There are code enforcement inspectors who look for code violations concerning homes and/or properties. Say, for example, you live in a community with a homeowners’ association and there are rules and codes you’re supposed to comply with, but you don’t… then you might receive a code violation notice. What happens then? Code violations indicate that… Read more »
One of the quickest ways to scare an investor off when they’re thinking about buying a home and flipping it is to tell them that the home has a municipal lien on it. Most investors don’t want to deal with the headaches, not to mention the expenses, that come along with municipal liens. Nevertheless, if… Read more »
Zoning is the process of dividing land in a municipality into zones, such as “residential” or “commercial,” whereas certain land uses are permitted or prohibited. Zoning is a technique of land-use planning to help bring order to a place and ensure everyone follows rules. In real estate, there’s such a thing as a “zoning letter.”… Read more »
Why should you search for municipal liens before buying real estate in Florida? Like most other states, there can be unrecorded liens, as well as fees and permit violations attached to a property rather than an individual. When you close on a property, a municipal lien search makes sense to find out if there are… Read more »
Can a lien be placed on your property without you knowing? Yes, it happens. Sometimes a court decision or settlement results in a lien being placed on a property, and for some reason the owner doesn’t know about it– initially. For those of you who are unfamiliar with liens, know this: liens are something creditors… Read more »
A real estate lien involves a legal claim on assets. Filed with a county records office or state agency, the lien allows the holder to obtain access to the property if the debts aren’t paid. Liens help creditors collect money owed to them by “clouding” the title of a property. Typically, a property can’t be… Read more »
The state of Florida isn’t known for high elevations. Any “mountains” in Florida are manmade (and probably part of a ride at Disney World). In fact, much of Florida is at or near sea level. Did you know Florida is the flattest state in the nation? The highest point in the state is only 345… Read more »
Have you ever heard of an estoppel letter? It’s a document that states the amounts to any statement of settlement for both the buyer and the seller of any real estate. Estoppel is actually a judicial device in common law legal systems whereby a court may prevent or “estop” a person from making assertions or… Read more »
Hackers are a problem these days. Indeed, all sorts of people involved in financial transactions and the financial industry itself have to be ever vigilant about hackers. Banks, credit unions, mortgage lenders, title insurers, and others are constantly on the lookout for wire fraud. In New Jersey, for instance, the state’s banking regulator, the New… Read more »
If you’re going to invest in a piece of property, don’t you want to know exactly how big that property is and where the property lines for it end? You can find out everything you need to know about the size and shape of a property by having a professional land survey done. Here are… Read more »
The word “municipal” is defined as “relating to a city or town or its governing body.” The word “lien” is defined as “a right to keep possession of property belonging to another person until a debt owed by that person is discharged.” So what’s a “municipal lien?” When a municipal lien exists, that means a… Read more »