What is an Appraisal?
Across the country, housing costs are steadily rising due to the growing shortage of homes available to sell or rent. With new leadership in key House and Senate committees and provisions of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act set...more
Montgomery County is taking decisive action to expand affordable housing options and support the County’s residents with the More Housing N.O.W. (New Options for Worker) legislation package....more
On August 6, 2024, Governor Maura Healy signed the Affordable Homes Act (the Act”), legislation whose purpose is to address rising housing costs within the Commonwealth by implementing public investment, changes to zoning...more
In many states, the tide appears to be turning against short-term rentals. With restrictions on short-term rentals, such as Airbnb and Vrbo, on the rise, businesses operating short-term rental properties are running out of...more
In recent years, the interest in Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) has grown exponentially in response to housing shortages and affordability issues. The regulatory landscape for ADUs is dynamic and can be affected by changes...more
A year since the approval of Senate Bill 9 (SB 9), it appears few Californians have taken advantage of the new legislation that aims to streamline small-scale housing development. The bill allows for the development of either...more
A new Missouri law may be a new cause of concern for homeowners. The new law, which restricts the ability of local government to regulate home occupations with zoning ordinances or other regulations, may allow noxious...more
KEY FACTS OF REAL ESTATE ACQUISITIONS UNDER LATVIAN LAW - I. STANDARD FORMS OF AGREEMENT - A. Offer to Purchase sets forth Buyer’s offer of price and date for closing. Seller may accept or reject. B. The purchase...more
KEY FACTS OF REAL ESTATE ACQUISITIONS UNDER LATVIAN LAW - 1. Types of real estate - 1.1. Land estate - Consists of one or several land plots. 1.2. Land and building estate - Consists of one or several land...more
On March 6, 2020, just a day after hearing oral argument, the Supreme Judicial Court reaffirmed the longstanding principle that abutting landowners have standing to challenge the application of zoning bylaws only if they...more
Seattle Delays Registration Deadline for STR Operators. Again. ("Seattle delays deadline again for Airbnb operators to register," Seattle Times on Aug 29, 2019) The City of Seattle has again delayed the deadline for...more
Disney Works its Magic for STRs - ("Anaheim leaders are reversing their ban on short-term rentals that offer an alternative to hotels to tourists to Disneyland and the area," OC Register - Business News on Jun 5, 2019) ...more
Airbnb poised for a reprieve in the EU - ("Why Airbnb Could Escape the Uber Trap in Europe," Fortune Magazine on Apr 30, 2019) The Court of Justice of the European Union is considering whether Airbnb was breaking the...more
This week’s Short-Term Rental Update features a number of interesting topics, including these highlights...more
Real Property Update - • Special Tax District Bond Validation: hospital center special tax district could not validate bonds intended to finance the construction of a hospital outside the geographic boundaries established...more
Land Use and Development Case Summaries (short form) - 1. PLANNING AND ZONING - CENTER FOR COMMUNITY ACTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE V. CITY OF MORENO VALLEY, 26 Cal. App. 5th 689 (2018) - Based on the language and...more
In Barkan, et al. v. Brown, et al., No. 17-MISC-000371 (Mass. Land Court, Nov. 27, 2017), the Land Court stopped a group of homeowners from attempting to have a second bite at stopping a neighbor’s development project. ...more
To the extent that an ordinance in ambiguous, it must be interpreted in favor of the property owner. I recently overturned an adverse decision against a client by the Webster Township Zoning Board of Appeals. In that...more
Phil Elliott, wide receiver for the North Dallas Bulls, posts a photograph on Instagram showing his new pet tiger hanging out in his backyard in Preston Hollow. His post goes viral and becomes a hot news topic. The next...more