Today I am posting about a Court of Appeals case decided on April 25, 2017 – Suzor v Kamlay Foreclosed Property = high risk/high reward. Real estate investors are always wary of the many pitfalls when purchasing property at foreclosure. I’ve previously posted on problems when someone is still occupying the Property after foreclosure. The latest case talksContinue reading “Real Estate Law Update: Investors Purchasing at Foreclosure – Take Care in Handling Personal Property Left at the Property.”
Category Archives: landlord/tenant
Landlords/Investors/Property Managers: Single Member LLCs Could Evict Tenants without Legal Representation under House Bill
A common scenario in my legal practice: Investor purchases property in an LLC. Investor locates a tenant. Tenant falls behind in rent. Investor hires attorney to evict Tenant. Why hold real estate in an LLC? Most of my investor clients own investment real estate in a Limited Liability Company. This is for liability protection. Once aContinue reading “Landlords/Investors/Property Managers: Single Member LLCs Could Evict Tenants without Legal Representation under House Bill”
Recent Michigan House Bill Would Repeal Prohibition on Rent Control – A Response to the Affordable Housing Crisis?
On March 30, 2017 House Bill 4456 was introduced. The Bill would repeal Michigan’s prohibition on Rent Control. The Bill was presumably proposed in response to the affordable housing crisis in Michigan and all across the United States. Other local governments across the U.S. are exploring legislative avenues to address the housing crisis. According toContinue reading “Recent Michigan House Bill Would Repeal Prohibition on Rent Control – A Response to the Affordable Housing Crisis?”
Real Estate Law and Affordable Housing Issues: Lawsuit Alleges Landlords Discriminating Against Families.
Here’s a profound truth those in the real estate industry will readily acknowledge: Owning and Managing Real Estate is challenging. I hear it from my Property Owner/Manager clients. I experience it when I am in court litigating or negotiating landlord/tenant disputes. Here’s another profound truth: In many parts of the country, including Grand Rapids, Michigan, we have anContinue reading “Real Estate Law and Affordable Housing Issues: Lawsuit Alleges Landlords Discriminating Against Families.”
A Lawyer’s Year-End Reflections.
It is the end of 2016. I am having “big picture” thoughts as the year ends. I have a pretty nice “big picture” view out of my office window. Out of my office window from the 12th floor of 99 Monroe overlooks many ice skaters at Rosa Parks’ Circle in downtown Grand Rapids. It isContinue reading “A Lawyer’s Year-End Reflections.”
News for Residential Real Estate Investors: Michigan Landlord Settles with DOJ for Allegations of Fair Housing Violations.
Here’s a profound truth those in the real estate industry will readily acknowledge: Owning and Managing Real Estate is challenging. I hear it from my Property Owner/Manager clients. I experience it when I am involved in negotiating in landlord/tenant disputes. Some of the pitfalls property owners have to watch out for are illustrated in a recentFederalContinue reading “News for Residential Real Estate Investors: Michigan Landlord Settles with DOJ for Allegations of Fair Housing Violations.”
Proposed Bill Affects Landlords in Recovering Property Against “Squatters”
Several years ago I wrote a post about a proposed bill affecting Landlords. The Bill affected the time frame which a property owner could bring an action to recover property; most importantly, it affected the statute of limitations for a claim of “adverse possession” or “squatters rights” by a holdover tenant. Here’s the scenario:Continue reading “Proposed Bill Affects Landlords in Recovering Property Against “Squatters””
A Lawyer’s Perspective: the Tension Between Encouraging Real Estate Entrepreneurship and Keeping Families in Affordable Housing.
If you are reading this, you may know that I am a lawyer. I love working with entrepreneurs – a large number of my clients invest in/manage real estate. As the current Chairman of the Board of Mel Trotter Ministries, I also care very deeply about the homeless, hurting, and hungry. I was inContinue reading “A Lawyer’s Perspective: the Tension Between Encouraging Real Estate Entrepreneurship and Keeping Families in Affordable Housing.”
Landlords & Property Managers: Time to Review your Tenant Applications – Beware Blanket Bans on Renting to those with Criminal Convictions
“Private landlords who have blanket bans on renting to people with criminal records are in violation of the Fair Housing Act and can be sued and face penalties for discrimination.” The New York Times Also check out theABAJournal According to the Times article ” In particular, blanket bans violate fair housing law because they have aContinue reading “Landlords & Property Managers: Time to Review your Tenant Applications – Beware Blanket Bans on Renting to those with Criminal Convictions”
Michigan Real Estate Law Update: Innocent Until Proven Guilty – Termination only after Conviction of Drug & Assault Crimes.
Landlords and Investment Property Owners – something to keep your eye on. Michigan House Bill 5217 was introduced on January 13, 2016 – you can see the text here. This Bill will, if passed, affect Landlords and Owners of Rental Properties. The net effect appears to make it harder to remove tenants engaged in drug activity and assaultContinue reading “Michigan Real Estate Law Update: Innocent Until Proven Guilty – Termination only after Conviction of Drug & Assault Crimes.”
Purpose Driven General Counsel 