You’ve found your dream home, made an offer and the bid was accepted – but you need to get through closing. That means that a title search has to be done before the deal closes and you take possession. Over the years, as a piece of property changes hands, the title...
Utility companies provide crucial services to help homes become habitable and businesses perform basic functions. Gas, electrical, water and sewer service are the most crucial utilities provided by private companies, although telecommunication utility providers also...
Your real property may be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, even if the land you own is only a fraction of an acre. Although you may focus on the home where you live, your yard is valuable as well. Your outdoor space will be as important as the improvements you...
Zoning law in Massachusetts is specific. These rules help preserve the characteristics of a community and the value of individual properties. When you buy a property, you may only use it in a manner consistent with the current zoning for the land. Those who violate...
Are you interested in starting a small business from home? If you are, you might think that you can start regardless of how your property is zoned, but you need to be sure that it is zoned for commercial use. The local zoning regulations, ordinances and bylaws may...
Easements offer property owners a way to solidify the need to access another property owner’s land. These legal documents serve as a tool to help outline the use of the land, offering protection to both property owners. Although generally beneficial these agreements...
Neighbors often share certain parts of their yards near or at the boundary line. For example, neighbors may split the costs to maintain or install a fence along their shared property line. They might both benefit from a tree planted near the property line that...
Local governments have zoning in place as a way to manage the land use of different cities and towns. Generally, these local governments want to help maintain local infrastructures and control the population geographically so that infrastructure can properly function...
When you buy a home, you will have money tied up in the transaction long before you are the owner. You put down earnest money right away when you make an offer to let the seller know that you mean business. Then, even after you sign documents at the closing table and...
In the Boston metro area, many homes have power lines, gas lines or other utility lines over or under the property. This is usually a sign that the utility company has an easement over the land. An easement grants another party the right to access a property owner’s...
