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.
U.S. Supreme Court Ruling on DOMA Impacts Property Rights Involving Same-Sex Couples
Many Unanswered Questions Remain as Some States Permit Same-Sex Marriages While Others Adhere to Traditional Definition of Marriage The U.S. Supreme Court issued its 5-4 opinion in the case of United States v. Windsor on June 26, 2013. e opinion found that section 3...
House Lawyer: Tenants should sign your lease first
By Harvey S. Jacobs July 25, 2013 My husband and I own a two-bedroom condo in Washington. We previously lived in it, but we moved out of town for job reasons a few years ago. We rent it out because we have been unable to sell it for as much as our mortgage, and for...
Dealing with bank delays
By Harvey S. Jacobs June 28, 2013 I am refinancing a residential property with one of the big banks in the area. I have an interest rate lock, which expires soon. The bank appears to be continually asking for new information, making additional requirements that should...
Query: What do you do when a joint owner dies?
By Harvey S. Jacobs June 3, 2013 My question concerns a home mortgage. In 1998 my husband and I bought a North Arlington home with joint title. He died in November 2011 and the next month I called and then faxed a request that the mortgage holder remove my husband's...
Tips on selecting the ‘right’ mortgage lender
By Harvey S. Jacobs May 23, 2013 Whether you are a first-time buyer or seasoned veteran, obtaining a home loan today is more difficult than ever. The level of lender scrutiny and the maze of loan programs has never been more complex or illogical. The key to navigating...
What to know before buying mortgage notes
By Harvey S. Jacobs April 18, 2013 Last of three parts Buying mortgage notes can provide the savvy investor with secure returns without the hassles and risks of buying and flipping a fixer-upper, locating tenants for a rental condo or unclogging toilets. When most...
Learn the ins and outs of investing in condos
By Harvey S. Jacobs March 28, 2013 Second in a series Buying and renting out a condo may be the way to go for people who want to invest in property but don't want the responsibility of owning, renovating and maintaining a single-family house. Before buying a condo,...
How to pick a fixer-upper you can flip
By Harvey S. Jacobs March 8, 2013 First in a series about investing in real estate By most measures, the past eight years have been a disaster for most of the real estate industry. However, for investors who had the prescience to buy real estate at bargain-basement...
Inherited house comes with questions
By Harvey S. Jacobs February 22, 2013 I have inherited a house in the District and am trying to decide if I should sell it. The house is in the Riggs Park area of Northeast D.C. I know they are building a Wal-Mart in the neighborhood, and Costco is not far from there....