Residential
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September 26, 2024
Ga. Judge Halts Election Over Sapelo Island Zoning Change
A Georgia state judge pulled the plug on a special election Gullah Geechee residents of Sapelo Island initiated to try to overturn a McIntosh County zoning change that more than doubled the size of dwellings allowed in their Hogg Hummock community.
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September 26, 2024
US Census, Osage Nation Sign Info Sharing Agreement
The U.S. Census Bureau and the Osage Nation signed an agreement to share the federally recognized Oklahoma tribe's aggregated administrative data in an effort to provide a more accurate picture of Indian Country and its needs.
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September 26, 2024
A. Walker & Co. Raises $50M For Affordable Multifamily
Minority-owned and operated investment manager A. Walker & Co. said it has raised $50 million through its first fund focusing on multifamily deals with an affordable housing component, in a vehicle with an option to raise another $25 million.
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September 26, 2024
4th Circ. Hints Rocket Mortgage Class Cert. On Shaky Ground
The Fourth Circuit on Thursday seemed skeptical that all potential class members who accused Rocket Mortgage of inflating their home values could prove they were injured under the U.S. Supreme Court's heightened pleading standard in TransUnion, putting the lower court's certification order on rocky footing.
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September 26, 2024
Conn. Atty's Suit Against Willkie Partner Tossed
A Connecticut state court has dismissed a solo practitioner's lawsuit that alleged a partner at Willkie and his wife abused the court process by suing him over his contribution to an unflattering New York Post story about the couple.
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September 25, 2024
Developer's NorCal Spree Ends With Fraud Claims In Ch. 11
Northern California real estate company LeFever Mattson stockpiled more than $400 million in real estate, including several local landmarks in a small town north of San Francisco. The firm now seeks bankruptcy protection amid claims following an alleged scheme by one executive to pocket millions by selling bunk equity stakes to investors.
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September 25, 2024
3 NJ Attys Charged With Bank Fraud In Short-Sale Scheme
A trio of attorneys and a real estate agent have been criminally indicted on bank fraud charges on allegations they participated in a yearslong scheme to defraud financial institutions in connection with short-sale transactions of residential properties in New Jersey, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey announced Wednesday.
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September 25, 2024
Suit Over Fla. Law Restricting Foreign Land Buys Paused
A Florida federal judge on Wednesday paused a challenge to a Florida law that restricts land purchases of Chinese citizens and others, saying it was prudent to wait to see what the Eleventh Circuit does with a similar challenge that has already been argued before the appeals court.
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September 25, 2024
Navajo Nation Inks $31M Deal With Bitco For Veteran Housing
The Navajo Nation said it has signed a $31 million contract with tribally owned Bitco Corp. to build 95 homes for Navajo veterans, using funds provided by President Joe Biden's American Rescue Plan Act.
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September 25, 2024
Developer Says Minn. City Made Rule To Block Mosque
A developer and its Muslim founders claimed in federal court that Islamophobia motivated Lino Lakes, Minnesota, and several of its lawmakers to approve a moratorium that blocked the construction of a mixed-use development project that featured a mosque.
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September 25, 2024
Fla. Condo's Irma Suit Dismissed After Settlement With Insurer
A Florida federal court on Wednesday dismissed a lawsuit brought by a Fort Myers Beach condominium association after it settled with an insurance company for an appraisal award that was allegedly owed for damage caused by Hurricane Irma in 2017.
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September 25, 2024
Not Dying After All: Tips For Maneuvering Mall Overhauls
Real estate companies are spending millions to rejuvenate indoor shopping centers in suburban cities across the U.S., but some developers may not know that revamping a mall comes with unique legal challenges.
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September 25, 2024
Fla., Calif. Seek Insurance Cures On Climate Crisis Frontlines
California and Florida may be on opposite coasts, and opposite ends of the political spectrum, but they're facing a common dilemma: how to address the stress that mounting climate risks have imposed on property insurance and real estate within their borders.
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September 25, 2024
Seattle Suburb Settles Biz Group's Suit Over Pro-Tenant Rules
A business group agreed to drop a lawsuit after a Seattle suburb backed off a pair of recently passed rules setting up just cause eviction protections and banning "abusive and deceptive" practices among landlords, even as the city kept other policies favoring tenants in effect.
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September 25, 2024
Julie Chrisley Gets No Slack In Resentencing From Ga. Judge
Julie Chrisley, the former real estate mogul and reality TV star who was convicted of running a yearslong bank fraud scheme with her husband, Todd, was resentenced Wednesday by a Georgia federal judge to the same seven-year prison term she first received nearly two years ago.
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September 25, 2024
NJ Bill Would Hike Threshold For Tax On Property Transfers
New Jersey would raise the threshold for the imposition of a controlling interest transfer tax or an additional fee on transfers of various kinds of real property under a bill introduced in the state Assembly.
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September 24, 2024
Invitation Homes Agrees To $48M Settlement With FTC
The Federal Trade Commission said it has struck a $48 million agreement with Invitation Homes Inc. to settle claims against the nation's largest single-family home landlord, including that it deceived people about leasing costs and junk fees, failed to inspect and repair homes as promised, and unfairly held on to security deposits.
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September 24, 2024
NJ Apartment Owner, Operator Fight DACA Bias Suit
An apartment complex's owner and its operator have urged a New Jersey federal court to toss a Guatemalan immigrant's claims that her housing application was denied due to her Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals status, saying she failed to provide proof of legal residence.
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September 24, 2024
Real Estate Cos. Accuse Partner Of Mucking Up $21M Deal
Two real estate companies and other parties have told a North Carolina federal court that their business partner must be forced to sign off on the more than $21 million sale of a North Carolina apartment complex or their businesses will suffer financially.
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September 24, 2024
'The Predators Are Back,' Mich. Tax Foreclosure Attys Warn
Lawyers for a proposed class accusing Michigan counties of unlawfully keeping proceeds of their tax-foreclosed home sales urged a federal judge Monday to bar a third-party claims firm and a "conspiring" Michigan attorney from trying to snatch away class members using tactics they called abusive and illegal.
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September 24, 2024
NYC Condo Building's Ch. 11 Plan Sent Back For Revisions
A New York bankruptcy judge asked the owner of a Manhattan condominium complex to make changes to its Chapter 11 plan after raising several concerns with details in the planned restructuring that would hand unsold residential units over to its main lender.
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September 24, 2024
NY Energy Tax Break Available For Apt. Buildings, Dept. Says
Gas and electricity used in a landlord's New York state apartment buildings, including common areas, are eligible for a sales tax exemption for residential energy sales, the state tax department said in an opinion released Tuesday.
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September 24, 2024
7 Attys In M&A, Real Estate Join Jones Walker In New Orleans
Jones Walker LLP announced that seven attorneys focused on mergers and acquisitions and real estate law from New Orleans firm Fishman Haygood LLP joined the firm's corporate practice.
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September 24, 2024
Calif. Panel Frees Insurer From $7.5M Dog Attack Judgment
A California appeals court panel affirmed an insurer didn't owe any part of a $7.5 million judgment for a dog attack, finding a homeowner's policy excluding coverage for injuries caused by a pit bull clearly applied to the homeowner's sister's dog, Bugzy.
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September 23, 2024
Va. Co. Raises $65M For Opportunity Zone Residential Project
Capital Square announced Monday that the Virginia-based real estate firm raised $65 million for its latest opportunity zone fund offering, which will pay for construction of a 352-unit multifamily development in Richmond, Virginia.
Realtors, REITs Spend Big On Calif. Housing Ballot Measures
California voters will face two ballot measures in November that supporters say would give local governments more leeway to address the state's rampant housing crisis. Realtor groups and real estate investment trusts have led the pack in spending to defeat the measures.
Fla. Student Housing Turned Multifamily Lands $45M Loan
Mortgage lender Ease Capital announced that it has provided the owner of a newly renovated multifamily property in Temple Terrace, Florida, with a $45.5 million loan as the owner finishes lease-up at the property.
Climate's Toll On Property Insurance May Spur Broader Action
A flurry of state and local policymaking has sought to reconcile building needs with worsening weather events and rising construction and insurance costs, but this patchwork approach may soon be blanketed by federal action as financial stakeholders' analysis of climate risk evolves.
Expert Analysis
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Basel Endgame Rules: A Change Is Coming
The Federal Reserve Board's recently announced recalibration of the Basel endgame proposal begins a critical chapter in the evolution of not only the safety and soundness of U.S. banks, but also of banks' abilities to lend and support American businesses and consumers, say attorneys at Davis Wright.
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Round-Canopy Parachuting Makes Me A Better Lawyer
Similar to the practice of law, jumping from an in-flight airplane with nothing but training and a few yards of parachute silk is a demanding and stressful endeavor, and the experience has bolstered my legal practice by enhancing my focus, teamwork skills and sense of perspective, says Thomas Salerno at Stinson.
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Reassessing Lease Provisions To Account For ESG Initiatives
As companies seek to build ESG considerations into their businesses, it's crucial to understand how such initiatives can quickly become significant enough to compel reassessment of lease agreement provisions, and how best to modify leases accordingly, say Julian Freeman and Gabe Pitassi at Cox Castle.
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Avoid Getting Burned By Agencies' Solar Financing Spotlight
Recently coordinated reports and advisories from the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Federal Trade Commission maximize the spotlight on the consumer solar financing market and highlight pitfalls for lenders to avoid in this burgeoning field, says Mercedes Tunstall at Cadwalader.
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Assessing Algorithmic Versus Generative AI Pricing Tools
A comparison of traditional algorithmic pricing models and those powered by generative artificial intelligence can help regulators and practitioners weigh the pros and cons of relying on large language models to price products or services, say Maxime Cohen at McGill University, and Tim Spittle and Jimmy Royer at Analysis Group.
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Navigating A Potpourri Of Possible Transparency Act Pitfalls
Despite the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network's continued release of guidance for complying with the Corporate Transparency Act, its interpretation remains in flux, making it important for companies to understand potentially problematic areas of ambiguity in the practical application of the law, say attorneys at Sidley.
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DOJ Must Overcome Hurdles In RealPage Antitrust Case
The U.S. Department of Justice's recent claims that RealPage's pricing software violates the Sherman Act mark a creative, and apparently contradictory, shift in the agency's approach to algorithmic price-fixing that will face several key challenges, say attorneys at Clifford Chance.
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What To Know About CFPB Stance On Confidentiality Terms
A recent circular from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau represents a growing effort across government agencies to address overbroad confidentiality agreements, and gives employers insight into the bureau's perspective on the issue as it relates to the Consumer Financial Protection Act, say Holly Williamson and Elizabeth King at Hunton.
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What's Next For Federal Preemption In Financial Services
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency's review of its preemption interpretations and growing pressure from state regulators signal potential changes ahead for preemption in U.S. financial services, and the path forward will likely involve a reevaluation of the entire framework, say attorneys at Clark Hill.
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Increased Scrutiny Raises Int'l Real Estate Transaction Risks
Recently proposed regulations expanding the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States' oversight, a White House divestment order and state-level legislative efforts signal increasing scrutiny of real estate transactions that may trigger national security concerns, say Luciano Racco and Aleksis Fernández Caballero at Foley Hoag.
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Financial Incentives May Alleviate Affordable Housing Crisis
There is a wide array of financial incentives and assistance that the government can provide to both real estate developers and individuals to chip away at the housing affordability problem from multiple angles, say Eric DeBear and Madeline Williams at Cozen.
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Firms Must Offer A Trifecta Of Services In Post-Chevron World
After the U.S. Supreme Court’s Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo decision overturning Chevron deference, law firms will need to integrate litigation, lobbying and communications functions to keep up with the ramifications of the ruling and provide adequate counsel quickly, says Neil Hare at Dentons.
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Portland's Gross Receipts Tax Oversteps City's Authority
Recent measures by Portland, Oregon, that expand the voter-approved scope of the Clean Energy Surcharge on certain retail sales eviscerate the common meaning of the word "retail" and exceed the city's chartered authority to levy tax, say Nikki Dobay at Greenberg Traurig and Jeff Newgard at Peak Policy.