Residential

  • February 09, 2026

    Kan. Bill Would Require Voter OK For Property Tax Increases

    Kansas would require property tax increases to get voter approval before taking effect under a bill introduced in the state House of Representatives. 

  • February 09, 2026

    Ga. Apt. Complex Seals Win Over Worker's Assault Suit

    An Atlanta-area apartment complex has cemented its win in a suit over a resident and employee's alleged assault on the premises after the Georgia Court of Appeals said the tenant failed to point to anything management could have done to prevent the attack.

  • February 09, 2026

    Neb. Lawmakers OK Rule Changes For Property Tax Hearings

    Nebraska would change who is required to attend public hearings on proposed property tax increases under a bill unanimously approved by state lawmakers and presented to the governor.

  • February 06, 2026

    $8M Rent-To-Own Class Settlements Get Final OK

    Five years of litigation — split between sister suits in North Carolina state and federal court — revolving around allegedly exorbitant fees on rent-to-own contracts for storage sheds ended this week after both courts entered final judgments and cemented a combined $8 million settlement.

  • February 06, 2026

    Wintrust Beats Mortgage Loan Racial Bias Suit For Good

    Wintrust Financial Corp. and a mortgage lender subsidiary no longer face a proposed class action accusing them of discriminating against Black homebuyers after an Illinois federal judge found the amended suit doesn't show that the alleged discrimination was intentional or resulted in disparate lending outcomes.

  • February 06, 2026

    Menzies Targets NYC Townhouse In $7.6M Niger Award Feud

    A subsidiary of British aviation services company Menzies has set its sights on a $35 million luxury townhouse on the Upper East Side owned by the Nigerien government as it looks to enforce a nearly 13-year-old $7.6 million arbitral award against the West African country.

  • February 06, 2026

    Judge Rejects Compass' Bid To Block Zillow Listing Rules

    A New York federal court on Friday refused to bar Zillow from enforcing its updated listing policy while Compass brings its antitrust case alleging the rules are meant to block competition, after finding the brokerage has not shown its case is likely to succeed.

  • February 06, 2026

    NJ Watchdog Must Give Up Files In Hospital Row

    A New Jersey federal judge has refused to disturb a magistrate judge's decision compelling a state watchdog to turn over documents from its inquiry into CarePoint Health Systems Inc., rejecting the agency's bid to shield its files with grand-jury-like secrecy and reaffirming that federal privilege law governs discovery disputes in federal court.

  • February 06, 2026

    Judge Gives Final OK For $42M Broker Fees Settlements

    A Missouri federal judge granted final approval for $42 million worth of class action settlements to resolve antitrust claims accusing the National Association of Realtors and multiple brokerages of conspiring to charge home sellers with excessive broker commission fees.

  • February 06, 2026

    Kan. Senate Bill Would Eliminate Property Taxes

    Kansas would phase out property taxes over a three-year period under a bill introduced in the state Senate.

  • February 05, 2026

    BNY Mellon Can't Sue Investor In Texas Over Facility Funding

    A Texas appellate court determined Thursday that Bank of New York Mellon Trust Co.'s suit against the company that purchased senior revenue certificates for a student housing facility does not belong in the Lone Star State, saying the bank failed to demonstrate that the company's conduct tied it to Texas.

  • February 05, 2026

    Calif. Toxic Testing Bill Carries Major Insurance Implications

    A California bill that would mandate safety standards for the testing and clearance of homes after wildfires could make toxicity concerns more central to a claims process in which living expenses are at stake for people wary of returning to contaminated homes.

  • February 05, 2026

    Burr & Forman Adds Ex-Maynard Nexsen Atty To SC Office

    Burr & Forman LLP has hired a former Maynard Nexsen PC shareholder and NFL agent for a partner role in the firm's Charleston, South Carolina-based real estate team.

  • February 05, 2026

    DOJ Settles Claims Town Restricted Jewish Places Of Worship

    The federal government has asked a Pennsylvania federal court to sign off on a consent decree reached with Kingston, Pennsylvania, that would see the borough roll back recent changes to its zoning laws that allegedly unfairly burdened places of worship.

  • February 05, 2026

    Sidley Guides $98M Loan For NYC Housing On Bazaar Site

    Sidley Austin LLP worked on a $98 million mortgage for an affordable housing project on the site of an African bazaar in Manhattan.

  • February 05, 2026

    Paul Hastings Guides Developers' $335M Mixed-Use Refi

    L&L Holding Co., led by Paul Hastings LLP, and Oak Row Equities have obtained a $335 million loan from Blue Owl Capital to refinance Wynwood Plaza, a 1 million-square-foot campus with apartments and offices in Miami, the companies said.

  • February 05, 2026

    Nixon Peabody Real Estate Atty Named Rochester Office Head

    Nixon Peabody LLP has selected an affordable housing and real estate partner to take over as managing partner in the firm's Rochester, New York, office.

  • February 04, 2026

    Gov't Pushes For Greystar Antitrust Settlement Approval

    The federal government pushed back against public comments that criticized its proposed antitrust settlement with landlord Greystar Management Services LLC, telling a North Carolina federal court Wednesday to approve the proposed settlement because it does enough to resolve its claims.

  • February 04, 2026

    Fla. Senate Advances Bill Endorsing Neighborhood ADUs

    The Florida Senate on Wednesday unanimously advanced a bill directing local governments to allow homeowners to build accessory dwelling units, such as garage apartments or guesthouses, in all single-family residential neighborhoods.

  • February 04, 2026

    Pa. Co.'s Housing Found Tax-Exempt Under New Charity Test

    A clarification to Pennsylvania's charity exemption test by the state Supreme Court did not change the exempt status of properties owned by a group that offers low-income housing, the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court ruled Wednesday.

  • February 04, 2026

    What Private Real Estate Lenders Should Know On Fraud Risk

    With private lenders taking on a bigger role in real estate, they have become a target of fraudsters. Miami-based attorney Stephanie Hauser explained the strategies these scammers often pursue and steps lenders and their lawyers can take to protect themselves.

  • February 04, 2026

    FTC Defends Case Over Zillow-Redfin Rental Ads Pact

    The Federal Trade Commission is defending its antitrust case challenging a partnership between Zillow Group Inc. and Redfin Corp., telling a Virginia federal court the pact is a clear agreement between the companies to not compete for rental housing advertisements.

  • February 04, 2026

    Zillow Says Home Values, Mortgage Payments Are Dropping

    The value of U.S. housing declined in January for the sixth straight month and lower mortgage rates led to an 8.4% year-over-year decrease in the costs of monthly mortgage payments, according to a report posted by property listing giant Zillow on Wednesday.

  • February 04, 2026

    Real Estate Atty Can't Duck Meddling Claims, NC Justices Told

    A property owner told North Carolina's top court that a real estate attorney can't skirt allegations he helped meddle in an ownership dispute over a parcel of land in Charlotte, saying her tort claims against the lawyer might be rare, but they are still backed by the law.

  • February 04, 2026

    Keller Williams To Pay $20M To Settle Antitrust Claims

    Keller Williams Realty has agreed to pay $20 million to resolve claims that it participated in a decades-long conspiracy to fix real estate broker commissions and inflate home prices, according to a proposed class of homebuyers who are asking an Illinois federal judge to grant preliminary approval to the deal.

Expert Analysis

  • A Primer For Lenders On NY's New Mortgage Disclosure Regs

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    A recent New York regulation requiring licensed lenders and mortgage bankers to distribute a significant new disclosure pamphlet, essentially a borrower bill of rights, to applicants serves as a reminder to the industry to follow existing best practices, says Scott Samlin at Blank Rome.

  • Trump Tax Law Has Mixed Impacts On Commercial Real Estate

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    The One Big Beautiful Bill Act brings sweeping changes to the real estate industry — and while the permanency of opportunity zones and bonus depreciation creates predictability for some taxpayers, sunsetting incentives for renewable energy projects will leave others with hard choices, says Jordan Metzger at Cole Schotz.

  • DOJ Settlement Offers Guide To Avoiding Key Antitrust Risks

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    The U.S. Justice Department's settlement with Greystar Management shows why parties looking to acquire companies that use pricing recommendation software should carefully examine whether the software algorithm and how it is used in the market create antitrust dangers, say attorneys at Fried Frank.

  • Contractor Considerations As Construction Costs Rebound

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    The U.S. construction industry is navigating rising costs driven by energy and trade policy, which should prompt contractors to review contract structuring, supply chain management and market diversification, among other factors, say attorneys at Cozen O'Connor.

  • NC Banking Brief: All The Notable Legal Updates In Q3

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    There were several impactful changes to the financial services landscape in North Carolina in the third quarter of the year, including statutory updates, enforcement developments from Office of the Commissioner of Banks, and notable mergers, acquisitions and branch expansions, say attorneys at Moore & Van Allen.

  • Looking Beyond Property Damages For Wildfire Survivors

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    Personal injury attorneys seeking compensation for victims of wildfires like those in Los Angeles County must carefully apply a multidisciplinary approach that looks beyond obvious property loss to the full spectrum of damages, considering factors like emotional distress, disruption of community and the psychological toll of displacement, says Farid Yaghoubtil at Downtown L.A. Law Group.

  • Calif. Banking Brief: All The Notable Legal Updates In Q3

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    The third quarter of 2025 brought legislative changes to state money transmission certification requirements and securities law obligations, as well as high-profile accounting and anti-money laundering compliance enforcement actions by the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, say attorneys at Ropes & Gray.

  • A Mortgage Lender's Guide To State Licensing Overhaul

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    Recent changes to the Conference of State Bank Supervisors' Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System require careful attention and planning from mortgage lenders, including tweaks to remote work designations and individual disclosure questions, says Allison Schilz at Mitchell Sandler.

  • Montana Federal Ruling Takes Broad View Of 'Related Claims'

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    A Montana federal court recently took a broad view of related claims, ruling that claims brought by different plaintiffs in different states alleging different legal theories were nevertheless under a directors and officers insurance policy, illustrating the range of interpretations courts may give these clauses, say attorneys at Hunton.

  • Expect DOJ To Repeat 4 Themes From 2024's FCPA Trials

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    As two upcoming Foreign Corrupt Practice Act trials approach, defense counsel should anticipate the U.S. Department of Justice to revive several of the same themes prosecutors leaned on in trials last year to motivate jurors to convict, and build counternarratives to neutralize these arguments, says James Koukios at MoFo.

  • As Student Loan Outlook Dims, What Happens To The Banks?

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    While much of the news around the student loan crisis focuses on the direct impact on young Americans' decreasing credit scores, the fate of the banks themselves — and the effect on banking policy — has been largely left out of the narrative, says Madeline Thieschafer at Fredrikson & Byron.

  • 5 Real Estate Takeaways From Trump's Sweeping Tax Law

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    Changes to the Internal Revenue Code included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will have a range of effects on real estate sponsors, investors and real estate investment trusts — from more compliance flexibility around taxable REIT subsidiary limits to new considerations raised by a key retaliatory tax provision that was left out, say attorneys at DLA Piper.

  • How Prohibiting Trigger Leads May Affect Mortgage Marketing

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    Recent amendments to the Fair Credit Reporting Act prohibiting the sale of trigger leads mark a significant shift in the regulatory landscape for mortgage lenders, third-party lead generators and their legal counsel, who should reevaluate lead generation strategies and compliance protocols, say Joel Herberman, Rob Robilliard and Leah Dempsey at Brownstein Hyatt.