Archive

Do you know why we sign deeds to transfer property and use complicated legal descriptions? The basic framework of real estate law in the United States comes from ancient English common law. Common law essentially means the laws developed from custom and judicial decisions, rather than by statutes.  Of course, significant changes have developed over […]

 You’ve decided to upgrade from your downtown studio condominium and buy a house in a hip neighborhood. Buying a house can be both exciting and terrifying at the same time. Is it the right house? Can you afford the payments? Should you go with a home that has more bedrooms than you need in case […]

Is one of your goals for 2017 to buy a home?  Maybe you spend inordinate amounts of time trolling Zillow and it is time to pull the plug, but you have questions you are too embarrassed to ask.  Having successfully represented many first-time homebuyers for their transactions across all price points, I notice the same […]

Maybe you’ve heard the buzz in the news lately about the City of Chicago cracking down on Airbnb rentals, and wondering how that will affect your plans to share your hip space with weary travelers or exotic adventurers. Well, like all things city government, the rules are complex and dizzying.  For example: Buildings of less […]

It’s selling season!  I get tons of questions from people selling their homes, and here are the three most common questions with answers: 1.  Why do I have to pay for title insurance? Title insurance protects your buyer from any “defects in title”… Defects include things like whoever sold you your property did not actually […]

Buying season is here!  Here are the four questions I get most often from people buying a new home:  When should I involve my lawyer? As soon as possible.  Under the standard Illinois realtor contracts, there is an “attorney review” clause, which means that even after you sign the agreement/offer to purchase, your attorney will […]

  A mechanic’s lien gives contractors the right to foreclose on and sell property if they do not get paid for performing work. The statute is quite complicated with lots of technical steps to make sure the lien is secured and to protect property owners from fraudulent claims. There is a tight deadline to enforce […]

While there are laws in place for your protection, for the most part you and your landlord set your OWN terms of agreement in a commercial deal. Most of the traditional tenant protections are in place for residential leases only. The law presumes that the parties entering into a commercial lease are of equal bargaining […]

Love is in the air; thinking about buying a place with your lover?  Read these 5 things you should know before you take the plunge: 1. The process begins with a real estate attorney that can work with you and your beloved to enter a cohabitation agreement and/or property distribution agreement so you are both protected […]

As a Chicago attorney, I get a lot of questions about the best way to hold title to commercial property; we will go through your options and together figure out the best solution for your (and your business’s) unique situation. Should I own commercial property in my name? Having a title to property in your name […]