Residential
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August 28, 2025
Katrina's Insurance Lessons Ever Relevant 20 Years Later
Hurricane Katrina's landfall in New Orleans 20 years ago was an unprecedented catastrophe that resulted in financial consequences and insurance lessons that are more relevant today than ever, as fossil fuel-induced climate change promises more intense storms, experts say.
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August 28, 2025
Attys, Judge Mull Next Steps In 'Ugly House' Trademark Trial
A Delaware federal judge took a stab on Thursday at focusing post-trial briefing after three days of testimony on home-selling franchise HomeVestors of America Inc.'s claims that Warner Bros. Discovery's "Ugliest House In America" series has infringed its trademarks and confused customers.
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August 28, 2025
Texas House OKs Lower Voter-Approval Property Tax Rate
Texas would lower its maximum property tax rate permitted by law without voter approval for larger taxing jurisdictions under a bill passed by the state House of Representatives.
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August 28, 2025
Federal Reserve Gov. Lisa Cook Sues Trump To Block Firing
Federal Reserve Gov. Lisa Cook filed suit in federal court in Washington, D.C., on Thursday challenging President Donald Trump's "unprecedented and illegal attempt" to remove her from her position.
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August 27, 2025
Citizens Say FinCEN's Real Estate Transfer Rule Unlawful
Two citizens asked a Texas federal judge to throw out FinCEN's rule requiring disclosure of residential real estate transfers to corporate entities and trusts even when no money changes hands, saying the rule runs afoul of the Constitution.
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August 27, 2025
Amenity Wars, Conversions Steer Student Housing Strategies
Attorneys advising on student housing deals say the sector's momentum has not been dampened by pressures on higher education, as colleges and universities across the country look to build, convert or lease more student housing and compete on amenities.
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August 27, 2025
Colorado Sues Mobile Home Park Over Unsafe Drinking Water
Colorado health officials told a state judge on Wednesday that a local mobile home park's drinking water tested positive for potentially dangerous bacteria, and the mobile home park is violating state law by ignoring mandated further testing and refusing to notify residents of the test results.
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August 27, 2025
Fla. Appeals Court Affirms FDOT's Win In Easement Spat
A Florida appeals court on Wednesday found that a Miami property owner failed to show proof of an easement that would grant her access to a parcel of land owned by the Florida Department of Transportation, affirming a win for the agency.
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August 27, 2025
Ga. Justices Back Income Approach For Low-Income Housing
County tax assessors in Georgia may use a method known as the income approach to determine the fair market value of properties that qualify for federal low-income housing tax credits, the state Supreme Court ruled, reversing an appeals court finding.
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August 27, 2025
Widow Wasn't Forced Into Sewage Settlement, 4th Circ. Told
The city of Charlotte, North Carolina, told the Fourth Circuit it did not pressure a widow to settle her property damage claims stemming from a sewage backup in her home, saying she was represented by a lawyer and was in good mental and physical health when she accepted the deal.
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August 27, 2025
Attys Navigate Tangle Of Transit-Oriented Zoning In Miami
The Miami City Commission's recent approval of a new category of transit-oriented zoning has added another layer to a rapidly changing, increasingly complex web of regulations and incentives that real estate attorneys must consider when guiding development projects in the city.
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August 27, 2025
Howard & Howard Hires Condo Law Pro
Howard & Howard has announced the firm added a real estate transactional and litigation expert, who is joining its Chicago office from a two-partner practice.
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August 27, 2025
NJ Panel Backs Co.'s Single-Family Subdivision Project
A New Jersey appellate court on Wednesday backed a lower court order that vacated a township planning board's rejection of an application for a subdivision project with nine single-family lots.
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August 27, 2025
Contractors Looking To AI To Navigate Construction Tariffs
Construction contractors are increasingly leveraging the power of artificial intelligence and technology to navigate the headwinds and uncertainty that have come with President Donald Trump's trade war, a technology executive recently told Law360 Real Estate Authority.
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August 27, 2025
Jones Day Continues Real Estate Growth With McDermott Atty
Jones Day announced the latest addition to its real estate practice on Wednesday, welcoming a New York-based attorney from McDermott Will & Schulte LLP.
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August 27, 2025
Atty Eyes Chilling Effect From Texas Foreign Ownership Law
In the latest effort by states to deter foreign control of real estate, Texas has introduced a sweeping prohibition, effective Sept. 1, against certain countries owning real property in the state. Polsinelli shareholder Weston B. Rockers explains how deals could be structured going forward — and how the law may scramble existing transactions.
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August 26, 2025
Expedia Says 11th Circ. Ruling Dooms Helms-Burton Verdict
Expedia, Orbitz and Hotels.com tried to undo a $29.85 million verdict over Helms-Burton Act violations Tuesday, telling a Florida federal judge the plaintiff, who claims his family owned a Cuban barrier island before its seizure by Fidel Castro's government, does not meet the Eleventh Circuit's recently set standard.
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August 26, 2025
Expert Sees No 'Ugly House' Mixup In Warner Bros. IP Case
During the second day of trial in Delaware federal court, a trademark litigation survey expert testified she found no public confusion with respect to Warner Bros. Discovery Inc.'s "Ugliest House in America" series and HomeVestors Inc.'s house-flipping business and "Ugliest House of the Year" campaign.
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August 26, 2025
Ohio House Bills Seek To End Or Limit Property Taxes
Three bills introduced in the Ohio House of Representatives would eliminate property taxes by 2030, allow voters to introduce ballot initiatives to lower property taxes and increase the approval threshold for passage of certain property taxes.
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August 26, 2025
NYC Real Estate Week In Review
Fried Frank, Davis Polk and Seyfarth guided a Manhattan real estate deal north of $1 billion, the first 10-figure New York City deed that's hit records this year and one of three large trades that became public last week.
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August 26, 2025
Calif. Senate OKs New Tax Default Property Sales Rules
California county boards of supervisors would be required to take new steps before approving the sale of a tax-defaulted property under a bill passed by the state Senate.Â
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August 26, 2025
1st Circ. Says Insurer Owes No Defense In Eviction Suits
A Liberty Mutual unit has no duty to defend a commercial real estate loan provider in underlying suits over the eviction of residents from a Massachusetts senior care facility, the First Circuit ruled, finding the insurer's denial of coverage to be reasonable.
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August 26, 2025
Fed's Lisa Cook Preps Lawsuit Over Trump Firing
Federal Reserve Gov. Lisa Cook is preparing to file a lawsuit over President Donald Trump's announcement that she has been terminated from her position, allegedly for committing mortgage fraud, her lawyer said Tuesday.
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August 26, 2025
Buchalter Adds Ex-Carlton Fields Attys To LA Office
Buchalter has hired two former Carlton Fields attorneys as shareholders for its corporate team in Los Angeles, and one of the announced hires is returning to the firm after almost 30 years.
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August 25, 2025
Nationstar Loan Payoff Statement Fees OK'd By Wash. Judge
A Washington federal judge has sided with Nationstar in a proposed class action alleging illegal fees, recognizing the home loan servicer is allowed to charge a "reasonable fee" for expedited delivery of a loan payoff statement upon request.
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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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 ÃÛÌÒÊÓÆµ 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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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.
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The Bank Preemption Ripple Effects After Cantero, Flagstar
The importance of federal preemption for financial institutions will only increase as technology-driven innovations evolve, which is why the U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision in Cantero v. Bank of America and vacatur of Kivett v. Flagstar Bank have real modern-day significance for national banks, say attorneys at WilmerHale.
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Assessing The Practicality Of Harris' Affordable Housing Plan
Vice President Kamala Harris' proposed "Build the American Dream" plan to tackle housing affordability issues takes solid recommendations into account and may fare better than California's unsuccessful attempt at a similar program, but the scope of the problem is beyond what a three-point plan can solve, says Brooke Miller at Sheppard Mullin.