Articles
Harvey S. Jacobs has a long, established history of writing about legal issues. His articles have been published all over, with his column “The House Lawyer” being published in the Washington Post for over a decade.
You really can buy a luxury condo in South Florida for $1, but there’s a big catch
By Harvey S. Jacobs January 23, 2015 Pssst. Want to buy a luxury condo in warm South Florida for just $1? You can buy a luxury two-bedroom, two-bath condominium on a golf course in Boynton Beach, Fla., and many other warm-weather locations for $1. What's more, many of...
Md. regulation discourages referrals by real estate agents
By Harvey S. Jacobs November 14, 2014 If you live in Maryland and your real estate agent refuses to refer you to a mortgage lender, he isn't being rude. Real estate agents making referrals to service providers in Maryland can now be fined up to $5,000 if they violate...
House Lawyer: New federal loan guidelines ease the sting of ‘zombie foreclosures’
By Harvey S. Jacobs September 26, 2014 Homeowners who have been discharged in bankruptcy and who have lost their home to a foreclosure can now get back in the home-buying game in as little as two years, thanks to new Fannie Mae waiting period guidelines. Before...
Judgments against a person who has same name as you can complicate a title search
By Harvey S. Jacobs August 29, 2014 I recently read your column regarding title insurance and would like your perspective on a request recently made of me by the title insurance company that the buyer of my condo has selected. I have a condo on the market that is...
House Lawyer: Is title insurance necessary for buyers?
By Harvey S. Jacobs August 15, 2014 I recently read an article in the Real Estate section about what buyers should know before closing. The article, however, did not deal with the question of title insurance for the buyer, as opposed to the lender. Does it make sense...
What you need to consider before buying a vacation home
By Harvey S. Jacobs July 25, 2014 Consider how often you will visit, and don't forget about year-round maintenance costs With the summer vacation season here, folks are spending halcyon days lounging at the beach or cooling off at a mountain cabin - dreams of buying...
More homes embracing universal design principles
By Harvey S. Jacobs May 30, 2014 Although universal design has been around since the 1960s, it is now gaining some much-needed attention as our society recognizes that all people should be able to live and function independently in their homes throughout their life...
A $6.6 million mistake costs real estate broker
By Harvey S. Jacobs May 9, 2014 In a surprising ruling, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia decided last month that international real estate broker Jones Lange LaSalle Americas was not entitled to a $6.6 million real estate brokerage...
Reader’s plan to sell investment property has major tax implications
By Harvey S. Jacobs April 9, 2014 I am selling a house in Pennsylvania that I have rented out as an investment for the past 10 years. I want to take the money I make on this sale (paid $400,000, selling for $500,000, made no capital improvements and not paying any...