Owner Stephen Webster Accused Of Pilfering Over $1 Million In Escrow and Firm Funds
As you may have seen on Boston 25 News or read in the papers, Success Real Estate, Inc., a 140 agent real estate firm based on the South Shore, suddenly closed on December 14, 2024, surrounded by allegations that its owner,
Flying under the radar in the recently passed Affordable Homes Act is that the amount of protection offered by a written declaration of homestead has increased from $500,000 to $1 Million. This is great news for homeowners. The increase to $1 Million applies retroactively to any valid homestead that is currently on record at the
Scam Artists Made Off With Nearly $500,000 In Sale Proceeds; Local Real Estate Agent, Developer, and Attorneys Caught Up In Fraudulent Transaction Involving Concord, MA Property
Using a counterfeit driver’s license and passport (shown at right), fake e-mail address impersonating the real owner, and a forged deed and notary stamp, scam artists were somehow able
Tenants Given Presumptive Right to Seal Certain Eviction Records; Strict Rules Imposed On Credit Reporting Agencies; Landlords May Lose Invaluable Tenant Screening Tool
After years of lobbying, tenant advocates finally got a long-sought after eviction sealing measure through the Legislature and signed by Governor Healey as part of the recently passed Affordable Homes Act. Gov.
After a homeowner balked about paying a late fee, I was recently asked by a local homeowner’s association down the Cape to review their Homeowner’s Association Covenants. To my surprise, I discovered that in light of an under-the-radar 2017 Appeals Court ruling, the covenants had silently expired and gone into void and unenforceable status, with
A Massachusetts Real Estate Litigator Talks About Lis Pendens Basics, Strategy, and Pro Tips.
Recently, I gave a well attended webinar for the Real Estate Bar Association on a subject that is near and dear to my real estate litigator’s heart — The Massachusetts Lis Pendens. The webinar was an introductory presentation which I called
Non-payment Evictions Put On Hold Until Tenant RAFT Applications Are Denied/Approved
Ignoring strong opposition from property owners, the Legislature and Gov. Healey have re-enacted a Covid-19 era tenant protection law (Chapter 257 of the Acts of 2020) which puts an indefinite hold on any non-payment eviction where the tenant has applied for rental assistance (RAFT)
New Rules Aimed At Reducing Pandemic Era Case Backlogs and Delays
With the expiration of a pandemic era law called Chapter 257 and the end of the Covid-19 emergency, the Massachusetts Housing Court just released an important new Standing Order 1-23 which will speed up cases and move to more in-person hearings and less virtual
Wu Administration Misled Public On Details Of Plan: Local Rent Control Boards Are Back, Lifetime Leases Allowed, Small Housing Providers Unfairly Targeted
The Boston City Council just passed Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s controversial rent control measure by a 11-2 vote. Wu marketed her plan as some sort of reasonable compromise where rents would be capped
In my 25 years of law practice, I’ve seen a lot of crazy stuff, but this recent eviction case may top the list of “Professional Tenants.” With 14+ evictions, a slew of larceny charges on their record, and thousands in past rent owed in judgments, a husband and wife team from Shrewsbury have