Does a residential buyer have more protections than a commercial buyer? There's at least one difference: a federal law called the Truth in Lending Act. The TILA imposes certain disclosure requirements on lenders in a residential mortgage transactions. The consequences for failing to comply with those TILA-mandated disclosures are steep. If a breach occurred, a...

A recent homebuyer's guide recommended consulting with an attorney before closing on a real estate deal. That advice should be heeded for several reasons.

An attorney can review a purchase agreement for potential legal consequences. Often, a seller and/or the seller's agent might use a standardized form with fine print. Yet boilerplate language may fail...

Although making an "as-is" purchase may be a calculated risk in certain situations, an attorney that focuses on real estate law might caution against applying this approach when buying real estate. In the parlance of real estate law, such "as-is" language might be termed inspection and mortgage contingencies.

Of course, this advice might be easier...

Readers may not have known about an incentive home buying program offered by the city of Boston.

Specifically, prospective buyers who have completed two classes offered by the Boston Department of Neighborhood Development may qualify for financial assistance toward the purchase of a family home or condo. In fact, buyers may receive up to $20,000...

According to data from a local real estate tracking firm, foreclosures against Massachusetts homeowners rose for the eighth consecutive month in October. Since October 2013, initiated foreclosures have nearly doubled, according to data from the Warren Group. Of course, a real estate attorney knows that a distinction must be made between initiated and completed foreclosures. ...

As greater Boston communities continue to grow and develop, urban planners may have an eye toward converting older warehouses or buildings. In a recent example, a three-level East Boston firehouse constructed in 1860 was converted into two luxury condos. Given the building's original purpose, the dimensions of the first floor are vast and include industrial...

Does a first-time homebuyer need a real estate attorney? In Boston's uncertain residential real estate market, the answer might be yes.

According to data from the National Association of Realtors, the percentage of first-time buyers has dropped to its lowest point since 1987, at around 33 percent. Some commentators point to...

According to a recent article, trends in the Boston residential real estate market are shifting. An attorney that focuses on real estate law can help individuals and entities adapt to those changes.

Specifically, one source characterizes the current residential real estate market in Boston and outlying neighborhoods like Allston and Worcester...

Housing co-ops and condominiums are attractive to many Massachusetts tenants for their convenience, shared approach to common maintenance and repair issues, and affordability compared to more traditional housing alternatives. 

However, that shared ownership can also give way to disputes, as a recent pet ownership dispute illustrates. According to the story, the co-op board at issue...

There's no denying that Boston and many of its surrounding suburbs have a great deal of history. According to the city of Boston's website, there are nine local Historic District Commissions that review property owners' requests to make exterior design changes to real estate located within designated districts. 

Yet even if an individual doesn't live...