You think you have a construction defect and you want to sue now? New law requires notice process. On April 25, 2003, Governor Owens signed House Bill 03-1161 changing construction defect law. This article summarizes the new notice requirements before a lawsuit can be filed for defects in residential property. The article does not address … Continue Reading
I am listing a property and my Seller has entered into a contract with “Buyer 1.” We also received an offer from a second competing buyer, “Buyer 2.” We countered Buyer 2’s offer with a backup contingency. The closing date on Contract 1 is approaching and Buyer 1 has asked for an extension. If … Continue Reading
No matter how careful you are, don’t underestimate the importance of professional liability insurance. People sue even when they don’t have much of a case, and the financial drain can be crippling. Here are two actual cases and tips on how to prevent these nightmares from happening to you. Case 1: Three months after … Continue Reading
Co-Author: Eric R. Jaworski, Esq. What is a CLUE Report? CLUE stands for Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange. It is a comprehensive database of personal property information relating mainly to insurance claims on private property. CLUE was developed by, and is currently operated by, ChoicePoint Asset Co., a Georgia firm. What type of information is found … Continue Reading
I am aware of the legal concept that if an agent breaches his fiduciary duty to a client, the agent may forfeit his right to a commission, regardless of whether that breach of duty caused damage to the client. Does that same concept apply to transaction brokers? No. In the recent decision of Hoff … Continue Reading
I am aware that Colorado’s Designated Brokerage legislation requires all brokerage firms, even one person offices, to have a brokerage relationship policy. What are the issues which should be addressed in such a policy? General Theme The drafting of an agency policy requires the balancing of a variety of considerations. The policy should create predictability … Continue Reading
Reprinted from REALTOR® Magazine( www.realtor.org/realtormag) by permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. Copyright 2002. All rights reserved. Oxymoron: Words used together that have opposite meanings – jumbo shrimp, for example. A seeming oxymoron is nonrefundable earnest money, a euphemism that some sellers use for a deposit that they intend to keep whether or … Continue Reading
I am a broker helping buyers purchase their first home with FHA financing. The buyers knew that they needed to bring 3% of the purchase price to closing. They have had an unexpected setback and have asked me to loan them $500 to complete their 3% down payment. I know these kids are good for … Continue Reading
In Colorado, liens for unpaid real property taxes have priority over all other liens, including deeds of trust. Many of our clients know this and maintain tax escrows on loans they hold which are secured by real estate. Yet not all loans require tax escrows. Lenders with second deeds of trust rarely maintain tax … Continue Reading
This article educates readers about how to avoid inadvertently committing loan fraud. Another article on our website, “How to Commit More Loan Fraud,” intends to further help real estate professionals and sellers from inadvertently becoming caught up in such a scheme. Question: I have brokered a transaction in which the seller is willing to give … Continue Reading
