Today the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund released its five year Strategic Plan If you are not familiar with the CDFI, the CDFI “works to spur economic growth and opportunity in many of our nation’s most distressed communities.“ “The CDFI Fund’s mission is to expand economic opportunity for underserved people and communities by supporting theContinue reading “Update on Community Development and Affordable Housing: Is an Answer Found in Social Enterprise?”
Author Archives: jeshuatlauka
Real Estate Investors Bidding at Foreclosure Sale: If You Pay Less than owed on the Mortgage, there is no Surplus.
Real estate investors and lenders are under pressure to “get it right” when bidding at sheriff sales, especially in a market where good deals are getting harder to come by. Some lenders/investors have tried some creative methods of recovery and made some interesting legal arguments in order to maximize their profit at or after foreclosureContinue reading “Real Estate Investors Bidding at Foreclosure Sale: If You Pay Less than owed on the Mortgage, there is no Surplus.”
A Call to Young & Future Leaders
Several years ago I moved my family to the Grand Rapids Area. As a new member of the West Michigan community I asked myself one fundamental question: where am I going to serve in my local community… Source: A Call to Young & Future Leaders
Trending Towards Social Entrepreneurship: Update on Michigan’s Benefit Corporation Legislation.
House Bills 5710, 5711 & 5712 were introduced on May 31, that would allow BCorps to be formed under Michigan Law. Although the State House has taken no formal action since June 1, in late September the House Fiscal Agency issued a Fiscal Analysis on the BCorp bills, check it out here. The AnalysisContinue reading “Trending Towards Social Entrepreneurship: Update on Michigan’s Benefit Corporation Legislation.”
Business Law Update: Why Your Operating Agreement Matters.
Business Owners and Entrepreneurs: Let me paint you a picture: You decide to go into business. You’ve identified a business partner. You and your business partner decide the details of who is going to contribute what (capital, finances, “sweat equity”, etc..). Your startup is now off and running! Your business does not go as expected. You haveContinue reading “Business Law Update: Why Your Operating Agreement Matters.”
Recent Court Case Provides Good Lessons For Real Estate Investors.
Its Wednesday and I wanted to share a court of appeals case that came out on September 15th. Case: Key Bank v Lake Villa Oxford Assoc, et. al. Lesson: be careful when drafting “personal guarantees” I’ve written in the past about personal guarantees. This particular case involved a real estate development gone bad. Defendant, developer,Continue reading “Recent Court Case Provides Good Lessons For Real Estate Investors.”
Why Startup Fintech Company “Lemonade” is so Intriguing.
CrowdFundInsider just posted an article on a new Fintech Startup – Lemonade. You should check the article out here I’ll start by answering a basic question: (By the way – the photo is one I took last year from Central Park – my limited experience with New York.) What is Fintech? According to FinTech Weekly:Continue reading “Why Startup Fintech Company “Lemonade” is so Intriguing.”
Encountering the homeless in Downtown Grand Rapids and Mel Trotter’s Season of Hope.
Occasionally when I am walking in downtown Grand Rapids I will run into a guy with dirty clothes, smelling bad, looking homeless. When this guy asks me for money, my gut reaction is to want to help. Honestly though, oftentimes I have no idea what is the right response. I will invariably pray for them,Continue reading “Encountering the homeless in Downtown Grand Rapids and Mel Trotter’s Season of Hope.”
Grand Rapids’ Businesses: Lessons from a Recent West Michigan Court Case- Read Those Terms and Conditions.
Business owner – let’s say you just signed a purchase order and agreed to buy some product for your business. The product is not what you expected. In fact, its not going to help you in your business at all. You don’t pay for it. You get sued. You take the contract to your lawyerContinue reading “Grand Rapids’ Businesses: Lessons from a Recent West Michigan Court Case- Read Those Terms and Conditions.”
Michigan Construction Law Update
Real estate transactions can be complex. Real estate lawsuits can be complex. Sometimes a statute or case does not speak directly on point to the exact circumstances of a legal dispute. This latest case is a good reminder of those points. Today I read a construction law case issued on September 13. The caseContinue reading “Michigan Construction Law Update”
Purpose Driven General Counsel 