Category Archives: Real Estate Law

Topics that are of interest to the real estate community, with an emphasis on commercial, industrial, or multi-dwelling units.

WeWork’s Lessons for U.S. Real Estate

Writing recently at The Financial Times Online, Rana Foroohar noted that, “When it comes to cautionary global business tales, all roads seem to lead to WeWork. I have been thinking about the short-term office space company, and not only because of the lawsuit some of its board members issued last week against investor SoftBank over… Continue Reading

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Non-Bank Lenders put on Downgrade Watch

Financial Times writers Billy Nauman, Robert Armstrong and Laura Noonan reported last week that, “US non-bank lenders, which originate half of America’s home loans, are facing financial pressure and ratings downgrades as they await clarity from the federal government about how to deal with mortgage payment forbearance. “Rating agency Moody’s switched its outlook for non-bank… Continue Reading

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Mortgage Lenders Prepare for Delinquencies

Bloomberg writers Prashant Gopal and John Gittelsohn reported earlier this month that, “Mortgage lenders are preparing for the biggest wave of delinquencies in history. If the plan to buy time works, they may avert an even worse crisis: Mass foreclosures and mortgage market mayhem. “Borrowers who lost income from the coronavirus — already a skyrocketing… Continue Reading

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Record Low Mortgage Rates Are Delivering More Refinancing Demand

Wall Street Journal writers Orla McCaffrey, Julia Carpenter and Ben Eisen reported last month that, “Record low mortgage rates are delivering more refinancing demand than some lenders can handle. “Homeowners are rushing to refinance their mortgages thanks to big falls in interest rates prompted by fears of the spreading coronavirus. Some lenders are having trouble… Continue Reading

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Many Homeowners Pay Higher Rates After Refinancing Their Homes to Tap Home Equity

Wall Street Journal writer Ben Eisen reported recently that, “Many U.S. homeowners who need cash are taking it out of their properties. The trade-off: higher interest rates. “Over the past two years, a big chunk of homeowners took on higher interest rates when they refinanced to tap their home equity. These cash-out refinancings, as they… Continue Reading

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U.S. Home Builders Benefited From Low Interest Rates This Year; Housing Starts Climbed and New-Home Sales Surged

Earlier this week, Wall Street Journal writer Will Parker reported that, “U.S. home builders benefited from low interest rates this year as housing starts climbed to levels not seen in a decade and new-home sales surged after a disappointing 2018. “Builder confidence, as measured by the National Association of Home Builders, is now the highest… Continue Reading

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Slower Home Sales Due in Part to People Staying Longer in Their Residences

Wall Street Journal writer Laura Kusisto reported earlier this month that, “U.S. homeowners are staying in their residences much longer than before, keeping a glut of housing inventory off the market, which helps explain why home sales have been sputtering. “Homeowners nationwide are remaining in their homes typically 13 years, five years longer than they… Continue Reading

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Positive Indicators from the Housing Market

Wall Street Journal writer Laura Kusisto reported last week that, “Three indicators released on [Oct. 29th] show the housing market is gaining modest strength in the latter half of the year thanks to lower mortgage rates. “Average national home prices grew 3.2% in the year ending in August, according to data released Tuesday by the… Continue Reading

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Home Sales On the Rise

Wall Street Journal writers Ben Eisen and Laura Kusisto reported this week that, “The mortgage market turned red hot over the summer, posting its biggest three months since the financial crisis. “Lenders extended $700 billion of home loans in the July-to-September quarter, the most in 14 years, according to industry research group Inside Mortgage Finance…. Continue Reading

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Chicago Lawmakers Pushing For Tighter Regulation for Backyard Chickens

Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz reported on the front page of today’s Chicago Tribune that, “An ordinance introduced last month would ban roosters from residential areas in Chicago and allow a household to keep no more than six hens and two livestock animals, defined as four-legged farm creatures such as pigs, sheep and goats. “A $25 annual livestock… Continue Reading

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