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How Do I Prepare for Real Estate Mediation?

Posted on August 20, 2019 by bwadmin

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Nice, big houses in a neighborhood.

Real estate disputes can happen for any number of reasons.

It might be that the seller of a home failed to disclose issues with the neighborhood sewer system. Or a boundary dispute. Or a disagreement between two co-owners.

And when these disagreements can’t be easily resolved, they often transform into lawsuits. But there’s an alternative to letting real estate disputes devolve into drawn out court cases: real estate mediation. Mediation is a form or Alternate Dispute Resolution. Unlike arbitration, which is another form of Alternate Dispute Resolution, mediation is voluntary.

Most real estate contracts now include terms that require mediation before the parties can initiate an action in court. Before bringing suit or before proceeding to arbitration, the buyer and the seller will agree upon a mediator to help them reach a settlement.

If you are about to begin real estate mediation, here are some things you can do to prepare:

How HOAs Can Avoid Lawsuits

Posted on July 3, 2019 by bwadmin

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hoa neighborhood

Homeowners associations (HOAs) and planned communities have become increasingly popular in the past few years.

In PA, HOA laws fall under the state’s Uniformed Planned Community Act. HOAs are created by a declaration, with unit owners automatically becoming members of the association.

With the declaration comes bylaws, which control the governance of the HOA, the duties of the board and the operation and management of the association.

But with that popularity came a growing number of complex legal disputes. Issues related to PA HOA laws tend to go beyond the challenges of standard real estate law.

HOA Leader, a website that bills itself as “the practical guide to homeowner association management,” says these are the most common claims made against HOAs.

Zoning Appeal Case Study: Swede v. Richland Township

Posted on June 7, 2019 by bwadmin

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Dump truck and Excavator working in a new building construction project

Sylvia Swede called it an “unbearable” situation.

She and her husband had lived next door to Calabrette Excavating in Richland Township for years without any complaints. Then one day, the trucks started showing up, bringing noise and dust.

They needed help, so they sought the services of a Doylestown land use lawyer and turned to the firm of Benner and Wild.

What is Arbitration?

Posted on March 13, 2019 by bwadmin

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what is arbitration

Not every legal dispute has to be settled in front of a judge.

The world of alternative dispute resolution allows people to work out their issues outside the courtroom, often through a third party who acts as a mediator.

But more and more cases are being settled through another form of alternative dispute resolution. The most common forms of alternate dispute resolution are arbitration and mediation.

Read more about What is Arbitration? →

How a Zoning Lawyer Can Help Your Business

Posted on February 12, 2019 by bwadmin

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zoning appeals Doylestown

Last year, thousands of people signed a petition in support of Sit. Stay, a Newtown doggy daycare that was seeking a zoning variance that would have allowed it to stay in business.

People tend to love dogs, and the people who care for them. But when it comes to zoning, the law is the law. Even ten thousand dog lovers can’t change it.

Fortunately for its owners and supporters, the Newtown Township zoning board sided with the doggie daycare, clearing the way for it to stay in business.

And while it’s nice to have the community on your side when filing zoning appeals, Doylestown residents and business owners should also have a land use attorney by their side during this process.

As you’ll see, getting your property rezoned can be quite complicated.

How to Appeal a Real Estate Tax Assessment

Posted on November 27, 2018 by bwadmin

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real estate tax assessment

If you’ve ever talked to a homeowner from New Jersey, you’ve probably heard them complain about the state’s property taxes, the highest in the nation.

Pennsylvania’s property taxes aren’t as bad, but they consistently rank on the higher end of national tax rankings. Here in PA, we base property taxes on two things: your local, county and school district tax rate, plus the value of your home, which is determined by your county tax assessor.

To figure out your yearly tax payment, government bodies take the assessed value of your property – what it would sell for – and multiply it by their tax rate.

So if the assessment on your home is $400,000 and the tax rate is $10 for every $1,000 of taxable value, your tax bill would be $4,000.

Why You Need a Business Lawyer

Posted on October 29, 2018 by bwadmin

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Bucks County business lawyer

When you hear the term “business lawyer,” you might picture someone charging astronomical rates to close billion-dollar mergers.

But in reality, every business – whether it’s a massive Fortune 500 company or a small, family-owned operation – could benefit from working with a business lawyer.

Here are a few ways hiring a Bucks County business lawyer can help you and your company thrive:

What’s Covered by the Landlord-Tenant Law?

Posted on August 24, 2018 by bwadmin

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landlord tenant law Doylestown

You were in your early 20s, just out of college, new job, new city and new apartment. And the apartment seemed nice enough at first.

But then you began to find problems. Doors that would stick. A showerhead with no water pressure. Peeling paint. You called your landlord, but he was slow to respond.

It’s situations like these where it helps to know something about landlord tenant law. Doylestown, like many Pennsylvania boroughs, is filled with rental properties, all of them subject to the same law.

In this blog post, we’ll look at the rights and responsibilities landlords and tenants have under the law.

5 Things to Know Before Buying a House

Posted on July 27, 2018 by bwadmin

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real estate transactions Bucks County

Every morning, Beth wakes up thinking about real estate transactions. Bucks County has a plethora of homes for sale, and she dreams of someday owning one of them.

But Beth as excited as Beth feels, she’s also somewhat daunted. She’s a very careful person, every “I” dotted, every “t” crossed, taking a belt-and-suspenders approach to life. She knows that purchasing a home is a complicated endeavor and that there are some things you should know before you buy.

What Are Zoning Laws?

Posted on June 29, 2018 by bwadmin

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zoning laws

Whether you want to construct a new building or make changes to an existing one, there’s a good chance your project will mean a journey into the world of land development and zoning.

What are zoning laws?

Zoning laws are municipal regulations that dictate how property owners can use their property, governing the use of land for residential, commercial, industrial and other purposes. Zoning divides communities into different sections – or zones – where these uses are permitted.

For example, land that’s zoned R-1 might allow only certain types of residential units, while something zoned C-1 could permit a mix of commercial uses and housing.

The four main zoning classifications are residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural, although they can be combined, so that you’ll have an area that’s “industrial/commercial.”

You can tell what’s what by looking at a zoning map: “A” for agricultural, “R” for residential and so on.

And within the zones are more narrow divisions. You can have residential zones that are cut up for apartments, single family homes, or mobile homes, for example. A commercial zone can have areas for smaller stores, warehouses, gas stations and restaurants. And industrial zones can be light or heavy industrial.

Read more about What Are Zoning Laws? →