In Massachusetts, homeowners are offered a significant protective measure against certain types of creditors through the filing of a Declaration of Homestead. Massachusetts real estate law recognizes this declaration as a way to safeguard the equity in your primary residence. Benefits of a Homestead The Declaration of Homestead in Massachusetts protects up to $500,000 of […]
Real Estate Law
Premises Liability on Rented Properties: Can Landlords Be Sued for a Winter Trip, Slip, or Fall?
Accidents happen, especially when winter brings snow and ice—but when accidents happen in a rented property, the question of who is responsible for clearing walkways, pathways, and exits can have serious financial implications for rental property owners. What the Law Says About Landlords’ Snow Removal Responsibilities The Code of Massachusetts Regulations states, with regard to […]
Home Improvement Contracts: What Does Prompt Payment Mean?
Believing Before Seeing? How You Can Handle Home Improvement Contractor Payment Disputes Home Is Where the Legal Liability Is As the old saying goes, a man’s home is his castle—or a woman’s home is her castle, as the case may be. A home is also the largest single investment most of us will ever make […]
Petition to Partition For Unmarried Couples – When One Does Not Want To Sell The Home
Under Massachusetts law, no one can be forced to own property against their will. It’s not uncommon for unmarried couples to purchase a home together. However, when couples decide to break up and only one party wants to sell the property, legal actions can be taken. When one party refuses to sell, the party wanting […]
Home Improvement Contracts: What Does Prompt Payment Mean?
Believing Before Seeing? How You Can Handle Home Improvement Contractor Payment Disputes Home Is Where the Legal Liability Is As the old saying goes, a man’s home is his castle—or a woman’s home is her castle, as the case may be. A home is also the largest single investment most of us will ever make […]
The Massachusetts Homestead Exemption: How It Works and How It Can Work for You
Protecting Your Home As the saying goes, your home is your castle. It is also the largest asset that many will ever own. In recognition of this, the Massachusetts Homestead Protection Law, passed in 2011, updated existing parts of the Massachusetts General Code to expand and clarify the protections that homeowners in the Commonwealth have […]
What sort of licensing do you need in Massachusetts before renting out a residential property? What basic regulations do rental properties need to follow?
Who? Me? A Landlord? Real estate can be the key to financial independence and success. While TV might have popularized the “flipper” model of real estate transaction, in which infusions of cash and elbow grease transform run-down properties into glossy sources of resale profit, the old-fashioned practice of landlording is still an attainable, affordable, and […]
Why You Need a Lawyer for FSBO Residential Transactions
When It Comes to Home Sweet Home, Don’t Go On Your Own Owning a home is not just the dream of millions of Americans, but it is also the key to growing wealth. Purchasing a home is one of the largest expenditures most people will ever make, but it is also the largest investment they […]
Landlord Eviction Options During Covid-19
Landlords and Coronavirus Long before any Governor issued emergency orders for their state, coronavirus was already altering the fabric of our lives and commerce in unexpected ways. In the last month, millions of workers across the country, from hotel and restaurant workers to office assistants and managers, have been laid off, furloughed, or prohibited from […]
Is my home protected under Homestead law?
Each state sets terms where a homeowner is protected by what is called an estate of homestead. Homestead laws allow homeowners to declare a limited portion of their property as a “homestead,” thus sparing it from creditors in the event of a bankruptcy or other financial hardship. One primary purpose of homestead laws is to […]