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.
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...
New tax embedded in Affordable Care Act affects homeowners
By Harvey S. Jacobs February 27, 2014 A new controversial tax embedded in the Affordable Care Act affects homeowners who sell their homes for a substantial profit. Homeowners need to be aware of the new 3.8 percent net investment income tax. While this provision...
House Lawyer | What short-sale sellers can do to expedite process
By Harvey S. Jacobs December 23, 2013 I'm a real estate agent with a client going through a short sale. The problem is with the second mortgage, which is with Bank of America. These sellers need to get this closed by Dec. 31 for the tax shelter. What can we do? -...
Before adding a loved one to a house deed, think hard first
By Harvey S. Jacobs November 29, 2013 Preparing a deed conveying an interest in your home to a loved one is a relatively simple task, but rarely is it a good idea. It should never be done without examining the reasons for seeking this deed transfer, exploring...
Guess who’s getting rich at the real estate seminar
By Harvey S. Jacobs November 1, 2013 There is one surefire way to make lots of money in real estate: Conduct get-rich-quick-in-real-estate seminars and sell additional CDs, courses and materials for thousands of dollars to hundreds of people who attend. If you live in...
Understanding title insurance to reduce your closing costs
By Harvey S. Jacobs October 11, 2013 Would you like to save hundreds or even thousands of dollars at your next real estate settlement? Knowing the right questions and having a basic understanding of title insurance can go a long way to reducing your closing costs....
Townhouse buyer is out more than $3,000 after having asbestos tiles removed
By Harvey S. Jacobs August 29, 2013 I recently bought a townhouse as an investment property in Anne Arundel County. The house is part of a condo association. Before the purchase, I had a home inspection, which uncovered a few minor repairs but nothing major. The...
Getting to the core of a door matter with contractor
By Harvey S. Jacobs August 8, 2013 I recently replaced some interior doors in my house. Before purchasing the doors, I made a trip to a local company to take a look at the ones I had picked online. I asked for an estimate of the price and was told that the solid-core...