Residential
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May 09, 2025
NY Boosts Payroll Tax For Large Biz, Cuts Income Tax Rates
New York will reduce income taxes on lower- to middle-income taxpayers, increase payroll taxes for big businesses in the New York City metro area and allow tax liabilities to be pushed out to partners under a budget bill that Gov. Kathy Hochul signed Friday.
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May 08, 2025
Smoke Concerns Persist Following Top Calif. Court Ruling
A decision from California's top court to allow litigants to cite a February ruling finding that two homeowners didn't have a covered fire debris claim could be used by insurers to try to limit coverage in other smoke and fire contexts, consumers advocates say, but industry leaders see the ruling as limiting frivolous claims.
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May 08, 2025
Couple Slams 'Ping-Pong' Brief In Conn. Waterfront Feud
A married Bridgeport, Connecticut, couple are urging a state court to strike a post-trial reply brief that was filed by companies that the couple are suing over local waterfront access, arguing that counsel for both sides previously agreed to only make one set of post-trial filings simultaneously.
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May 08, 2025
Calif. Apartment Owner Files Ch. 11 With $46M Debt
The owner of a 53-unit Corona, California, apartment complex has filed for Chapter 11 protection in California bankruptcy court ahead of a foreclosure proceeding with nearly $46 million in debt.
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May 08, 2025
3rd Circ. Signs Off On Philly Apartment Foreclosure Sale
A Third Circuit panel on Thursday affirmed a district court's refusal to stop U.S. Bank from selling a Pennsylvania apartment building following a borrower's default, ruling that, although the lender's route to a judgment in its favor was "unintuitive," it correctly followed the governing state laws.
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May 08, 2025
Coverage Uncertain For LA Fire Soil Remediation, Pros Say
Dangerous toxins are being detected in the soil around homes affected by the Los Angeles fires, but experts say that insurance coverage for soil remediation would likely be limited, even if certain policies or provisions could offer some compensation.
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May 08, 2025
11th Circ. Judge Frowns On New Arguments In Easement Case
An Eleventh Circuit judge disapproved of a Georgia partnership raising new arguments on appeal as it pursues a tax deduction for a conservation easement donation, saying Thursday that perhaps "we wouldn't be here" if the partnership had argued the points before the lower court.
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May 08, 2025
Miami Atty Disbarred Over Insistence Of Foreclosure Fraud
The Florida Supreme Court disbarred a Miami attorney after accusations that he misled courts, impugned judges and brought frivolous pleadings over his insistence that clients' homes were fraudulently foreclosed, despite previous suspensions from allegations of similar conduct in the past.
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May 08, 2025
Ga. Mortgage Co. Can Arbitrate Loan Processor's OT Claims
A loan processor manager's suit claiming a mortgage lender unlawfully considered her overtime-exempt will go to arbitration, a Georgia federal judge ruled, saying the company didn't waive its right to arbitrate and that the arbitration clause keeps her suit out of court.
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May 08, 2025
Tenn. Hotel Operators To Stop Collecting Tax After 30 Days
Tennessee will require hotel operators to stop collecting occupancy taxes from people who stay for more than 30 days under a bill signed by the governor.
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May 07, 2025
HUD Blocked From Withholding Grants Over DEI Policies
A Washington federal judge on Wednesday temporarily blocked the Trump administration from forcing New York City, Boston, San Francisco and Seattle's county to adhere to policies against diversity, equity and inclusion or risk losing federal funds for homeless services, saying the strings attached are likely unconstitutional.
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May 07, 2025
Fla. Lawmakers Tackle Real Estate Issues, But Is It Enough?
Real estate matters were once again top of mind during the Florida Legislature's 2025 session, but in a year marked by political tensions, it remains to be seen how successfully lawmakers resolved some major questions.
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May 07, 2025
'Preposterous' SEC Rule For Real Estate Could Be Dropped
A proposed rule to make the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's custodial requirements for investment advisers apply to all assets, including real estate, could die under current Republican leadership. Some attorneys say the proposal lacked sense to begin with.
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May 07, 2025
Venable Adds Construction Pro As Partner In Chicago
Venable LLP hired veteran construction attorney Charles "Cully" H. Wahtola III as a partner for the firm's construction law group in its Chicago office, the firm announced.
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May 07, 2025
NYC Developer Conned Investors Out Of $10M, Feds Say
A real estate developer involved in several projects in New York City was charged by federal prosecutors with misappropriating about $10 million in investor funds and using the money to finance a lavish lifestyle and cover gambling losses.
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May 07, 2025
Wells Fargo Forced Short Sales Despite CARES Act, Suit Says
Wells Fargo forced the short sale of a North Carolina woman's home by denying her forbearance on her mortgage as mandated under federal law at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, she alleged in a proposed class action filed in California federal court.
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May 07, 2025
3 Firms Guide $135M Loan Deal For Brooklyn Condo Project
Charney Cos. announced Tuesday that it secured a $135 million construction loan for the development of a 45-story, 182-unit Brooklyn condominium building.
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May 07, 2025
Big Brokers Say Tariff Effects Mostly Missed CRE In Q1
Commercial real estate executives largely shrugged off the effects of trade disputes this spring in reporting first-quarter results, even as they acknowledged more murkiness ahead for the rest of 2025.
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May 07, 2025
MoFo Real Estate Leader Eyes Surge In New Debt Funds
As some banks have pulled back or hit the pause button on commercial real estate lending, nonbank debt funds have been jumping in with full force to fill that lacuna, one of MoFo's real estate leaders told Law360 in a recent interview.
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May 07, 2025
Developer Fights NJ Power Broker's Bid To Nix Civil RICO Suit
A Camden, New Jersey, real estate developer is fighting to keep alive his civil racketeering suit against South Jersey power broker George Norcross, arguing in New Jersey state court the recent dismissal of a related indictment against Norcross "changes nothing" in the civil litigation.
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May 07, 2025
NJ Justices Deem Town Liable For Frivolous Lawsuits
Frivolous litigation by local government officials is not constitutionally protected and carries financial consequences, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled Wednesday in a 5-0 decision reining in baseless legal battles.
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May 07, 2025
Contractor Skanska Promotes Two Civil Division GCs
Construction and development firm Skanska has said it promoted two employees to vice president and assistant general counsel, with both advising separate civil engineering divisions.
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May 07, 2025
DLA Piper Adds Morgan Lewis Commercial Real Estate Pro
DLA Piper hired a partner for the firm's real estate practice group, a commercial real estate attorney who joins the firm from Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP.
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May 07, 2025
Conn. Town, State End Feud Over Affordable Housing Credits
The Connecticut town of New Canaan has agreed to drop its suit against the state's Department of Housing, which was accused in state court of wrongfully rejecting the town's bid for affordable housing credits and a development moratorium.
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May 07, 2025
Vornado Signals Residential Foray Into NYC's Penn District
Vornado Realty Trust executives hinted on a first-quarter earnings call at an embrace of residential development in Manhattan's Penn District, where the real estate investment trust owns a 10 million-square-foot portfolio.
Expert Analysis
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In The CFPB Playbook: No Lazy, Hazy Days Of Summer
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is headed for a brisk fall season, on the heels of a heated summer, which included the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling that the CFPB funding structure is constitutional, and in advance of the November election, says Eamonn Moran at Holland & Knight.
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Basel Endgame Rules: A Change Is Coming
The Federal Reserve Board's recently announced recalibration of the Basel endgame proposal begins a critical chapter in the evolution of not only the safety and soundness of U.S. banks, but also of banks' abilities to lend and support American businesses and consumers, say attorneys at Davis Wright.
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Reassessing Lease Provisions To Account For ESG Initiatives
As companies seek to build ESG considerations into their businesses, it's crucial to understand how such initiatives can quickly become significant enough to compel reassessment of lease agreement provisions, and how best to modify leases accordingly, say Julian Freeman and Gabe Pitassi at Cox Castle.
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Avoid Getting Burned By Agencies' Solar Financing Spotlight
Recently coordinated reports and advisories from the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Federal Trade Commission maximize the spotlight on the consumer solar financing market and highlight pitfalls for lenders to avoid in this burgeoning field, says Mercedes Tunstall at Cadwalader.
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Assessing Algorithmic Versus Generative AI Pricing Tools
A comparison of traditional algorithmic pricing models and those powered by generative artificial intelligence can help regulators and practitioners weigh the pros and cons of relying on large language models to price products or services, say Maxime Cohen at McGill University, and Tim Spittle and Jimmy Royer at Analysis Group.
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Navigating A Potpourri Of Possible Transparency Act Pitfalls
Despite the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network's continued release of guidance for complying with the Corporate Transparency Act, its interpretation remains in flux, making it important for companies to understand potentially problematic areas of ambiguity in the practical application of the law, say attorneys at Sidley.
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DOJ Must Overcome Hurdles In RealPage Antitrust Case
The U.S. Department of Justice's recent claims that RealPage's pricing software violates the Sherman Act mark a creative, and apparently contradictory, shift in the agency's approach to algorithmic price-fixing that will face several key challenges, say attorneys at Clifford Chance.
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What To Know About CFPB Stance On Confidentiality Terms
A recent circular from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau represents a growing effort across government agencies to address overbroad confidentiality agreements, and gives employers insight into the bureau's perspective on the issue as it relates to the Consumer Financial Protection Act, say Holly Williamson and Elizabeth King at Hunton.
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What's Next For Federal Preemption In Financial Services
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency's review of its preemption interpretations and growing pressure from state regulators signal potential changes ahead for preemption in U.S. financial services, and the path forward will likely involve a reevaluation of the entire framework, say attorneys at Clark Hill.
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Increased Scrutiny Raises Int'l Real Estate Transaction Risks
Recently proposed regulations expanding the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States' oversight, a White House divestment order and state-level legislative efforts signal increasing scrutiny of real estate transactions that may trigger national security concerns, say Luciano Racco and Aleksis Fernández Caballero at Foley Hoag.
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Financial Incentives May Alleviate Affordable Housing Crisis
There is a wide array of financial incentives and assistance that the government can provide to both real estate developers and individuals to chip away at the housing affordability problem from multiple angles, say Eric DeBear and Madeline Williams at Cozen.
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Portland's Gross Receipts Tax Oversteps City's Authority
Recent measures by Portland, Oregon, that expand the voter-approved scope of the Clean Energy Surcharge on certain retail sales eviscerate the common meaning of the word "retail" and exceed the city's chartered authority to levy tax, say Nikki Dobay at Greenberg Traurig and Jeff Newgard at Peak Policy.
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The Bank Preemption Ripple Effects After Cantero, Flagstar
The importance of federal preemption for financial institutions will only increase as technology-driven innovations evolve, which is why the U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision in Cantero v. Bank of America and vacatur of Kivett v. Flagstar Bank have real modern-day significance for national banks, say attorneys at WilmerHale.