Private Lender Foreclosure vs Institutional Lender Foreclosure Most purchases of Colorado real estate involve some sort of mortgage financing, in order to complete the purchase. Although a majority of mortgage financing is done by banks or other lenders in the business of making loans (known as “institutional lenders”), some financing is done with a private loan… Continue Reading
I am selling my home. Can I keep my mineral rights?
Can I keep my mineral rights? Yes. The general rule of thumb is that minerals run with the land so the mineral ownership and rights to existing royalty payments (if any) pass with the land to the new owner. A landowner must actively reserve or convey the minerals to avoid passing them to a new… Continue Reading
Real Estate Brokers & Referral Fees under RESPA
Special Considerations for Commercial Real Estate Brokers and Referral Fees under RESPA and Colorado law. Paying for referrals is a common practice in various competitive industries where the struggle to attract customers determines which participants will flourish and which will flounder. However, the business of real estate is subject to various restrictions that limit industry-participants’… Continue Reading
Local Ordinances on Construction Defects
Know Your Local Ordinance on Construction Defects When state law on construction defects failed to change despite lobbying efforts, many cities enacted their own local ordinances regarding how to deal with construction defects in new housing and there are probably more to come. Currently, Arvada, Aurora, Centennial, Colorado Springs, Commerce City, Denver, Lakewood, Littleton, Lone… Continue Reading
Parent Loans for Colorado Real Estate Purchases
Q: I’m a parent. Can I loan money to my child to buy a home in Colorado? Can I secure the loan against the property? What do I need to do? As of August 2016, the answer is “yes” – parents can loan money to their children to buy real estate in Colorado and they… Continue Reading
For Sale By Owner Transactions in Colorado
Q: I’m a homeowner. I want to list my Colorado property for sale. Can I do it by myself (For Sale By Owner)? When a homeowner considers listing their property for sale, one of the first questions they typically ask themselves is: “Should I list the property through a real estate broker?” Experienced real estate… Continue Reading
Partition Actions Between Property Co-owners
Partition Actions: Remedies for Sour Relationships Between Property Co-owners Question: I own a rental property with a friend, but we’re locked in disagreement on what to do with the property or whether to sell it. What legal remedies do I have? Answer: Many people acquire investment properties with friends with only the best intentions, but… Continue Reading
Attorney Testimony in a Will Contest Proceeding
Co-Author: Michael Smeenk, Esq. When Can an Attorney Testify in a Will Contest Proceeding? Many people have wills in place when they die to ensure there is a proper roadmap for distribution of their assets upon death, consistent with their intentions and wishes. Sometimes a person (the “testator”) wishes to change their will in the… Continue Reading
Same Sex Marriages and Maintenance
Gay and lesbian, (same sex marriages) couples face unique challenges concerning awards of maintenance (alimony) in Colorado courts. Co-Author: Gregg A. Greenstein, Esq. The US Supreme Court legalized gay marriage in the landmark 2015 decision Obergefell v. Hodges. If a same sex couple applied for a marriage license after the Obergefell v. Hodges decision, the… Continue Reading
Documentation of Employee Discipline
Boring but True: Four Rules on the Documentation of Employee Discipline Few things are less flashy than the process of creating a detailed personnel file including reports on disciplinary action taken against an employee. This is especially true when the documents and reports sometimes disappear forever into a filing cabinet or drawer, never to be… Continue Reading