Real Estate

What does the Foreclosure and Eviction Act Mean for You?


On Monday, April 20th, Massachusetts enacted new landlord, tenant, and mortgage laws related to COVID-19 financial impact that affects residential and commercial properties, including limits on foreclosure laws and eviction proceedings (Chapter 65 of the Acts of 2020). What properties are affected? All residential tenants and certain small business tenants are protected from nonpayment evictions,

Gatekeepers in Zoning Disputes


Zoning disputes range from single family homes to complex commercial, residential, or mixed use developments. Regardless of the monetary value of the project from a cost-standpoint, the zoning disputes that get to court all have one thing in common – someone owning a nearby property is not happy. Anyone can talk at a local hearing

Taxes and Insurance and Inspections, Oh My! Considering Actual Costs of Airbnb and other Short-Term Rental Income


According to Airbnb, hosts in Massachusetts earned over $256 million from 1.2 million renters. The growth of private vacation rentals deriving from Airbnb, HomeAway, VRBO, and similar websites has provided extra income for property owners in Massachusetts and additional options for travelers to the state. The tremendous growth, however, has also prompted state and local

Beach Right Disputes: When the Beach is So Close, Yet So Far Away


Like many seaside areas of Massachusetts, Dennis has a sought-after beach on Cape Cod Bay. So much so in fact that access to one particular beach area is the subject of three appellate decisions. The seaside neighborhood in dispute consists of approximately 200 acres, which was developed into residential lots beginning approximately 1903. Generally, the

Thinking Of Converting Your Multi-Family Home To A Condominium?


With the skyrocketing real estate values in Greater Boston the last few years, many owners of two, three and four family homes have thought about converting their properties into Condominium ownership so that they can legally sell off one or more units and maximize their total value from the properties.  If you are thinking of

Lifespan of Restrictive Covenants on Massachusetts Real Estate


Restrictive covenants are, in a nutshell, private restrictions on the use of land. They are generally disfavored by state law, and developers must adhere to strict guidelines to protect their enforceability beyond a thirty-year period. Restrictive covenants typically arise during residential or commercial developments. Before selling off property, a developer could create restrictions governing certain