Category Archives: Real Estate Law

Laura Kusisto reported this week at The Wall Street Journal Online that, “Home prices continued to rise rapidly in the waning days of 2017, but there are early signs that price gains that have well outstripped wages and inflation could begin to ease this year. “The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller National Home Price Index, which covers… Continue Reading

C.J. Hughes reported yesterday at The New York Times Online that, “As Equilibrium Brewery opened for business here [Middletown, N.Y.] on a recent Saturday morning, fans were already lined up outside for a fresh batch of its hazy-colored ales. “The travelers, who came from Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island, snapped up as many… Continue Reading

Reuters writer Tom Polansek reported yesterday that, “A federal judge has temporarily blocked California’s plans to require cancer warnings on products containing the popular weed killer glyphosate, in a win for manufacturer Monsanto Co. “U.S. District Judge William Shubb said the warnings would be misleading because glyphosate is not known to cause cancer, according to… Continue Reading

Sharon Nunn reported yesterday at The Wall Street Journal Online that, “Two months of steep declines in sales of new homes across the U.S. haven’t persuaded many economists that the housing market is turning lower. “Purchases of newly built single-family homes—a relatively narrow slice of all U.S. home sales—fell 7.8% in January after dropping 7.6%… Continue Reading

New York Times writer Brian J. O’Connor reported last week that, “Critics of the estate tax like to call the federal levy on assets passed on by the wealthy to their heirs the ‘death tax.’ But the better nickname might be the ‘zombie tax.’ “Despite repeated attempts by conservative lawmakers to kill it — and… Continue Reading

Ruth Simon reported yesterday at The Wall Street Journal Online that, “As business owners pore through the new tax law, many are asking themselves a fundamental question: Will changing how their company is structured cut their tax bills? “‘This is one of the most pressing issues for taxpayers and business owners,’ said Mark Everson, vice… Continue Reading

A news release yesterday from USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) stated that, “Last year’s hurricanes, wildfires, and droughts, devastated parts of the South, Midwest, Northern Plains, and California, and were a stark reminder that agriculture is an inherently risky business. Federal crop insurance indemnities for these disasters totaled more than $1 billion in 2017. “The… Continue Reading

Associated Press writer Steve Karnowski reported recently that, “Tens of thousands of soybean and cotton farmers across the country are taking free but mandatory training in how to properly use a weed killer blamed for drifting and damaging crops in neighboring fields. “The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency required the training and other restrictions last fall… Continue Reading

DTN Ag Policy Editor Chris Clayton reported yesterday that, “Congress may be close to an agreement to replace the Section 199A language in the new tax law to curb the advantages for farmers selling products to cooperatives instead of private companies. “Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, told reporters on Tuesday he understands a possible fix would… Continue Reading

The Associated Press reported recently that, “A pair of U.S. senators is introducing legislation designed to improve organic farming research. “Democratic Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania and Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine say their legislation would reauthorize and incrementally increase funding for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative. “They… Continue Reading