Airbnb is facing an Existential Expansion problem
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 …
Ackowledgement vs Jurat – 2 forms of notarial acts
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 …
Technology – Society and Laws cannot keep up with pace of changes
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 …
THE IMPORTANCE OF A REAL ESTATE LAWYER IN A REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION
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 …
Disclosures in Real Estate Transactions
Why Is “Full Disclosure” Important? In business transactions, especially real estate deals, the contract often contains a full disclosure requirement. Full disclosure means being truthful and forthcoming about anything the …
Is being a landlord it worth it? Six big challenges.
Real estate! It’s the way to make money ? or so some people claim. On the surface, it seems likes like a surefire bet; in reality, it’s usually more headache …
Missouri Constructive Eviction Law for Tenants to use as Affirmative Defense
TENANT?S DEFENSES The most common complaints made by tenants deal with the condition of the property. Major problems that affect the habitability of the premises are covered by therelated doctrines …
real estate wholesaling. Limitation of risk and capital
Real estate wholesaling is similar to flipping except that the time frame is much shorter and no repairs are made to the home before the wholesaler sells it. A real …
Renting Out Part of Your Home What to Expect for Income and Repairs
You want extra income and you just happen to have extra space in your house. What could be more logical than turning a portion of your home into a small …
Kansas City Real Estate Lawyer – Missouri Legal Online Services: Book a video call for help with legal needs: Beneficiary, Quit Claim Deeds, Contract Review, Trusts, Disputes, Marital Waiver, Investments, Commercial & Residential articles below.
REAL ESTATE LAW Transfer-on-Death Deeds A transfer-on-death (TOD) deed, or beneficiary deed, allows an owner of real property to execute a deed that names a beneficiary who will obtain …
Common reasons why foundations fail
NONPOROUS BACKFILL. Soils loaded with clay or organic matter hold water like a sponge, increasing the risk of foundation cracks when the soil freezes and expands. RUSHING THE CURE. Concrete …
Tips on Rental Real Estate Income, Deductions and Recordkeeping
Tips on Rental Real Estate Income, Deductions and Recordkeeping If you own rental real estate, you should be aware of your federal tax responsibilities. All rental income must be reported …
By Michele Lerner December 5, 2013 If you?ve toured a newly built model home recently, you may have noticed a few things missing: a formal living room or the once-popular …
Here’s a closer look at the trends that will have the greatest impact on the housing market in 2016.
1. We’ll return to normal (Anyone remember normal?) The year ahead will see healthy growth in home sales and prices, but at a slower pace than in 2015. This slowdown …
TERMS THAT SHOULD BE IN EVERY LEASE AGREEMENT
1. Severability Though a legal precaution, this?is perhaps one of the most important clauses in a lease. This clause states that if?one aspect of the lease is found to be …
Very Important if you are considering buying a rental property
From the first decision to invest in real estate to actually buying your first rental property, there is a lot of work to be done. This task may be daunting …
What to do if you are upside down on your home.
Written By: Miranda Marquit Right now, I am in the process of a cross-country move. As part of this move, my husband and I have decided to sell our home. …
Inheritance Law and Your Rights
Inheritance law governs the rights of a decedent’s survivors to inherit property. Depending on the type of inheritance law your state has, a surviving spouse may be able to claim …
Size Impropriety In Land Value Analysis-Land Valuation
A common public misconception is that “per unit” land values apply universally within a market locale. That is, a three acre site is sometimes thought to command the same “per …
Different definitions and forms of residential real estate
Single-Family Home – The most common definition of a single-family home is: An individual, freestanding, unattached dwelling unit, typically built on a lot larger than the structure itself, resulting in …
Boundary Disputes
by: Andrew Sarazin Encountering a boundary dispute with an adjacent neighbor is a fairly common issue for landowners. There are many ways a boundary dispute can arise. Sometimes, deed descriptions …
There’s a Reason It’s Called the Practice of Law
A guy walks up to a lady on a New York City street and asks, “How do you get to Carnegie Hall?” And the lady says, “Practice, young man. Practice.” …
Big Changes in Residential Real Estate Closing
?Changes mandated by the CFPB spell the end of “Closings” and the advent of the “Consummation.” The lending process for residential real estate closings is poised for dramatic changes later …
Residential Housing Post WWII
Background The end of World War II marked the beginning of a housing boom throughout the United States. Many returning soldiers became first time home owners with the help of …
Changes in the real estate market over the last 10 years
Homeowners are getting choosier.?Coldwell banker says?59% of homeowners accepted the first offer on a home sale 10 years back. Now, only 46% do so, suggesting owners are pickier in selling …
5 Most Common Seller Mistakes
Mistake #1 ? Overpricing Everyone 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 …
Residential Housing after WWII
After world war two soldiers came home and mass prduced housing in suburbs became popular. ?In the Kansas City Area this is reflected in many subdivisions within the I-435 loop …
11 Reasons Why I Never Want To Own A House Again
11 Reasons Why I Never Want To Own A House Again Kelly Phillips Erb ,FORBES STAFF Homeownership isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Learn how to find the perfect …
The Internet Economy
Since the day the first domain was registered in 1985, the Internet has not stopped growing. It has sailed through multiple recessions and one near-collapse and kept on increasing in …
Mechanic’s liens Must be done right to be Effective
By Adam R. Burrus Mechanic’s liens provide vendors and laborers with an important way of protecting themselves from the danger of not being paid. However, if the liens are not …
HOW THE SHARING ECONOMY IS CHANGING THE MARKETPLACE
IN ABOUT 40 minutes, Cindy Manit will let a complete stranger into her car. An app on her windshield-mounted iPhone will summon her to a corner in San Francisco’s South …
Pay attention to this before making a decision on choosing a listing agent
The agent suggests the highest price for your house. If you’re selling your house, get listing presentations from at least three agents, who will tell you what comparable homes have …
Listing a property for sale?
7 Negotiating Points In Broker Listing Agreements Most sales of commercial real estate begin when the seller retains a broker. The seller’s choice of the broker can depend upon a …
What every 22 year old graduate should know about the job market
Maybe its because were taught to find an older mentor. Or maybe its because people who are gray around the temples simply look wiser. Whatever the reason, when you are …
New ways to profit from single family homes
Two-and-a-half years into the U.S. housing recovery, the real-estate industry is rolling out new ways for individuals to invest in the property market. Brokers, property managers and others are helping …
Is home ownership a thing of the past?
Kristi Taylor can pinpoint the precise moment she let go of the dream of homeownership. It was a few months ago, as she and her husband and infant son were …
Missouri Eviction Law
Any landlord who wishes to evict a residential tenant in Missouri must follow the steps of the Missouri eviction process. There are number of valid reasons for which a landlord …
Benefits of Owner Financing
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 …
11 questions to ask your property manager
While many investors spend a large amount of time and effort carefully researching the property markets and then finding the top investment, they ignore the role that a professional property …
How the Internet Changed the Real Estate Industry Forever
From the MLS to personal networks, the real estate industry thrives on the timely dissemination of information. Until recently, real estate professionals were the exclusive custodians of that information, and …
Real Estate Brokers/Unauthorized Practice of Law?
Unlike attorneys, real estate brokers do not have the same professional duties of loyalty to their clients. In many states, brokers are permitted by law to engage in “dual agency.” …
Sellers Disclosure Statement
The Riskiest Business Property condition disclosure is a major legal risk for brokers today, according to findings from NAR’s new Legal Scan analysis. OCTOBER 2011 | BY G.M. FILISKO The …
Enforcing a Judgement for Possession in Missouri
Your first priority may be to evict the tenant from the leased premises, which you will be entitled to do if you obtained a judgment for possession. Caution: To avoid …
Pros and Cons of being a Real Estate Agent
Would you like a career with a stable and steady income, guaranteed days off and a five-day workweek? Then being a real estate agent is NOT the job for you. …
Being a landlord: Is it worth it?
by Ellen Cannon Published on October 18th, 2012 This is a guest post from Holly Johnson. Holly is a 32-year-old wife, mother of two, and frugal lifestyle enthusiast. She blogs …
The incredible shrinking work space
The ?open office? environment has become increasingly popular as many corporate clients have made a concerted effort to reduce their real estate footprint while increasing collaboration among employees. The traditional …
Disclosures in A Residential Real Estate Transaction
Disclosing Defects When Selling a Home When a person is selling a home, they are generally obligated to disclose any material defects?or problems in the property. While laws covering full …
How are property taxes calculated?
By Chris Seabury ?| Every year, millions of homeowners deal with property taxes. In most situations, when the tax bill comes, if it seems reasonable, most people would pay it …
Is your neighbor or someone else stalking you? If so what can you do?
What if you live in Missouri and have a next door neighbor that has made living next to a living hell?. ?Such as spotlights being placed on the house so …
Here is a very good link for what sellers should do first before hiring a real estate agent
http://www.bankrate.com/finance/real-estate/to-do-before-hiring-agent-1.aspx
Right to Marry Ruling: How it Affects Beneficiary Rights
by John Paul Ruiz, QKA, CISP, Director of Professional Development on Jun 29, 2014 On June 26, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court lifted the ban on same sex-marriages in the …
Overview of real estate markets
The main participants in real estate markets are: Owner/user: These people are both owners and tenants. They purchase houses or commercial property?as an investment and also to live in or …
Avoid Common Title Problems By Better Understanding the Different Types of Ownership
We often hear from taxpayers — all well-intentioned — who lost or seriously compromised their valuable exemptions or Save Our Homes (SOH) protection when they made ?do-it-yourself? changes to a …
Joint Tenancy
What is a Joint Tenancy? Joint tenancy is a form of ownership by two or more individuals together. It differs from other types of co-ownership in that the surviving joint …
Tenancy by the Entireties exemption for Married Couples Holds ? Case Law Update
By Kansas City Divorce Attorney Mark Wortman on February 8, 2009. The Missouri Court of Appeals for the Southern District of Missouri has just recently upheld the Missouri exemption (protection …
10 Things Landlords Should Know About Fair Housing
By Kristi Bunge Sounds pretty simple if there are just 10 things to advise Landlords about with regard to fair housing law. Unfortunately there are more than just the 10 …
How to Profit From Your Basement Rental
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 …
Current state of the real estate market (2015)
Wild fluctuations in the nation’s real estate cycle have taken investors on a roller coaster ride since the early part of this century. From the first decade, marked by overheated …
Current state of the Kansas City Real Estate Market
KC Star 12/4/2015 Over the past five years, the Missouri housing market has been slow to recover. However, some argue the market’s recovery started in 2011. It wasn’t until 2012, …
Beware of garage doors
From Kansas City Star 7/22/2015 – You pass through it every day, often multiple times a day. Heading to work. Dropping the kids off. Running errands. The garage door has …
Illegal use of premises in Missouri
Be carefull what you do if you are a tenant. ?Missouri law allows a landlord an expedited proceedure for eviction in the case of certain illegal uses of the premises. …
Boundry Disputes
Humans have the territorial instincts of jungle beasts. Boundary disputes costing thousands of pounds in legal and surveyors’ fees are often fought over a few centimetres. A spiral of charges …
REAL ESTATE TRENDS 2015
BY BETH BRAVERMAN, The Fiscal Times March 27, 2015 Along with green shoots and chirping birds, one sure sign of spring is popping up in neighborhoods across the country: For …
Population growth north of the river remains a key asset in creating a more vibrant future for Kansas City.
BY YAEL T. ABOUHALKAH abouhalkah@kcstar.com Welcome to the fastest-growing county in the Kansas City area, where houses, schools and shops are being built to serve a flood of new residents. …
The Tax Benefits of Equity Real Estate Investing
Written by Realty Mogul Equity real estate investing has real tax benefits The tax benefits of real estate investing are attractive, but until recently many investors had difficulty participating in …
Seller Financing
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 …
Foreclosures Further Fade Away
DAILY REAL ESTATE NEWS | WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10, 2015 Foreclosure inventory plunged nearly 25 percent in April as the number of completed foreclosures which reflect the total number of homes …
Winners and loosers if inflation rises
The word “inflation” strikes fear into the hearts of many Americans. It conjures worries of a stagnating economy, rising prices, a falling dollar and an income that just can’t keep …
Financial gain better for the older generation
Most Americans suffered serious losses during and after the recession, knocked off balance by layoffs, stagnant pay, and the collapse of home values. But apart from the super-rich, one group’s …
Real Estate Services Available
Real Estate Services: Construction Law Purchase Agreements Financing Refinancing Title Insurance Claims Title Examination Short Sales Foreclosure Sheriff’s Sale Trustee’s Sale Eminent Domain Condemnation Loan Documentation Commercial Transactions Boundary & …
Ted Ehney Jr. – Second Chances
ROB ROBERTS | KCBJ A partnership led by Ted Ehney Jr. plans to redevelop this tower and attached annex at 601 Minnesota Ave. in Kansas City, Kan., into a mixed-use …
Non Traditional Home Sales – Seller Financing, Lease Purchase, Installment Sales
In today’s changing market homes are selling in more “nontraditional” ways than in the recent “bubbly” past. ?The three most common varieties of nontraditional sale are private money (otherwise known …
New Ways to Profit From Renting Out Single-Family Homes
By ANNAMARIA ANDRIOTIS Two-and-a-half years into the U.S. housing recovery, the real-estate industry is rolling out new ways for individuals to invest in the property market. Brokers, property managers and …
Kansas City: Real Estate and Market Trends
By Than Merrill? ?Over the past five years, the Missouri housing market has been slow to recover. However, some argue the market’s recovery started in 2011. It wasn’t until 2012, …
Sellers market
May 28, 2015 Kent Hoover Sellers are in the driver’s seat in the housing market since there are lots of buyers looking at a limited number of houses. Sellers are …
All cash buyers……
One in three buyers of U.S. homes is paying cash, a record high number, according to data made available to McClatchy Newspapers. The trend is being driven by retiring baby …
KCLAWYER serving the following Missouri communities
kcrealestatelawyer – Mark A. Roy – ‘serves clients in Jackson County, Clay County, Platte County and Ray County and the communities of Kansas City, North Kansas City, Raytown, Grandview, Lee’s …
If you plan to buy your first home, trade up to a larger home, or downsize now that your children are out on their own, or are in the process of selling your property, Mark A. Roy, a real estate lawyer can provide you with insight and legal guidance from start to finish.
If you’re a buyer, our lawfirm can: Explain the terms of your purchase contract Protect you from hidden liabilities with respect to your new home Review real estate documents that …
Does bankruptcy ever make sense?
Filing bankruptcy can be a long-term solution for some people, depending on what the debtor is trying to accomplish. ?Benefits provided by bankruptcy: Surrender ? If a debtor wishes to …
From Broke to $4,600/Mo in Passive Income By Age 28
By Brandon Turner I knew it would be the worst day of my life. Throughout my childhood and teen years, I saw it coming. And it scared me to death. …
US Home ownership rate will be at a plateau for several more years
Only about one in four former homeowners who lost property during the housing crash will soon become buyers again as tight credit keeps many out of the U.S. real estate …
Are the days of Real Estate Investment over?
Real estate has been one of the best performing assets since 2009. No, we’re not talking about regular people’s homes. The biggest gains have come from so-called real estate investment …
The effect of Inflation on Housing Prices
A house is a better hedge against inflation than a savings account. Inflation is often defined as a sustained increase in prices for a broad range of goods. Economists explain …
THE NEW URBANISM TREND: LIVING AT THE SHOPPING CENTER
THE NEW URBANISM TREND: LIVING AT THE SHOPPING CENTER The 10-year-old Zona Rosa, the $200 million mixed-use neighborhood up north at Barry Road, is largely credited as jump-starting the latest …
Tips on staging your home for showing prospective buyers
Even with forecasts for a rise in home-improvement spending this year, it’s still going to be a challenge to convince sellers to pay for upgrades that will please buyers. But …
Getting your mortgage paid quickly and not over 15-30 years
For most people, a 30 year mortgage is the easiest path to home ownership. While a 30 year loan makes it a lot easier to land a new home, it’s …
Ten Landlord Legal Mistakes to Avoid
Asking Discriminating Questions A landlord should refrain from asking certain questions to a prospective tenant. This is one of the more serious legal mistakes that landlords make. Because the federal …
Trends in residential real estate
BY BETH BRAVERMAN, The Fiscal Times March 27, 2015 Along with green shoots and chirping birds, one sure sign of spring is popping up in neighborhoods across the country: For …
Is forgiveness of debt on a home loan taxable income?
Unfortunately – this act expired December 31st, 2014, however the exceptions below are still in effect. The Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act and Debt Cancellation If you owe a debt …
Traditional Sale vs. Auction?
When you hear of a property going to auction, do you immediately assume that the property is in the hands of a bank or a foreclosure company attempting to recover …
Hire an agent or attorney? Get both – Mark A. Roy Attorney/Broker(agent)
It’s no secret that real estate agents earn high commissions. Although the commission is usually paid by the seller, the cost may be indirectly passed on to you. And real …
3 keys to success for investors
Investors should consider three keys to success: 1. Pay off the mortgages. Assuming you purchase property that is profitable from the start, not having a mortgage every month can significantly …
REAL ESTATE SALES SUGGESTIONS
Selling your house can be one of the most tense and emotional tasks you will face in your life. For most, the house became a place to express yourself and …
Sellers Market
All numbers appear to be indicate that as of today 4/9/2015 it is a seller market. If you have a portfolio of properties to sell this would be a great …
Homebuilder confidence is falling
Homebuilders’ confidence fell in October 2014 after four months of gains that had pushed the indicator to the highest level in nine years.
Mortgage rates tumble
Mortgage rates tumbled this week. The 30 loan hit its lowest since June 2013 as Treasury bond yields marked new lows amid concern over global economic weakness.
KC Area sees home sales decline slightly, but prices rise
Sales of new and existing homes was down 1% from July 2013. Existing home sales fell 1% but new home sales were up 2% from 1 year ago. The average …
Its a sellers market
The Kansas City Star reported this week that there was a 3.5 month supply of homes for sale in Kansas City, Missouri. This makes the current market a very strong …