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…