An aerial shot of a housing development to represent real property

Tax Law for Real Property

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Purchasing property, whether it be for investment or personal use, can be a stressful experience. To add to the stress, the IRS looms over every transaction, waiting for tax time so that it can take its share. In this article, we’ll discuss…
A Pennsylvania city

What is Zoning?

Zoning, in general, is a power granted to municipalities in states, including Pennsylvania. The various municipalities have the power to enact, amend, or repeal a zoning ordinance, either wholly or partly within its municipality (see 53 P.S.…
An outstretched hand holding a house key

Rent-to-own Agreements: A Dangerous Way to Buy Real Estate

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Rent-to-own agreements are contracts for the sale of land where a buyer pays a down payment and some amount of rent over time in order to purchase a home. In Pennsylvania, these are sometimes referred to as Installment Land Contracts, and depending…
A residential building next to a commercial building

Commercial Leases v. Residential Leases

Commercial leases and residential leases differ in a lot of ways. Both types of leases are agreements between a landlord and a type of tenant, but they include different rights and responsibilities because they serve different purposes. A commercial…
A house with a "for rent" sign in front of it

Can landlords garnish wages in Pennsylvania?

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Pennsylvania allows landlords to garnish wages from their tenants in certain circumstances. There are limitations set by both state and federal law. Wage garnishment can help landlords to collect money from legal judgments as long as they stay…
The inside of a home's front room. There is a staircase and a set of doors with nice windows.

Foreclosure and Rent-to-Own Agreements

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Rent-to-Own Agreements have become more popular in Pennsylvania in the last several years as an alternative method of financing for buyers who are unable to get traditional mortgages. Sellers sometimes offer these agreements as a way to obtain…
A light blue house

Can filing for bankruptcy save your home from foreclosure?

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Filing for bankruptcy can provide a homeowner with a way to save their home from foreclosure. When a homeowner files for bankruptcy, an automatic stay is put into effect, which temporarily stops most collection actions, including foreclosure…
A photo of solar panels under a blue sky.

Solar Panel Installation Fraud

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If you’re a homeowner, you’ve likely been approached by a solar panel salesman at your home or over the phone trying to sell you on the benefits of “going solar.” While the opportunity to eliminate your electrical bill sounds good on…
Farmland on a sunny day

Eminent Domain: Theirs for the Taking?

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We might be cheering when traffic circles are installed to curb accident occurrences or when roads are widened to accommodate an increase in traffic. Over time, country fields can give way to schools and public parks as a result of growing populations.…
A room in the middle of renovations. Ladders and levels lean against the wall.

HICPA and the Hiccups of Home Repairs

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Home repairs and renovations can be costly and time-consuming. While some work on your home can be a breeze to have done, other work comes with the stress of ever-changing deadlines and busted budgets. No one needs the added stress of a contractor…
A sitting room in a rental home

Short-term Rentals & Long-term Headaches

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Having a side hustle is becoming more and more popular by the day, and many people sure could use some extra income. This is why companies like Airbnb and VRBO have become so profitable. If you can take a current asset like your house and use…
A House For Rent sign outside of a house

Legal Things to Know Before Investing in Rental Properties

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With the rise of the DIY movement and the expansion of the mobile workforce in the U.S., investors are clambering to purchase rental properties. Whether they are rehabbing and flipping properties or buying them and turning them into rentals,…