The determination of heirs is not always a cut-and-dried process. When disputes arise, probate courts oversee estate administration and are often called in to determine how wills, estates and benefits will be divided amongst heirs. Those who are attempting to unravel...
How do easements work in real estate matters?
An easement is generally described as a nonpossessory interest in another person's land usually stemming from a want or need to use someone else's land for which the other person does not have ownership. Basically, an easement allows the holder to use the property,...
Redevelopment given green light on 109 acres of land
Residents of Huntington Woods here in Michigan are no strangers to the fact that real estate properties are always evolving, changing the appearance of a town or city, always hopefully for the better. But what many people may not know is that the process is not as...
Legal mistakes to avoid when becoming a landlord
So you've decided to own your own commercial property and become a landlord. You may already be aware of the main things you'll be responsible for: handling rent payments, maintenance issues, etc. But what you might not be aware of is that there are extensive legal...
Lincoln’s unwise decision
An estate plan provides guidance to families going through a difficult time. Sometimes, serious illnesses or injuries can occur without warning, leaving once-healthy people unable to state their final wishes. An effective estate plan will save grieving loved ones the...
Can you avoid falling over the fiscal cliff with a short sale?
If there is one thing that has the entire nation on edge it's the uncertainty of the fiscal cliff. With the federal budget still in limbo, homeowners who are still paying on mortgages they may not be able to afford fear that soon, the coming of the New Year could mean...
Detroit pushes for new agricultural zoning laws
Whenever city officials begin talking about changes to zoning laws, it's always a concern of residents as to what will be "moving in" next door to them. But what if your new neighbor turns out to be a community garden? Or perhaps what is now being dubbed an "urban...
Estate tax exemptions to expire, future tax implications unknown
The expiration of the Bush tax cuts in 2013 has left many Michigan residents wondering what the future holds for federal estate tax exemptions. If Congress is not able to work out a deal with regard to these exemptions, the inheritance tax implications are going to...
Tenants relocate because building’s too expensive to update
Many people in Michigan know how difficult it is to find a place to live the first time let alone multiple times after that. Finding the right place with the right amount of space for the right amount of money can be difficult, if not daunting at times. But what if...
City negotiates purchase of sculpture park
An interesting story out of Minnesota may give readers of our blog here in Michigan more information about real estate transactions and how property can be transferred from private ownership to public ownership.In Minnesota's Dakota County sits a sprawling 60 acre...