the names of the parties, the name and object of …
https://kcrealestatelawyer.com Our office gets calls everyday from home purchasers who discover after taking possession that there is a Material Defect to the property purchased – defective sewer line, defective foundation, …
For many, the use of a nominee manager is a simple and effective way to maintain private business matters private and to make the business owner a less attractive target …
The Kansas City Real Estate Market: Investor’s Guide For 2021Jeff RohdeWritten by Jeff Rohde Kansas City has been named as one of the top 10 housing markets for buyers to …
Missouri prohibits sex offenders from living within 1,000 feet of a public or private school up to the 12th grade or childcare facility which existed at the time the offender …
MAKING CHANGES AFTER CONSTRUCTION STARTS Have you always wondered how you go about making changes to your house plans once the project is already underway? Or, perhaps you are in …
Experts Predict What The Housing Market Will Be Like In 2021Brenda RichardsonBrenda Richardson Senior Contributor The housing market is largely being driven by a shortage of available housing inventory. The …
Housing Inventory in 2021 Although the housing market is healing and by many measures doing better than before the pandemic, inventory remains housings long haul symptom. There were an insufficient …
2021 TRENDS: Suburban Migration With remote work becoming much more common, home shopping in suburban areas had a stronger post-COVID lockdown bounce back than shopping in urban areas, starting in …
2021 TRENDS: Millennials & Gen Z The largest generation in history, millennials will continue to shape the housing market as they become an even larger player. The oldest millennials will …
2021 TRENDS: Remote Work The ability to work from home is not new. In fact, as long ago as 2018, roughly one-quarter of workers worked at home, up from just …
While it is no surprise that homeowners want to maximize the value of their property, it might come as an eye-opener that proximity to certain grocery stores can substantially improve …
The National Association of REALTORS identified the top 10 markets that have shown resilience during this pandemic period and that are expected to perform well in a post-COVID-19 environment. In …
What Is a Limited Partnership (LP) A limited partnership (LP) not to be confused with a limited liability partnership (LLP) is a partnership made up of two or more partners. …
13 Nationwide Housing Market Predictions for 2021 Unemployment rates will continue to improve There will be a slight uptick in mortgage defaults Lending standards will loosen There will be a …
Every business decision is followed by a lot of anxiety. That’s because there is a variety of issues that may occur before, during and/or after it. Transactions are one of …
Foster Swift Collins & Smith PC – Robert A Hamor With no end in sight to the public health and economic crises resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses across all …
Buying a home isn’t just a simple purchase; its also a legal transfer of a property from one entity to another. Because the legal side of this transaction can be …
Eviction protections will end on Dec. 31, leaving as many as 19 million people at risk A nationwide ban on evictions will expire Dec. 31 with no replacement in sight. …
Typically, its the husband asking and he is initiating the divorce. He is worried about giving up his interest in the house, and the right to return. From a strictly …
Despite federal ban, renters still being evicted amid virusBy MICHAEL CASEYNovember 29, 2020 The 46-year-old, who was hospitalized in August for the coronavirus and cant work due to mental health …
RESPA Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act The Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) provides consumers with improved disclosures of settlement costs and to reduce the costs of closing by …
States With Common Law Marriage Colorado: Common law marriage contracted on or after Sept. 1, 2006, is valid if, at the time the marriage was entered into, both parties are …
NON-MARITAL COHABITATION AGREEMENT MISSOURI IS NOT A COMMON LAW STATE. KANSAS IS A COMMON LAW STATE. IF A COUPLE IS MARRIED UNDER COMMON LAW IN ANOTHER STATE, MISSOURI MUST RECOGNIZE …
Selling a house can be expensive, complex and time-consuming, so its a huge relief to everyone involved when a deal is struck and the sale closes. But what if …
Sellers may have a variety of reasons for trying to back out of an accepted purchase agreement. Among them: The seller gets a higher offer from another buyer. The seller …
What States Recognize Tenancy by the Entirety? These states recognize tenancy by the entirety: Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, …
What States are Community Property States? The community property states are Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin.
A survivorship affidavit (sometimes called an affidavit of death or affidavit of continuous marriage) is a legal document used to remove a deceased owner from title to property by recording …
What effect does the death of an owner of real estate have on the title to real estate? When a person who owns real estate passes away, depending on the …
The rules of home affordability Mortgage lenders use something called qualification ratios to determine how much they will lend to a borrower. Although each lender uses slightly different ratios, most …
Whether youare interested in snapping up a bargain home and renovating it to meet your needs, or you have a kitchen full of outdated appliances that you would like to …
REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION RED FLAGS 1. Documentation includes deletions, correction fluid, or other alteration2. Different handwriting or type styles within a document3. Buyer currently resides in subject property4. Seller is …
The Trump administration is ordering a halt on evictions nationwide through December for people who have lost work during the pandemic and don’t have other good housing options. The new …
Pros of Using a New LLC Every Deal Ownership structure: Perhaps you are working with several different owners on a new deal. It makes sense to have a new LLC, …
1. Scaling Without Systems In Place I see a lot of property managers that fail once they hit a certain scale because they don’t have systems in place. They get …
You have been sued. First, you panic. Then, you think about how to defend yourself. One of the best ways to fight back when you are being sued is through …
The retail industry has been experiencing disruption due to technological innovations that have pushed a growing number of consumers to mobile purchases and e-commerce transactions. In 2017, nationwide e-retail sales …
Overview Documents are notarized to deter fraud and to ensure they are properly executed. An impartial witness (the notary) identifies signers to screen out impostors and to make sure they …
What is an Affidavit Of Title? An affidavit of title is a legal document provided by the seller of a piece of property that explicitly states the status of potential …
Virtual Assistant Digital nomads and side hustlers all over the world start out as a virtual assistant (aka VA). VAs don’t have to ever meet their clients in order to …
If you enjoy keeping up to date with market trends, following respected real estate blogs, or are addicted to HGTV, you might have more in common with a real estate …
Future Of Real Estate Agents A growing disconnect between homeowners and real estate agents is among the biggest changes happening in real estate investing. Many find themselves asking: Is it …
Probate real estate has proven time and time again that it deserves a place amongst today’s best acquisition strategies. At the very least, investors who are able to acquire houses …
In real estate investing, as complicated as it can seem, there are mostly two options: Buy and sell or buy and hold. It can be argued that those are the …
Fences Fences are essential to protecting privacy in your backyard, keeping pets safely in, and establishing property lines. Few people today question that a good fence is essential to …
A subordinated loan is paid after all first liens have been paid. If there is a first and second mortgage loan on a property, the second mortgage is usually subordinate …
Seller financing can be a useful tool in a tight credit market. It allows sellers to move a home faster and get a sizable return on the investment. And buyers …
What is a Master Lease? Dictionary.com defines a master lease as a controlling lease under which a lessee can sub-lease a property for a period not extending the term of …
What Is Owner Financing? Owner or seller financing means that the current homeowner puts up part or all of the money required to buy a property. In other words, instead …
What is a Retaliatory Eviction A retaliatory eviction occurs when a landlord evicts a renter or refuses to renew a lease in response to a complaint or action within a …
Before the days of income and estate taxes, adult children often just moved into the family home after their parents died. Unfortunately, its not that simple anymore. There are several …
A declaratory judgment, also called a declaration, is the legal determination of a court that resolves legal uncertainty for the litigants. It is a form of legally binding preventive adjudication …
A security deposit is an amount of money ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars that a tenant pays a landlord or property manager at the beginning of a lease …
Rental property investing will require prospective buyers to consider a number of factors, not the least of which are outlined below. A good rental property is contingent on both tangible …
Tax Laws for the Seller of a Contract for Deed Can I Deduct Interest on a Rent-to-Own? In cases where qualified buyers are scarce, selling a home through a contract …
Chances are that the world returns to normal. From SARS to Bird Flu to Ebola, it seems there is always some type of health scare that we are told will …
As Americans sit at home watching the value of their retirement funds crater, it is no surprise the spring housing market is about to crater as well. Home sales could …
What is a Subordination, Non-Disturbance and Attornment Agreement, and Why Do I Need One? While most commercial leases contain a requirement that the tenant will execute a “Subordination, Non-Disturbance and …
That new pool in the backyard is going to be perfect. You paid the contractor the deposit last week, and they’re scheduled to come break ground on Monday. You’ve even …
By Ted James How to Find and Buy the Home of Your Dreams Whether its your first or fifth home purchase, buying a new place is always exciting. At the …
One of the most misunderstood aspects of Medicaid is the look back period for asset transfers and how that affects eligibility for elderly people in need of long-term healthcare. Lets …
Acceptance of an Offer The second stage of contract formation is the acceptance of an offer by the offeree. An offeror is the person who makes an offer and the …
What Is Subrogation? Subrogation is a term describing a legal right held by most insurance carriers to legally pursue a third party that caused an insurance loss to the insured. …
When a person dies without leaving a will, an affidavit of heirship may be needed to establish facts about the deceased persons heirs and the transfer of property. While laws …
Flat Fee Legal Protection for Buyers and Sellers of Real Estate LEGAL PROTECTION for your REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION. Have an attorney review your documents before signing or if you do …
Banks, financial institutions, and other lenders often make loans to trusts or loans that are guaranteed, collateralized, or otherwise supported by trusts. Lenders should perform due diligence for a trust, …
Transferring Joint Tenancy Real Estate After a Death Property held in joint tenancy is usually easy to transfer to the survivor after the other owner dies. Many people, especially couples, …
Trusts and Divorce Trusts are an important tool that families can use to protect assets and pass wealth to future generations. When the beneficiary of a trust is facing divorce, …
Here are seven factors that help make a real estate market good for investors: Job creation above the national average. Current and expected future population growth, also above the national …
What is Recording? Recording is the act of putting a real estate document into the official records at the County Recorders or Recorder of Deeds Office. Usually, the types of …
https://flatfeelegalprotection.com LEGAL PROTECTION for your REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION Have an attorney review your documents before signing or if you do not have an agent, our office can draft all the …
A transmutation agreement is a postnuptial agreement that changes the character of the spouses property from community to separate, or vice versa. It may be used to change the character …
What does prepaid mean? Prepaid items are exactly what the name implies – payments made in advance of the monies due to obtain your new loan. These amounts are often …
If you are seeking a business structure with more personal protection but less formality, then forming an LLC, or limited liability company, is a good consideration. If you are seeking …
Consumer Review Fairness Act: What Businesses Need to Know The Consumer Review Fairness Act protects consumers ability to share their honest opinions about a business products, services, or conduct in …
Mistake #1 OverpricingEveryone wants to realize as much as possible when they list their home for sale. Here in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire, just like the rest of …
Usufruct is a limited real right (or in rem right) found in civil-law and mixed jurisdictions that unites the two property interests of usus and fructus: Usus (use) is the …
A wraparound mortgage, more commonly known as a “wrap”, is a form of secondary financing for the purchase of real property. The seller extends to the buyer a junior mortgage …
Offering owner financing is a sensible way to sell property and extremely common all over the country (it has been estimated that approximately 10%-15% of property sold is now done …
Types of Property Divided in a Missouri Divorce Proceeding When couples go through a divorce, they need to address a variety of issues, including how to divvy up their property …
Introduction This Dispute Resolution System (DRS) is not intended to replace arbitration or mediation activities conducted by associations? Professional Standards Committees. The program is designed to resolve disputes between buyers, …
Specific performance is an equitable remedy in the law of contract, whereby a court issues an order requiring a party to perform a specific action, such as to complete the …
The Rising Trend of Co-Living Spaces By now, you’ve already heard about co-working. But there’s a new concept on the way: Co-living, which is, in a sense, the co-working equivalent …
A recently filed class-action antitrust suit against the National Association of Realtors, among other major real estate players, could spell a serious shakeup for the industry. If the plaintiffs win …
What is a Corrective Deed? A Corrective Deed is a special type of deed used to fix problems in deeds that have already been recorded. Unlike other types of …
Tax Laws for the Seller of a Contract for Deed In cases where qualified buyers are scarce, selling a home through a contract for deed can make sense. Homeowners might …
What is a Levy? A levy is the legal seizure of property to satisfy an outstanding debt. In the U.S., the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has the authority to levy …
How Commission Credits Works Let’s say that an agent has signed a listing agreement with a seller. The seller agrees to pay the agent a 5 percent commission. The agent …
How to Get a Handle on Your Finances When You are Expecting Your First Child Expecting your first child is simultaneously a thrilling and nerve-wracking experience. There is so much …
When you sell a property, you’re required to disclose information about its condition that might negatively affect its value. If you willfully conceal such information, you could be convicted of …
Risks and realities of the contract for deed While contracts for deed offer some advantages over a traditional mortgage, such as speed and simplicity, they can entail distinct risks for …
Equity is a concept of rights distinct from legal (that is, common law) rights; it is (or, at least, it originated as) “the body of principles constituting what is fair …
When interest rates rise, “buying subject to” suddenly starts to look like a very attractive financing option for home buyers. When interest rates are low, homebuyers tend to avoid subject …
http://flatfeelegalprotection.com Have a Lawyer on your team to review ALL documents BEFORE you sign! FLAT FEE LEGAL PROTECTION FOR BUYERS AND SELLERS OF REAL ESTATE Seller Protection Review/Discuss Understanding TILA-RESPA …
http://flatfeelegalprotection.com FLAT FEE LEGAL PROTECTION FOR YOUR HOME SALE OR PURCHASE Have an attorney review your documents before signing or if you do not have an agent, our office can …
The following examples of Financial Institution Fraud Investigations are written from public record documents on file in the courts within the judicial district where the cases were prosecuted. California Woman …
Benefits of Month to Month Rentals for Tenants Sometimes tenants need a place to stay but do not want a long term commitment. For these tenants, finding a landlord who …
FLAT FEE LEGAL PROTECTION PLAN FOR YOUR HOME SALE OR PURCHASE Have an attorney review your documents before signing or if you do not have an agent, our office can …
A. WHAT IS AN EASEMENT? An easement is the legal right of a non-owner to use a specific part of another persons land for a specific purpose. B. WHAT ARE …
Imagine being able to make an offer on a house before any other interested home shoppers can even have a look-see. If you have a right of first refusal negotiated …
Real Estate Covenants Law and Legal Definition A covenant is a promise in a written contract or a deed of real property. There are different types of covenants, such as …
If you are 62 or older and want money to pay off your mortgage, supplement your income, or pay for healthcare expenses you may consider a reverse mortgage. It allows …
The U.S. federal gift tax is imposed on cash and properties that individuals give to others. It’s paid by the donor, not the beneficiary of the gift, although the Internal …
ABANDONED PROPERTY Landlords are often eager to remove abandoned property of a tenant who appears to have abandoned a leased premises. Missouri law provides a procedure for removing a tenants …
When it comes to legally binding agreements, certain people are always considered to lack the legal ability (or “capacity”) to contract. As a legal matter, basically they are presumed not …
What Is Appreciation? Appreciation, in general terms, is an increase in the value of an asset over time. The increase can occur for a number of reasons, including increased demand …
Crowdfunding has become a loaded term, meaning so much more than just raising money from the public. In fact, it means different things to different people. New and old terms …
Real estate has its fair share of horror stories. One that keeps both first-time homebuyers and seasoned pros up at night is the thought of sellers walking away with their …
It turns out that there are best practice guidelines that successful real estate investors follow, and you can follow them, too. People who meet their investment goals adhere to principles …
Insurance companies view roofs as one of the most important parts of a home. Roofs protect homes from the elements and can prevent home insurance claims. If you have a …
“What is a wrap-around mortgage, and who is it good for?” A wrap-around mortgage is a loan transaction in which the lender assumes responsibility for an existing mortgage. For example, …
What is Gentrification? Gentrification is a general term for the arrival of wealthier people in an existing urban district, a related increase in rents and property values, and changes in …
Top 6 factors affecting real estate valuation Factors to consider when pricing a home are historic sales price, quality of the neighborhood, the market, nearby features and the size, appeal, …
TOP 10 THINGS AFFECTING REAL ESTATE 1. Interest rates & The Economy The Federal Reserve’s plan is to nudge interest rates back to historically normal levels. Concurrently, the passing of …
Cashier’s checks have a reputation for being safe, and that’s what makes them perfect for scams. Whether you’re selling something online or in-person, cashier’s checks deserve extra attention. Get familiar …
What’s “Cash for Keys” in a Foreclosure? If you lose your home to a foreclosure sale, the new owner might offer you a lump-sum of money to voluntarily move out. …
When two or more people own a home, either as a joint tenancy or tenancy in common, each individual owns a share (or interest) of the entire property. This means …
What is the gift tax? The gift tax is a tax on the transfer of money or property to another person while getting nothing (or less than full value) in …
What is Blockchain? If this technology is so complex, why call it blockchain. At its most basic level, blockchain is literally just a chain of blocks, but not in the …
Social media marketing is an important part of any real estate business. Its crucial to share the right type of content in the right ways to generate leads and increase …
What Is Title Insurance And Why Is It Important? The median home value in the United States has increased by $16,000 over the last 12 months, according to data released …
In business, there are numerous instances in which you may want to share confidential information with another party. But the key to doing so safely is making sure that the …
Relocation expenses are sometimes paid by employers. If they are, does a departing employee (that is, one who is quitting or resigning) have to repay them? The answer is, it …
As a real estate professional, you are constantly being challenged. You need to make decisions that ultimately affect your buyers and sellers and, of course, your business. These choices can …
A restraint on alienation, in the law of real property, is a clause used in the conveyance of real property that seeks to prohibit the recipient from selling or otherwise …
What do Real Estate Attorneys do? So you’ve decided to take the big step of buying a home. It’s probably the biggest purchase and most expensive investment you’ll ever make. …
What is a Series LLC? A series LLC is a unique form of limited liability company (“LLC”) in which the articles of formation specifically allow for unlimited segregation of membership …
1. Multi-family work better with the changing U.S housing market. High rents and the need for yields have created even more competition for single family homes. This has depleted inventory …
While selling a Kansas City or St. Louis house with a tenant isn’t always the ideal situation. Consider how it will affect them before making any bold decisions. If you …
Does a Real Estate Contract Have to Be in Writing? The statute of frauds is a long-standing legal principle which requires certain agreements, including real estate contracts, to be in …
What Is Special Use Real Estate Valuation? Real estate is normally valued at an amount that reflects its ?highest and best use? for reasons concerning the federal estate tax. In …
Kansas Transfer on Death Deed What is a Transfer on Death Deed? A transfer-on-death (TOD) deed, also called a beneficiary deed, looks like a regular deed used to transfer real …
Since prehistoric times, we humans have been in the business of evolution. Such is the scientific truth. Unless, that is, we are talking about cap rates, in which case there …
These days, more than half of buyers start their home search online, according to the 2018 Profile of Homebuyers & Sellers, released by the National Association of Realtors (NAR). However, …
Prior to the onset of the industrial revolution, wealth and power were measured primarily in terms of the amount of land owned by an individual or family. Although the twentieth …
Community property is a type of joint ownership of assets between married couples. It’s the law in nine states: Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin. …
If you’re thinking of selling your home within the next few weeks or months, preparing your home to go on the market can help you get the best price. Aside …
MISTAKE #1: DON’T OVERPAYIts not unusual for a commercial real estate investor that is new to commercial real estate to overpay for a commercial income property. This is usually due …
Benefits of Using an LLC with a Self-Directed IRA The process of using a Self-Directed IRA to buy non-traditional or alternative investment assets can be confusing and seem restrictive. One …
What Is Simultaneous Closing? Simultaneous closing (SIMO) is a real estate financing strategy in which two simultaneous transactions occur during the closing on a single piece of property. In this …
Stigmatized property In real estate, stigmatized property is property that buyers or tenants may shun for reasons that are unrelated to its physical condition or features. These can include the …
Imagine arriving at the settlement agent’s office for your closing. Everything went without a hitch: The buyer provided all documentation plus the Realtor?, closing attorney/title company, and lender have performed …
As we head into the heart of summer, thoughts naturally turn to fun in the sun while staying cool. For some, that might even mean contemplating the addition of a …
What is Eminent Domain? Eminent domain is the power the United States government, states, and municipalities to take private property for public use, following the payment of just compensation. Breaking …
A gift, in the law of property, is the voluntary transfer of property from one person (the donor or grantor) to another (the donee or grantee) without full valuable consideration. …
You are thinking of moving, and want to put your Missouri home on the market. Most states have legislation that would require home sellers to give an extensive written disclosure …
A rental contract is only as good as the terms outlined in the document, so it’s important for a landlord to give serious thought to the information and rules that …
Equitable estoppel is a defensive doctrine preventing one party from taking unfair advantage of another when, through false language or conduct, the person to be estopped has induced another person …
A special permit is generally required when a proposed use, due to its size or external impacts, needs greater scrutiny by the Town and may require special conditions to mitigate …
The statute of frauds is a long-standing legal principle which requires certain agreements, including real estate contracts, to be in writing. Real estate contracts are generally enforced in state courts …
The way you purchase a property can have long-lasting impacts on your ownership of said property. It is important to completely understand the titles involved in the purchase or insurance …
A partition is a term used in the law of real property to describe an act, by a court order or otherwise, to divide up a concurrent estate into separate …
How Property Tax Sales Work in Missouri Under Missouri law, when you don’t pay your property taxes, the county collector is permitted to sell your home at a tax sale …
An accessory dwelling unit (ADU) is a smaller, independent residential dwelling unit located on the same lot as a stand-alone (i.e., detached) single-family home. ADUs go by many different names …
In property law, alienation is the voluntary act of an owner of some property disposing of the property, while alienable is the capacity for a piece of property or a …
Sign No. 1: The inspection turns up something majorly wrong Sure, you might cringe at some of the current owner’s wallpaper choices. But cosmetic issues are relatively easy to fix …
1. You’re using it as a way to gauge your relationship’s strength. Moving in together shouldn’t be a litmus test for whether your relationship is on sound foundation. It should …
Fiduciary Duties A real estate broker who becomes an agent of a seller or buyer, either intentionally through the execution of a written agreement, or unintentionally by a course of …
TRANSFER ON DEATH DEED (TODD) Planning for what happens to your home after your death can be difficult. Transfer on death deeds provide a simple, cheap way to make sure …
While the tax consequences of the sale of real estate should not drive the decision to sell or hold a property, there are important issues to consider in order to …
Homeownership has long been considered the culmination of a person’s adult life, a moment when they’ve finally achieved the American Dream. However, more and more Americans are foregoing the 30-year …
Guide to Fighting Real Estate Deed Fraud I. The Problem As real estate owners and industry professionals, we understand the importance of regular maintenance, property insurance, and other routine tasks …
Certification of trust. 456.10-1013. 1. Instead of furnishing a copy of the trust instrument to a person other than a beneficiary, the trustee may furnish to the person a certification …
How to Handle a Small Estate in Missouri If you’re wrapping up the estate of a Missouri resident who died with an estate that’s worth less than a certain dollar …
This article gives a short overview of evictions (unlawful detainers) from a landlord’s perspective. When you, the landlord, need to evict a tenant, you may not use self-help measures to …
Homeownership is a rite of passage many of us dream of. Owning a home means putting down roots and having a space that is truly yours. It’s a significant moment …
Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Tax increment financing, or TIF, subsidizes companies by refunding or diverting a portion of their taxes to help finance development in an area or (less frequently) …
Everyone who applies for housing has the right to be treated the same. The Fair Housing Act was created with the goal of advising landlords, lenders, buyers, and renters …
When two or more individuals own property — whether it’s a condominium, a home, or a piece of land — the relationship between the owners is very important. The form …
Another potential blow has been struck against the longstanding way in which real-estate agents get paid. In April, the Department of Justice wrote to CoreLogic, a real-estate software provider. …
BUYING A HOME IS AN EXCITING AND EMOTIONAL TIME FOR MANY PEOPLE. TO HELP YOU BUY YOUR HOME WITH MORE CONFIDENCE, MAKE SURE YOU GET OWNER?S TITLE INSURANCE. HERE?S WHY …
The $250,000 (single) / $500,000 (married) home sale gain exclusion is a major benefit of homeownership, but the rules can be confusing if you are not familiar with them. How …
Building a custom home gives you complete control over every aspect of the design. There are dozens of architectural styles to base your custom home on, from historical approaches to …
Options for Handling Cemeteries on Private Property Prior to World War II, it was not uncommon, especially in rural areas, for families to bury their deceased family members in a …
1. Death in the Home 2. Neighborhood Nuisances 3. Hazards 4. HOA Information 5. Repairs 6. Water Damage 7. Missing Items 8. Other Possible Disclosures 1. Death in the Home …
1- Failing to Require Personal Appearance Personal appearance is the very foundation of notarization. Except in the few states where online or remote notarization has been legalized, personal appearance is …
1. Know yourself Something that’s clearer to me every day is that there’s no magic, one-size-fits-all solution for building a happy, healthy, and productive life. You have to know yourself: …
What Are You Required to Disclose When You Sell Your Home? When you set out to sell a house, most states require you to make certain ?disclosures.? Disclosures refer to …
Almost every single loan generated to buy a home contains a due on sale clause. This clause is important if a homeowner wants to sell the home without paying off …
What is a Step-Up in Basis? A step-up in basis is the readjustment of the value of an appreciated asset for tax purposes upon inheritance. The higher market value of …
Assignment of contracts is the legal transfer of the obligations and benefits of a contract from one party, called the assignor, to another, called the assignee.3 What assignment of a …
Property Boundaries: Everything You Need to Know Most of us don’t know where our exact property boundaries are located, and many of us don’t care. Most of us don’t know …
To understand a reverse 1031 exchange, you should first make sure you know the ins and outs of a 1031 exchange. There are some key differences between a standard 1031 …
A 1031 Exchange, also called a Starker Exchange or Like-Kind Exchange is a powerful tax-deferment strategy used by some of the most financially successful investors. This is, perhaps, even more …
The law of agency is an area of commercial law dealing with a set of contractual, quasi-contractual and non-contractual fiduciary relationships that involve a person, called the agent, that is …
The phrase “life estate” often comes up in discussions of estate and Medicaid planning, but what exactly does it mean? A life estate is a form of joint ownership that …
Generally, real estate brokers/ agents fall into four categories of representation: Seller’s Agents, commonly called “listing brokers” or “listing agents,” are contracted by owners to assist with marketing property for …
Cash Hidden in the Wall You might think a treasure hunt means diving in the ocean to find sunken ships or exploring ancient ruins in faraway countries looking for hidden …
Rezoning, Variance, or Conditional Use Permit: Which One Can Solve Your Zoning Problem? You’re considering the purchase of a particular property, but know it doesn’t conform to the city’s zoning …
Down zoning is the process by which an area of land is rezoned to a usage that is less dense and less developed than its previous usage. This is typically …
Should You Buy A Home In 2019? Buying a home is one of the most important financial decisions a person will make. Deciding to buy a home comes down to …
Subordination, Non-Disturbance, and Attornment (SNDA) Agreements Whether you’re the landlord or tenant of a commercial property, you’ll want to know what a subordination, non-disturbance, and attornment agreement is and how …
When was the alleged crime committed? Anyone who wants to sell real estate as a salesperson, real estate agent, or real estate broker must first obtain a license to do …
If your home is completely destroyed and unlivable, your homeowners policy has a loss of use or additional living expense policy which allows you to maintain your standard of living …
Just what do real estate agents do all day? Before you can understand what real estate agents do all day, you must first remove the word ‘typical? from your vocabulary. …
A title is a legal document that includes the specifics about the property you are purchasing and who owns it, often in the form of a deed. One of the …
HOW DO PROBATE REAL ESTATE SALES WORK? Probate is simply the legal process that settles a deceased person’s debts and formally passes their property’s legal title to the intended heirs. …
11 questions to ask yourself to help you make an educated decision. 1. Do you have access to accurate data regarding selling prices, square footage, floor plans and amenities of …
What Are Fixtures In Real Estate? A critical part of any real estate transaction is the actual fixtures within the home that are required to stay with the home after …
Forms of Property Ownership 1. Sole Ownership Sole ownership occurs when a single person owns a complete interest in a property or asset. Ownership is conveyed from one person to …
Multifamily Housing – An Overview Crowdfunding for real estate is comprised of a number of different asset classes in which one can invest. We?ve earlier discussed many different segments of …
All real estate investors will benefit from taking a proactive approach to taxes. The reality is there is little you can do retroactively to impact your results once the year …
A variety of rights come with real estate ownership. WATER RIGHTS Land that’s adjacent to a body of water normally carries with it certain rights relative to that body of …
This outline is intended to provide a general overview of Missouri Construction Law. While the authors have described several topics below, the discussion of any particular topic is not intended …
What Is Radon? How does radon affect your health? What are the symptoms of radon exposure? How are you exposed to radon? How can I protect myself? Radon is a …
REAL ESTATE CONTRACT CONTINGENCIES For those who aren’t familiar, a contingency is a statement (a stipulation it’s sometimes called) that is added to your contract that will allow you the …
You’re ready to hang out your shingle or otherwise go into business for yourself, but you need space, a place from which to run your operation. If you’re wading into …
Legal Title A legal title refers to the responsibilities and duties the owner has in maintaining, using, and controlling property. Legal title is the actual ownership of the property. The …
Because of recent credit tightening, some homebuyers may be less likely to qualify for mortgages than they were just a few years ago. Some financial counselors predict that borrowers with …
Renting vs Buying: What to Choose Any grown-up person one day may get haunted by the idea of getting a house instead of renting one. Yes, I know, we?ve all …
Renting vs Buying: What to Choose Any grown-up person one day may get haunted by the idea of getting a house instead of renting one. Yes, I know, we?ve all …
5 Common Swimming Pool Problems Who doesn’t like to swim in a pool? Whether we can swim or not, it’s fun being inside the pool especially with friends or family. …
Requirements for a Real Estate Purchase Contract A real estate purchase contract?also known as a contract to purchase real estate or a residential purchase agreement?is a binding, bilateral agreement between …
Judicial foreclosure refers to foreclosure cases that go through the court system. Foreclosure occurs when a home is sold to pay off an unpaid debt. Many states require foreclosures to …
Understanding Ownership of Property When an estate planning attorney meets with a new client, one of the first questions the attorney asks is “What do you own and how is …
Both get a share of the profits based on time and money invested. Real estate syndication is an effective way for investors to pool their financial and intellectual resources to …
IT’S EASY TO SEE THE rise in popularity of Airbnb and other online vacation rental sites and think it’s a good idea to buy a property dedicated to short-term housing. …
Closing gifts are almost as important in the real estate world as securing a home, at least it is if you want your clients to come back. Are you thinking …
Code of Conduct Thanks for choosing to participate in the exchange of ideas and information in the Missouri REALTORS?online community, THE LANDING. To ensure the best possible experience for all …
Types of LLC’s Domestic LLC: If your LLC is formed and operating within your state, this is a domestic LLC. Your state has the authority to govern your LLC if …
It may be hard to believe, but I receive calls regularly from buyers and sellers that have become estranged from there realtor or feel they are being taken advantage of …
How much does it cost restore water damage? Water may be a necessary part of life, but it can also do a tremendous amount of damage to your property if …
When responsible first-time home buyers need help buying a home, the family bank can sometimes lend a hand. Younger home buyers face a mountain of obstacles, including rising home prices …
One site http://(www.realestateabc.com) cites a 6.34% annual appreciate rate since 1968. But, that does account for: state, city, county, or neighborhood variations. It doesn’t account for type of house (single …
Today, 30 years on from my original proposal for an information management system, half the world is online. It’s a moment to celebrate how far we?ve come, but also an …
ALABAMA Attorneys and title companies handle closings. Conveyance is by warranty deed. Mortgages are the customary security instruments. Foreclosures are non-judicial. Foreclosure notices are published once a week for three …
You?ve likely heard terms such as net income, gross income, adjusted gross income, take-home pay, and disposable income. But do you really know what each term means, both in definition …
Cycle-low construction at odds with tightening retail vacancy. As unemployment reached the low-3 percent range by the end of 2018, the retail environment in Kansas City remains well positioned for …
Rising interest rates are providing welcome relief to savers. As previously reported, earning at least a 2% APY on your savings from an FDIC insured bank account is now much …
1. Leverage All of Your Savings Options While a 401(k) (or another employer-sponsored plan) is a good first stop for retirement savings, it’s not the only way to build your …
Buying real estate can be more than just finding a place to call home. Most people have to do a real estate transaction at some point in their lives, and …
Renting out a room in your house is sometimes favorable to leasing the entire property. It offers more flexibility for your own private use of the other rooms, and renting …
2019 U.S. Commercial Real Estate Forecast Report The Kansas City retail market experienced another successful year throughout 2018 based on strong market fundamentals that fueled retail growth. Consumer confidence remains …
This list summarizes some of the most common errors made by commercial Landlords and their property managers when they find themselves dealing with a defaulting Tenant. 1. LOCKING THE DOORS …
MARITAL WAIVER IN MISSOURI Title companies are required as part of their job to request information in a real estate transaction. One of the most frequent requests involves requesting information …
What is Legacy Planning Legacy planning is a financial strategy that prepares a person to bequeath his or her assets to a loved one or next of kin after death. …
There’s no doubt about it: the 2018 housing market has seen its ups and downs. The year started with sky-high home prices, historically low mortgage rates and a definitive upper …
Notice provisions of Missouri’s mechanic’s lien statutes (R.S.Mo. 429.005.1, et seq.) grants general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, and laborers the ability to assert a mechanic’s lien for labor and materials provided …
Inflation Inflation is something we all take for granted. The price of everyday goods increases on a gradual basis, and we have no choice but to pay the increased price. …
No Fees: Almost all 1031 exchanges involve a 3rd party intermediary who charges a fee for the 1031 Exchange. Rolling into a Qualified Opportunity Fund has no fees for the …
For Sale By Owner (FSBO) Statistics FSBOs accounted for 7% of home sales in 2017. The typical FSBO home sold for $200,000 compared to $265,500 for agent-assisted home sales. FSBO …
What is an unrecorded easement? Easements (those rights someone else has to use part of your property) are typically recorded in the public records of the County in which the …
Protecting Your House After You Move Into a Nursing Home While you generally do not have to sell your home in order to qualify for Medicaid coverage of nursing home …
11 Questions to Ask If You’re Thinking ?FSBO? When the time comes that you decide you want to sell your home, the question you might ask yourself is, ?Should I …
Okay, 2018 was quite the tease in the housing market. The year started out hot, only to taper off halfway through. But plenty of Americans still traded their For Sale …
7 Signs You’re Ready to Sell Your House Should I sell my house? If you’ve been asking yourself this question lately, we’ve got good news: It’s a great market for …
Will baby boomers turn into party poopers when they unload their homes in large numbers starting in the next decade? Could they create an indigestible oversupply in the market that …
What is the Time Value of Money? The time value of money (TVM) is the concept that money available at the present time is worth more than the identical sum …
REAL ESTATE AND POLITICS Whether or not the average homeowner realizes it, politics is the most important factor influencing the price of real estate, affecting the state of the economy, …
FORCED VS. NATURAL REAL ESTATE APPRECIATION Real estate appreciation is far from being a new concept when it comes to real estate investing. Moreover, many real estate investors choose real …
WHAT IS A REVOCABLE LIVING TRUST?-A revocable living trust is a popular estate planning tool that you can use to determine who will get your property when you die. Most …
He is not a full man who does not own a piece of land.? REAL ESTATE INVESWTMENT – An old Hebrew proverb that still offers value in our modern-day lives. …
Estoppel is a common law doctrine which, when it applies, prevents a litigant from denying the truth of what was said or done. The doctrine of estoppel by deed (also …
An easement is a property right that gives its holder an interest in land that’s owned by someone else. It’s common for people to lack a clear understanding of easements …
Once a deed is recorded, it becomes part of the public record and cannot be changed. However, sometimes an error in the recorded deed is discovered by one of the …
When you think of a “nonprofit” what do you think of? Most likely, you think of a group making a difference in your community. Maybe you are thinking of a …
RISKS AND REALITIES OF CONTRACT FOR DEEDS While contracts for deed offer some advantages over a traditional mortgage, such as speed and simplicity, they can entail distinct risks for …
Closing a property deal can be a long and stressful exercise that involves lots of steps and procedural formalities. Closing occurs when you sign the papers that make the house …
Why You Should Spend Your Money On Experiences, Not Things When you work hard every single day and there’s only so much money left after your regular expenses, you have …
Party Wall A partition erected on a property boundary, partly on the land of one owner and partly on the land of another, to provide common support to the structures …
Requirements for Recording Real Estate Documents The Following Documents Do Not Require A Legal Description For Recording. Death Certificates, Power of Attorneys, Wills, DD214, Certificates, and Miscellaneous Documents. The following …
Take a step back from whatever housing data you normally look at. We’ll begin big picture with how many housing units are needed to accommodate changes in the United States. …
Single-member vs. Multi-member LLCs A husband and wife can be considered a single-member LLC if owned in a community state. If you’re the sole owner of your LLC, the IRS …
Attorney Whether by the homeowner’s choice or the actions of a disgruntled creditor or contractor, there are a number of ways that the owner’s title to the property can be …
Many homebuyers think that saving for their down payment is enough to buy the house of their dreams, but what about the closing costs that are required to obtain a …
ELEMENTS OF A REAL ESTATE CONTRACT REAL ESTATE CONTRACTS Once you have found the house that you want to buy, its time to make an offer. Once the seller …
Whether you’re a real estate agent or broker, it’s hard to deny that millennials ? those born in the years between 1982 and 2004 ? continue become the largest group …
Drafting a mechanic’s lien and ?notice of intent? (?429.100) involves crucial steps that can be harmful to your case if overlooked. Whether you forgot to verify the ?just and true …
The question is not why, but WHERE to invest in real estate. When choosing the location of a rental property, a real estate investor puts a number of factors as …
You are thinking of moving, and want to put your Missouri home on the market. Most states have legislation that would require home sellers to give an extensive written disclosure …
General Warranty Deed Vs Quitclaim Deed To understand what a quitclaim deed is, its useful first to understand general warranty deeds. A general warranty deed is the most common …
There’s no doubt about it: the 2018 housing market has seen its ups and downs. The year started with sky-high home prices, historically low mortgage rates and a definitive upper …
#1: 90% of millionaires have become a millionaire as a result of owning real estate. It adds substantially to your net worth. INVEST IN REAL ESTATE #2: Entrepreneurs have a …
With an eviction looming, Karen Pettit, a disabled 52 year old Slidell, Louisiana woman documents her frustrating experiences and obstacles faced when trying to find promised relief and governmental assistance …
MISSOURI Conveyance is by warranty deed. Deeds of trust are the customary security instruments and allow private power of sale. The trustee must be named in the deed of trust …
They came together by chance one night at Le Club, a hangout for Manhattans rich and famous. Trump introduced himself to Cohn, who was sitting at a nearby table, and …
The process of buying or selling your home is quite complex, so you are fortunate to have a real estate professional to guide you through some of the process. However, …
5 Ways to Give Your Home to Your Children Tax-Free Before the days of estate taxes, children simply moved into the family home and took over the master bedroom after …
18 Commercial Real Estate Trends To Dominate In 2019 National December 11, 2018 Champaign Williams, National Editor Want to get a jump-start on upcoming deals? Meet the major players at …
I remember buying my first home with my wife. I will never forget the feeling of walking in together for the first time as homeowners. It was a defining moment …
Visualize a real estate purchase contract with just a few extra words added to your name as the buyer. This would look something like this: “Buyer: John J. Doe, and/or …
Homeowners looking to sell should consider 2019 a prime opportunity to cash in. Few people are predicting that 2019 will be a record-breaking year for home prices. But relatively speaking, …
What the Fed’s rate hike will mean for America’s wavering housing market As 2018 winds to a close, the housing market has shown signs of a slowdown, and now the …
Jackson County, Clay County, Platte County and Ray County and the communities of Kansas City, North Kansas City, Raytown, Grandview, Lee’s Summit, Blue Springs, Grain Valley, Independence, Richmond, Liberty, Excelsior …
Different definitions and forms of residential real estate POSTED ON JANUARY 28, 2016 BY MARK Single-Family Home The most common definition of a single-family home is: An individual, freestanding, unattached …
Renting out part of your home can boost cash flow, but first take a look at what it takes to be a landlord. By Pat Mertz Esswein, August 2011 Homeowners …
THIS IS WHY INVESTORS SHOULD INVEST IN REAL ESTATE IN KANSAS CITY POSTED ON OCTOBER 30, 2018 BY MARK Kansas City Real Estate Kansas City is the largest city in …
You may have a substantial amount of money and assets to leave behind to your children. However, a conundrum many people find themselves in is that they want to provide …
A decade after the housing bust upended the lives of millions of Americans, more U.S. households are headed by renters than at any point since at least 1965, according to …
RENTING VS. BUYING? At what cost, percentage wise, is it better to rent than buy, if you plan on staying at a given location forever? Buying a home is likely …
In writing It is a legal requirement in all jurisdictions that contracts for the sale of land be in writing to be enforceable. The various Statute of frauds require contracts …
In writing It is a legal requirement in all jurisdictions that contracts for the sale of land be in writing to be enforceable. The various Statute of frauds require contracts …
In writing It is a legal requirement in all jurisdictions that contracts for the sale of land be in writing to be enforceable. The various Statute of frauds require contracts …
LLC Electing S Corp Status: The Best of Both Worlds It isn’t either/or when choosing an LLC or S corporation. You can have the best of both worlds. Structuring your …
Before the days of income and estate taxes, adult children often just moved into the family home after their parents died. Unfortunately, it’s not that simple anymore. There are several …
Ask just about any real estate agent to list the three most important things a property should have, and you’ll likely hear: ?location, location, location.? That phrase has been in …
Denise Supplee and her husband, Jerry, had been in their new home in Horsham, PA, for just three months when they started to notice something strange in their bathroom. ?You …
Kansas City Real Estate ? Market Trend & Forecast 2018 According to Zillow.com, the median home value in Kansas City is $136,200. Kansas City home values have gone up 10.5% …
By Jenny Page Financial Stability After Divorce While Millennials have proven to be a boon for the marriage statistics, this sentiment cannot be echoed for the over fifties. Baby Boomers …
Family law issue Married couples usually own most, if not all, of their valuable property together. If you want to leave everything to your spouse, as many people do, you …
Real Estate Syndication Real estate syndication is ?crowdfunding for real estate? before crowdfunding for real estate ever existed. In its most simple form, both syndication and crowdfunding involve pooling capital …
Cost of Building a House Many things, including building materials, could affect the price of your new home. Two of the more prominent factors are regulatory costs and level of …
12 Ways To Beat Capital Gains Tax In The Age Of Trump Ashlea EbelingForbes StaffPersonal Finance I write about how to build, manage and enjoy your family’s wealth. Shutterstock Got capital …
What’s the Difference Between Your Home’s Market and Assessed Value? Understanding your home’s value is an important part of knowing your net worth, what you’ll likely receive if you sell …
The Future of Real Estate ? With Fewer Agents? Here’s a look at potential changes to how consumers shop for a home and close a deal. The Future of Real …
Housing: Then, Now, and Future by Moya K. Mason Houses have changed a lot over the last three hundred years. Availability of construction materials, development of indoor plumbing and heating …
The Truth About Real Estate Prices By Lisa Smith October 25, 2017 ? 6:24 AM EDT The layman’s theory of real estate goes something like this: The Pilgrims arrived. They …
Financial Stability After Divorce While Millennials have proven to be a boon for the marriage statistics, this sentiment cannot be echoed for the over fifties. Baby Boomers experienced a 109% …
Foreigner Selling Property in USA If there is ever a market that is always soaring and nothing dissuades it except a natural or human catastrophe, then it is the ever …
Can Non-citizens Own Land or Property? Regulation of land ownership rights for non-U.S. citizens is generally reserved to the states. But generally speaking, aliens and non-nationals are allowed to …
If you’re a real estate agent, odds are you haven’t been closing as many deals lately. A slowdown in new construction and a short supply of existing homes for sale …
FSBO means for sale by owner. When you sell a home, one of your first decisions is whether to FSBO (for sale by owner, pronounced fizz-bo) or hire an agent. …
As the economy continues to flail, many people ? including caregivers and the elderly ? are looking for ways to get ahead on finances ? or in many cases, just …
1. Interest Rates & The Economy For years the market has anticipated rising interest rates. With the Federal Reserve now nudging rates upward, flattening of the yield curve is underway. …
The United States Congress adopted a resolution on June 4, 1926, requesting that President Calvin Coolidge issue annual proclamations calling for the observance of November 11 with appropriate ceremonies.[2] A …
If you?ve entered into a contract to purchase a home, your transaction won’t be final until closing. Most buyers have many questions about the process, including: What is closing? Closing …
Missouri The first thing to understand about mortgages in Missouri is that Missouri uses ?deeds of trust? to record property ownership. A deed of trust is a document (filed in …
Scams targeting real estate transactions are on the rise, according to the FBI. Experts say there are many simple ways that consumers and real estate professionals can protect themselves and …
If Michael Wolff’s reporting is to be believed, Stephen K. Bannon’s assessment of the most dangerous threat posed by special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s investigation is not the one …
June 2015 A person can apply for Medicaid to pay for nursing home care or care in the home when the countable, available resources have been reduced to $2,000 plus …
Commercial Real Estate Developers in the 19th Century Most New York schoolchildren learn that the island of Manhattan was bought by Peter Minuit of the Dutch West India Company from …
If you want to buy a house this year, you may well be paying around $199,200, the median price for a home in the U.S., according to Zillow. That number …
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT FSBO The 2016 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers by the National Association of Realtors? (NAR) found that for sale by owner (FSBO) sales …
Buying real estate is about more than just finding a place to call home. Investing in real estate has become increasingly popular over the last 50 years and has become …
Real estate is a great investment for many reasons. You can enjoy an excellent rate of returns, amazing tax advantages and leverage real estate to build your wealth. Here are …
No house can be complete without any windows. Windows facilitate the entry of natural light indoors. They enable the occupants of a house to enjoy the views of the neighbourhood …
U.S.home prices have rebounded from the 2008 housing market crash, but demand is still low due to changes in living and buying habits of millennials, real estate mogul Sam Zell …
As a rule, people in New York wish for smaller places to live about as often as people on airplanes wish for smaller seats. I used to dream sometimes that …
Kansas City Real Estate Kansas City is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri, famous for its distinct barbeque cuisine and jazz heritage. Also nicknamed the City of …
ROOF SYSTEM COMPONENTS All steep-slope roof systems (i.e., roofs with slopes of 25 percent or more) have five basic components: Roof covering: shingles, tile, slate or metal and underlayment that …
5 Reasons to Conduct Regular Inspections of Your Rental Properties 1. Ensure Your Tenants Are Complying With the Terms of the Lease: Do you know if your tenant has a …
One reason you might be thinking about investing in rental properties is because you think you’ll save money on federal income taxes. While this may be true, you really need …
Most states, except those listed as community property states, below, use the “common law” system of property ownership. In these states, it’s usually easy to tell which spouse owns what. …
1. Check For Zoning Issues And Liens Generally speaking, one way to tell is when a property has a characteristic or complication that leads to an automatic “no” for the …
If you’ve ever house-hunted, you’ve probably got a sense that real estate purchases don’t represent consumers at their most rational. Did you like a house or apartment more, or less, …
Most people don’t think twice about cleaning and insulating their attics. At least, not until strange smells, rodent infestations, or other annoying issues appear and force them to take a …
A lease option (more formally Lease With the Option to Purchase) is a type of contract used in both residential and commercial real estate. In a lease-option, a property owner …
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF SELLING YOUR HOUSE FOR SALE BY OWNER WITHOUT A REALTOR? The biggest reason to consider some form of FSBO is the money you may save. …
History of Kansas City Kansas City, Missouri has been incorporated three different times and has had three different names throughout its history. First, in the 1830s John McCoy established Westport …
One of the last things most home buyers think about is how to take title to their new house. It’s best to consult a real estate attorney before deciding but, …
Foundation repair options vary greatly depending on the geographic area and site conditions for the repair. Until the late 1970s, the main repair method simply used concrete. Below is a …
Final walk-throughs are not home inspections, even though it might seem that way. It is not a time to begin negotiations with the seller to do repairs, nor is it …
What Is a Judgment Lien? A judgment lien is created when someone wins a lawsuit against you and records the judgment against your property. What is your total debt? A …
Fall real estate market trends have started to take shape, and now is as good of a time as any to start deciphering them. What’s more, those investors that can …
Real Estate Disputes come in all shapes and sizes. For instance, imagine a dispute where the seller disclosed the basement leaked a half an inch and the realty is the …
What if something was wrong with your newly bought house at the time of purchase, and someone — the seller, the seller’s agent, or the inspector — could or should …
A deed in lieu of foreclosure is a deed instrument in which a mortgagor (i.e. the borrower) conveys all interest in a real property to the mortgagee (i.e. the lender) …
3 Reasons Why It’s Important to Price Your Home to Sell The ?right? price is one that’s in tune with what similar homes are selling for in your market. It’s …
Buying a home can be nerve-racking, especially if you’re a first-time home buyer. These tips will help you navigate the process, save money and avoid common mistakes. We organized them …
Missouri Tax Sale Process Getting Started Will I need special equipment or software? No. To participate in the auction from your own home or office, you need only have …
Every seller pays for a real estate attorney or title company whether they sell a house with an agent or FSBO. Hire a lawyer to protect your home sale and …
CAN YOU SUE A SELLER IN MISSOURI FOR FAILURE TO DISCLOSE KNOWN ADVERSE MATERIAL FACTS? When you bought your home in Missouri, you assumed that it was in perfect condition. …
Redfin CEO Glenn Kelman has been known for making some strong statements about the housing market, and last week he issued his latest proclamation, warning of a slowdown that is …
Zillow shares plunged 9 percent on Friday after the online real estate database company announced it will begin buying and selling homes, a capital-intensive endeavor. With Zillow’s new program,announced on …
For Sale By Owner (FSBO) Statistics FSBOs accounted for 8% of home sales in 2016. The typical FSBO home sold for $190,000 compared to $249,000 for agent-assisted home sales. FSBO …
Overview of the Real Estate Market 5.51 million existing homes were sold in 2017, according to data from the National Association of REALTORS?. 612,000 newly constructed homes were sold in …
How to Sell Your House Without a Realtor You’re ready to put your house on the market, and you?ve decided to go it alone. Are you really saving money? By …
Types of services that a broker can provide Real Estate Services are also called trading services by some jurisdictions. Since each province’s and state’s laws may differ, it is generally …
Agency relationships with clients versus non-agency relationships with customers Relationship: Conventionally, the broker provides a conventional full-service, commission-based brokerage relationship under a signed listing agreement with a seller or a …
In the real estate world, FSBO means ?For Sale by Owner? which means the sellers are not using the services of a real estate agent to sell their property. While …
Aside from getting the address right, listing photographs are the most important part of the home sale listing. A study conducted by Michael Seiler of Old Dominion University stated that …
Here are 20 questions any home buyer should ask when considering a home purchase – 1. What year was the house built? If you’re not sure, you can look at …
A bonafide purchaser(BFP) ? referred to more completely as a bonafide purchaser for value without notice ? is a term used predominantly in common law jurisdictions in the law of …
Approximately 52.2 million (or 21.3 percent) people in the U.S. participated in major means-tested government assistance programs each month in 2012, according to a U.S. Census Bureau report released today. …
The process of buying or selling your home is quite complex, so you’re fortunate to have a real estate professional to guide you through some of the process. However, in …
Earnest money deposit Earnest money (which is held in escrow) is how sellers know you’re serious. Keep in mind that how much money you hand over upfront depends on a …
Condominium and PUD Ownership Builders, in an effort to combat the dual problem of an increasing population and a declining availability of prime land, are increasingly turning to common interest …
MOLD BASICS Why is mold growing in my home? Molds are part of the natural environment. Outdoors, molds play a part in nature by breaking down dead organic matter such …
A land patent is an exclusive land grant made by a sovereign entity with respect to a particular tract of land. To make such a grant “patent”, a sovereign (proprietary …
How To Use The Wholesale Real Estate Forms… The Wholesale Purchase Agreements are used to put a property under contract with the seller. Typically a wholesaler will assign the contract …
What is a ‘ShortSale?’ A Short Sale takes place when homes are sold for less than the bank payoff, and the home seller does not have the funds to make …
During a buyer’s market, home buyer’s are agressive in their offers; making offers substantially below asking price with many seller concessions. As the market has shifted, buyer’s have had to …
The Myth of the ‘Discount Listing’ There are all kinds of business models that have been created in recent years to give home buyer’s and seller’s a choice in how …
Realtor Tools: the MLS The modern day MLS (Multiple Listing Service) is the method that information on real estate for sale and sold properties are disseminated throughout the real estate …
Land Survey: Defining a Property Often times when showing properties, a client asks me, “Where is the property lines?” As a purveyor of properties, it would make sense that we …
Here’s an overview of the basics, including seller disclosure requirements. Most listing agents will want you to sign an exclusive right to sell listing, which obligates you to pay a …
The real estate market is roaring back! And today’s market can be good news forwholesalerswho learn to capitalize on these opportunities. The real estate market is roaring back! One of …
Joint ventures, wholesaling and property management are just a few of the ways investors can profit from real estate, but it takes a little savvy to become successful in this …
Every seller pays for a real estate attorney or title company whether they sell a house with an agent or FSBO. Hire a lawyer to protect your home sale and …
Tough times can motivate, frustrate agent-less sellers Four years ago, when Judy Cruz decided to try to sell her house on her own, it couldn’t have been easier. She struck …
Housing Trends Since 1950: The Difference Will Shock You For the last few years, home buyers have done battle with some challenging housing trends: fewer homes to choose from, rising …
The Post-Industrial Era Is Over ByLESTER C. THUROW The sun is about to set on the post-industrial era. No one should mourn its passing. In the post-industrial era, service jobs …
How the Internet Changed Real Estate For many years, real estate agents were the single most important gatekeepers of information regarding local real estate. If you wanted to know which …
Make Sure Your Kansas Mechanics Lien Has the Required Information It is crucial to make sure your Kansas mechanics lien contains all of the information specifically required by Kansas? lien …
Drafting a mechanic’s lien and ?notice of intent? (?429.100) involves crucial steps that can be harmful to your case if overlooked. Whether you forgot to verify the ?just and true …
Buying a primary residence for home buyers is a financial decision but also an emotional decision that involves many lifestyle factors. For most home buyers, the purchase of am primary …
Visualize a real estate purchase contract with just a few extra words added to your name as the buyer. This would look something like this: “Buyer: John J. Doe, and/or …
I’m not here to puff up real estate investing, nor to convince people that they can get rich quick in the business. However, there are people getting pretty nicely compensated …
A contingency clause defines a condition or action that must be met for a real estate contract to become binding. A contingency becomes part of a binding sales contract when …
Long-term real estate appreciation rate in the U.S. Before we talk actual real estate appreciation rates, let’s talk about why you’d want to know what they are in the first …
If you’re anything like me, you can ALWAYS use another online platform to advertise your property listings ? especially when that platform is FREE. In this blog post, I’m going …
Real estate inspection. The three little words can cause palpitations in even the sturdiest souls. For potential homebuyers, a real estate inspection means the house they have recently fallen in …
Buying or selling a home is best done with some assistance. Real estate brokers have access to the Multiple Listing Service in their geographical area and have obtained the educational …
The top 11 FSBO Marketing Wesites To determine the best for sale by owner sites, we looked at a variety of factors including how much it costs to list your …
Selling your home means making dozens (if not hundreds) of decisions, starting with whether to work with a real estate agent. While the vast majority of homeowners hire a listing …
For those hoping to maximize profits on a home sale, posting a ?for sale by owner? sign in the yard is an appealing option. Real estate brokers typically take 5 …
5 Reasons You Should For Sale by Owner (FSBO) More and more homeowners are taking advantage of the technology-based tools available to help them list, market and sell their own …
The common saying ?location, location, location? is often but not always true. Though location does affect a property’s value, this value can also shift up and down depending on how …
FSBO: Win-Win for Consumers and Attorneys There is value in a diverse new client funnel. Fundamental changes in technology have created new opportunities for lawyers. There may be no better …
As summer approaches, perhaps you’re daydreaming about putting in a swimming pool or buying a property with a backyard pool. That way you can take a dip and cool off …
How to Prepare Your House for Sale The little things can make a big difference Every seller wants her home to sell fast and bring top dollar, but it takes …
The seller’s agent is typically the person who draws up a purchase agreement, but what happens if the home is for sale by owner (FSBO) and the seller isn’t represented …
The Truth about the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (URLTA) of 1972 Written on November 4, 2013 byLucas Hall, updated on December 14, 2015 The Uniform Residential Landlord Tenant …
Lollygagging around a real estate transaction can end up killing the deal. Sometimes when you find that perfect house for the perfect price, you need to strike quickly to get …
By Dennis Rodkin, Crain’s Chicago Business, Aug. 28, 2014 Condominiums have been selling quickly and at good prices in Lakeview this year, so Matt Sulkowski recently decided to see what …
More U.S. households are renting than at any point in 50 years BY ANTHONY CILLUFFO, ABIGAIL GEIGER AND RICHARD FRY A decade after the housing bust upended the lives of …
FSBO is ?down,? but is it really? The 2016 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers by the National Association of Realtors? (NAR) found that for sale by owner (FSBO) sales …
How to Talk to Your Parents About Assisted Living Share: One of the most asked questions regarding senior care involves “the conversation”…or how to talk with your parents about assisted …
OVERVIEW As charitable entities, private foundations have proven to be incredibly successful engines of positive change. In the 20th century, private foundations helped bring about everything from Sesame Street to …
What is a ‘Living Trust’ A living trust is a type of trust created during a person’s lifetime. It’s designed to allow for the easy transfer of the trust creator …
What is a ‘Probate’ A probate is a legal process in which a will is reviewed to determine whether it is valid and authentic. Probate also refers to the general …
Here are some answers to common questions about handling a tenant’s abandoned property in Kansas. If a tenant leaves property behind, can I dispose of it as I see fit …
EVICTION PROCESS STEPS IN THE EVICTION PROCESS In All cases an attorney should be consulted for additional information. 1. NOTICE TO VACATE ? Written three (3) day notice to vacate, …
So, you think you know everything there is to know about the legal description of your property. If you had to, you could dig up that old plat and calculate …
Simply stated, “constructive eviction” is a landlord’s act or failure to act that substantially interferes with or permanently deprives a tenant from using its leased premises. Constructive eviction relieves tenants …
PAY RENT ONLINE: LIST OF ONLINE RENT PAYMENT TOOLS Simplify your rent collection. Instead of waiting for those checks to come in the mail or going and collecting the rent, …
We all know the potential problems with renting ? rent hikes, strict pet policies and less control over fixtures and paint color choices, to name a few. But beyond the …
A general home inspection is a necessary and common step in the home-buying process. However, there are other potentially important inspections that could affect your home purchase. Usually suggested by …
Being an abstractor, title agent, escrow/closing agent, notary public, or title examiner is a complex responsibility with customers expecting superior performance and error-free results. For example, a loan closer performed …
Communication Considering that nearly 35% of Americans currently reside in approximately 40 million rental units throughout the country it is surprising that so few of us really understand how to …
Comparing commercial real estate to residential real estate is like comparing apples to oranges. Both are from the same genre, but that is where the similarities end. The following are …
If you’ve ever house-hunted, you’ve probably got a sense that real estate purchases don’t represent consumers at their most rational. Did you like a house or apartment more, or less, …
PRICE Homeowners believe they will save the real estate commission by selling on their own, and while that may be true, studies have also show that homeowners net more money …
You recently moved into your new home. Prior to closing, you had an inspection performed and reviewed the Seller Disclosure. However, after the first rain storm you realize there are …
For the majority of U.S. history – or at least as far back as reliable information goes – housing prices have increased only slightly more than the level of inflation …
Missouri Affidavit as to Death of Grantor The Nonprobate Transfers Law of Missouri, Sections 461.003 to 461.081 RSMo (2012) has been in effect since 1989. While the law is specific …
Transactional Real Estate Law January 17, 2013, By Guest Blogger By Troy A. Rule, Associate Professor of Law Almost every successful company needs physical space in which to operate. Consequently, …
In today’s market, with home prices rising and a lack of inventory, some homeowners may consider trying to sell their homes on their own, known in the industry as a …
SOURCE UNKNOWN HTTPS://FSBOMIDWEST.COM FSBO VS. AGENT Have you seen the claim that research shows that real estate agents sell homes for 13% higher prices than people who sell their homes …
Did you know that it matters whether or not a person is married when they are buying or selling a house? In Missouri, married people have marital rights to any …
If you’re shopping for a home, odds are you should be shopping for a home loan as well?and these days, it’s by no means a one-mortgage-fits-all model. Where you live, …
Housing Trends Since 1950: The Difference Will Shock You For the last few years, home buyers have done battle with some challenging housing trends: fewer homes to choose from, rising …
Drafting a mechanic’s lien and ?notice of intent? (?429.100) involves crucial steps that can be harmful to your case if overlooked. Whether you forgot to verify the ?just and true …
The average 6 percent sales commission that most real estate agents get is a high price to pay, especially if you believe economists who say that realtors don’t sell homes …
Has the Internet killed real estate agents yet? Back in 2002 when I was first interested in buying a house, I went on the Internet and found lots of houses …
What’s the Difference Between Joint Tenancy and Tenancy in Common? When two or more people own a home, either as a joint tenancy or tenancy in common, each individual owns …
In 2007, the U.S. economy entered a mortgage crisis that caused panic and financial turmoil around the world. The financial markets became especially volatile, and the effects lasted for several …
It’s crucial for home sellers and agents to remain active on social media Millennials now make up 66 percent of the market for first-time homebuyers, and 99 percent of those …
An implied-in-fact contract is a form of an implied contract formed by non-verbal conduct, rather than by explicit words. The United States Supreme Court has defined it as “an agreement …
What are the Remedies for Breach of Contract? There are several remedies for breach of contract, such as award of damages, specific performance, rescission, andrestitution. In courts of limited jurisdiction, …
One thing to keep in mind when it comes to contract disputes is that judges will typically reduce the dispute to the lowest common denominator, that is, they’ll narrow the …
12 Ways to Foul Up a Real Estate Transaction By Evan L. Loeffler One would think that the transfer of ownership of real estate from one party to another should …
The success of McDonald’s can be attributed in part to the taste of the iconic fast food chain’s shakes and burgers. But the real secret sauce has everything to do …
Real Estate and Marriage Married couples usually own most, if not all, of their valuable property together. If you want to leave everything to your spouse, as many people do, …
The most deadly and widespread war in modern history acted as a devilish bellows on the fire of the American economy. Developments in industry, aviation, medicine, electronics and atomic energy …
The Probate Process The process unofficially ?begins? when a person dies. The person who passed away, known as the decedent, may or may not have left a will (or may …
The purchase of a home is often the largest transaction a person will undertake in a lifetime. As a result, a prospective home buyer should take all precautions possible to …
Fixed-Rate vs. Adjustable-Rate Mortgage (ARM) Most every type of home loan program will offer the option of a fixed-rate or an adjustable-rate mortgage. A fixed-rate mortgage will have the same …
Don’t be startled to discover that you must ‘share? part of your land. In certain types of real estate transactions, it’s not until the middle of the deal that home …
Plats and Surveys. What do these words mean? If you?ve recently purchased or acquired a tract of land and plan on dividing it, adding to it, or otherwise developing it, …
Selling your home on your own is doable and maybe you don’t need a professional to get the job done but there are some things to consider before committing to …
What’s better – single family rentals or multifamily properties Even in times like these, as commercial real estate is heating up and it’s more difficult to find good deals, investors …
Homeowners already know the many tax breaks that Uncle Sam offers, most notably mortgage interest and property tax deductions. Well, he also has good tax news for home sellers: Most …
Real estate wholesaling occurs when a party (the “wholeseller”) contracts with a home seller, markets the home to potential buyers, and then assigns the contract to one of them. The …
There’s this old saying that says the best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. The second best time is now. That especially applies to investing. It’s never …
In 2017 Americans learned to expect the unexpected, whether it be politics, weather or housing. Driven by record low inventory, little about the housing market went as forecast last year. …
As the real estate market continues to evolve, new trends are emerging for 2018. Buyers will be more in control as the housing supply will finally catch up with buyer …
When you’re divorcing, one of the questions curious friends and family eventually ask is, ?So . . . are you going to keep the house?? While a simple answer would …
At what cost, percentage wise, is it better to rent than buy, if you plan on staying at a given location forever? Buying a home is likely the most expensive …
Almost all real estate transactions begin with the signing of a real estate contract. This document is the most important document in the entire transaction. The contract sets forth the …
If you’ve been sharing a driveway with your neighbor for years courtesy of an easement on your property, there could come a time when the arrangement no longer works for …
Possession is nine-tenths of the law is an expression meaning that ownership is easier to maintain if one has possession of something, or difficult to enforce if one does not. …
Buying or selling a home rarely happens overnight, and it’s not uncommon for buyers or sellers to interface or even work with multiple agents. Best-case scenario, the right agent shows …
In Missouri, as is the case in other states, both real and personal property may be titled in many different ways. An individual may hold title to property. A corporation …
A gift occurs when a voluntary transfer for less than full consideration or compensation occurs from a donor to a donee. A valid gift must satisfy the following criteria, to …
If Medicaid pays for nursing home care, the state can try to collect reimbursement for these costs from the person’s assets after he or she dies. Medicaid will often pay …
1. Hackers Stealing Your Down Payment “A hacker could fool you into thinking he’s your agent and trick you into sending him money, which you’ll never get back. It’s so …
Promissory Notes To fully understand the difference between a mortgage and a deed of trust, you must first understand promissory notes. Homebuyers usually think of the mortgage or deed of …
Owning a home is the fulfillment of the American dream. For others, it is their worst nightmare. Purchasing a home is one of the biggest financial decisions you will make …
An auction is a highly efficient and expeditious way to sell any type of real estate. The terms are straightforward and competitive bidding generates market value. Below are some key …
It may be hard to believe, but I receive calls regularly from buyers and sellers that have become estranged from there realtor or feel they are being taken advantage of …
FSBO TRENDS IN THE MARKETPLACE The traditional way of selling real estate continues to change exponentially because of 1) a general dislike of real estate agents, 2) the desire to …
Almost half of people in their early 20s have a secret, one they don’t usually share even with friends: Their parents help them pay the rent. Moving into adulthood has …
Airbnb Is Facing an Existential Expansion Problem Tom Slee JULY 11, 2016 Surprisingly, the new Airbnb ad campaign exhorts you not to be a tourist: ?Don’t go to Paris, don’t …
Acknowledgement and jurat certificates are the two most common notarial acts, yet there is confusion about the difference between these forms for many signers. Some notaries even find it difficult …
Employers can get into legal trouble if they ask interviewees about their religion, sexual preference, or political affiliation. Yet they can use social media to filter out job applicants based …
A Lawyers involvement in residential house sales began dwindling in the 1980s with the advent of HUD regulations requiring title insurance for mortgages, secured by residential properties, which were being …
Why Is “Full Disclosure” Important? In business transactions, especially real estate deals, the contract often contains a full disclosure requirement. Full disclosure means