Real estate investment has long been regarded as a lucrative avenue for generating wealth and diversifying portfolios. As the industry evolves, new strategies emerge to capitalize on its potential. One such strategy that has gained traction is the concept of real estate joint ventures (JVs). In this blog, we'll delve into the world of real estate joint ventures, uncovering their benefits, potential pitfalls, and key considerations for anyone looking to embark on this collaborative investment journey.
Read MorePurchasing a home is a monumental life event that comes with a multitude of intricacies and legalities. Among these, the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) stands as a key piece of legislation designed to protect homebuyers and ensure transparency in the real estate settlement process. In this blog, we'll delve into what RESPA is, its significance, and how it impacts your journey to homeownership.
Read MorePurchasing a home is a significant milestone in anyone's life. It's not just a financial investment; it's a place where memories are made and futures are built. However, as exciting as the process may be, it's crucial to be aware of potential risks that can arise during real estate transactions. One of the most effective ways to protect your investment and ensure peace of mind is by obtaining title insurance. In this blog, we'll delve into the importance of title insurance and why it's an essential safeguard for any real estate transaction.
Read MoreRecently, in the case of BlackBerry Corp. v. Filipovich, 2021 US. Dist. Lexis 38132 (2021) the federal district court in the Middle District of Pennsylvania denied BlackBerry Corporation’s motion for a preliminary injunction against its former employee, Bradley Filipovich. The thrust of the Court’s decision was that BlackBerry could not prove that Filipovich’s new employer, Proofpoint, Inc., was a competitor. But what was more interesting was the reaction the Court had on some of the equitable evidence.
Read MoreThe COVID-19 pandemic has caused many problems in daily life. One of the biggest changes in our new normal is practicing social distancing and sheltering in place as much as possible to avoid potentially infecting yourself and others. But how do these social guidelines affect transactions that require a notary?
Read MoreThe novel coronavirus pandemic raises novel questions and unprecedented challenges for commercial property owners. It is no longer business as usual. Property managers face the tough task of getting prepared for major dislocation, while avoiding panic for themselves and their tenants. Education and proactive planning are critical for keeping your occupants safe and building operations functioning.
Read MoreCOVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus) has completely disrupted life as we know it. During this very chaotic and unprecedented time, there are certainly many questions with little to no satisfying answers. If you lease commercial space you may be wondering whether your lease is still enforceable, specifically whether you are still required to pay rent. That answers depends on the exact language contained in your lease.
Read MoreBuying a property with a friend, business partner, relative, or significant other can be rewarding investment. But if the relationship sours, undoing the jointly titled deed can pose serious problems, particularly with a mortgage. If the co-owners cannot amicably dispose of one interest or the other through a buyout, or cannot agree to sell the property outright, a judicial partition action my be the only recourse.
Read MoreAs an employee you may be asked to sign a non-compete agreement prior to beginning work for an employer. Although the specific terms of a non-compete agreement can vary dramatically, the basic concept is the same in all non-compete agreements. The agreement will limit your employment options and/or conditions should you terminate your employment with this employer
Read MoreDespite monumental efforts by both public and private organizations and agencies to eliminate discrimination in the workplace over the past several decades, it does still occur far more often than most people realize. The good news, however, is that many types of employment discrimination are now illegal in the United States, meaning an employer may face serious penalties if the employer engages in discriminatory practices, or allows discrimination to occur in the workplace.
Read MorePregnancy and the birth of a child should be a joyous time in a woman’s life. The last thing an expectant or new mother should have to worry about is losing her job because of the pregnancy. Unfortunately, though, it is far from uncommon—even in the 21st century—for a woman to find out she has been terminated while on pregnancy-related medical leave. If you were terminated while on leave related to a pregnancy or the birth of a child in Pennsylvania, you may have the basis for legal action based on either state or federal employment laws
Read MoreAlthough there are never any promises that your workplace will be exactly as you wish it to be, it should not be a place where you feel degraded, objectified, frightened or harassed. Unfortunately, however, that is the case sometimes. Despite state and federal laws making it illegal to engage in harassment in the workplace, it does still happen at an alarming rate. If you are the victim of harassment and you have filed a complaint with your supervisor to no avail, you may be wondering “Can the company just ignore complaints about harassment?”
Read MoreIn 2009 the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania enacted the “Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act”, commonly referred to as HIPCA, in an effort to protect consumers from scams and other unfair trade practices that so often occur with home improvement contractors. If you are a homeowner in need of home improvement work it would certainly be in your best interest to know a bit more about HIPCA, specifically it would be a good idea to know when a home improvement contractor can be held liable under Pennsylvania law.
Read MoreRESPA is a federal law that is administered and enforced by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, or CFPB. For a prospective borrower or a lender, the most important provisions of RESPA are the disclosures required at various times during the mortgage loan process. Within three days of submitting a mortgage loan application to a lender the lender must provide a “Good Faith Estimate”, or GFE, that provides the prospective borrower with the loan terms as well as with the lender’s estimate of what the closing costs will be.
Read MoreWhether a worker is classified as an employee or an independent contractor makes a significant difference in an employer’s duties and obligations toward the worker. The distinction governs everything from the applicability of wage and overtime law to unemployment and workers’ compensation eligibility. All too often employers misclassify workers in an effort to reduce or eliminate expenses and benefits to which the worker should lawfully be entitled. Both employers and workers should be aware that the presence of an independent contractor agreement does not, alone, serve to classify a worker as an independent contractor.
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