Category: Zoning and Permitting

In either a residential or commercial real estate context, an attorney might caution against unwritten easements or rights. Although current neighbors might permit certain rights of shared access or use, a new owner might bristle at any such unofficial arrangements. 

However, a recent story suggests that rental property owners in downtown areas might be taking...

Given the towering skylines of many East Coast cities, it’s not surprising that lawmakers have passed laws governing how such structures are constructed. Yet even on the smallest scale, there are many issues that can surface after an individual or company has obtained the funds to embark on a construction project. A project doesn’t have...

For residential and commercial developers alike, it can be a dangerous mistake to assume that land use and zoning laws in a new location will be similar. Indeed, a real estate attorney knows that differences can be significant from municipality to municipality. For that reason, any individual or entity planning on a new building...

It goes without saying that some small business owners may have struggled to remain in the black after the economic downturn in late 2007. Unfortunately, vendor contracts and commercial lease payment obligations may not be able to accommodate cash flow issues. As a result, some business professionals may have consulted a real estate attorney...

Ever wonder how appraisers come up with valuations for properties? The previously closed process that sometimes leaves Worcester homeowners scratching their heads has recently been unlocked by the passage of a new federal rule.

Changes to the Equal Credit Opportunity Act now require mortgage lenders to share any and all information with loan applicants that...

Amidst the exciting opportunities to buy and sell residential real estate here in Worcester, some people forget that many local residences are actually rental properties. While some people choose to rent due to busy schedules and transient lifestyles, others enjoy owning rental properties as a way to build equity in non-primary residence properties.

The relationships...

A recent decision by the Massachusetts Appeals Court overturns the right of a small lot property owner in Newton to build a home on its undersized parcel. Contrary to the building permits issued by Newton that would have otherwise allowed the new construction, ongoing real estate disputes between residential property owners...

Proper documentation is the cornerstone of real estate law. A purchase or sale dispute will often arise if improper or invalid documentation is filed, and court actions that bring the validity of documents into question can have far-reaching consequences. Readers in Worcester, Massachusetts, may have heard about how a guilty plea by the founder...

The current housing crisis has affected homeowners in several critical ways. In recent times, many families facing foreclosure have had trouble obtaining help from lenders. But there is a potential alternative to the current climate; several cities have already looked into a concept called power of eminent domain, which would potentially enable them to...

Property owners often disagree with their neighbors regarding a host of issues from land use to noisy flagpoles and everything in between. But when the town gets involved in a dispute and sides with one party and not the other, things can get rather complicated fast. Such is the case for a Hull couple...