Real Estate Primer

Real Estate is property consisting of land or buildings. This typically include both, as in residential transactions where a homeowner sells their home - along with the land it sits on - to a homebuyer. The totality of the land and dwelling structures is called a “plat,” but we often to refer to the area a parcel of real estate sits by its “block” and “lot”. When purchasing real estate, it is important to understand you are not just purchasing a block or plat, nor dirt nor home, but everything that comes with it.

That means environmental hazards such as underground oil tanks which can corrode and cause soil contamination; latent (unknown) or patent (observable) defects, such as busted pipes inside the walls, leaks in the roof; and even errors in boundary lines and title defects (issues concerning the chain of title/ownership). It is therefore advisable to retain an experienced real estate attorney who can help you navigate minefields like these to ensure you are informed and protected. As a real estate attorney, I have worked with clients on matters including, but not limited to;

  1. New Jersey’s UHOT program (unregulated heating oil tank) program for oil tanks and soil contamination;

  2. Successfully closed hundreds of real estate transactions representing Buyers and Sellers in bankruptcy, foreclosure, and estates, including rehabilitation, new construction, and destroyed and existing dwellings;

  3. Successfully negotiated payouts and warrants for distressed sales;

  4. Successfully represented buyers in VA, FHA, 203(k), Conventional loans; including several million-dollar residential purchases and mixed-used commercial sale.

  5. Successfully handled Bulk Sales, Use-and-Occupancy agreements, Use-and-Storage Agreements, etc.;

  6. Negotiate Time of the Essence and escrow disputes to avoid litigation; and more.

Real Estate can be residential or commercial in nature, for personal use or be income-producing. In fact, real estate can even be mixed-use, meaning there are both commercial and residential aspects to the same parcel of real property. Regardless of your intended use or interests in real estate, you may find comfort and support in hiring a New Jersey real estate attorney to counsel, educate, and guide you through the process. Even if you are an experienced investor or “flipper” yourself, you may still want someone who knows the ins-and-outs to ensure your transaction is smooth and you are protected.

Unfortunately, even if there are snags along the way, or if the worst case should occur (litigation), you can be confident that an experienced attorney is at your side to enforce your rights and zealously advocate for you. As a litigator, I have handled matters in Chancery, the Law Division, and the Special Civil Part dealing with matters regarding:

  1. Breach of Contract

  2. Specific Performance

  3. Partition

  4. Quiet Title

  5. Good Faith and Fair Dealing

  6. Implied Warranties

  7. Discharging liens and defects of record, and more.

Contact me

If you are looking to buy, sell, lease, or litigate over real estate in New Jersey and would like to schedule a consultation, use the form provided.