Locate Michigan Real Estate Lawyers

In Michigan, real estate law is a very broad area of law covering anything that has to do with the ownership of land and buildings.

Real estate law can apply to many different facets of a personal and professional life. It can apply to anything from the purchase of a vacant lot, to renting prime downtown office space.

Michigan real estate law can be very complex, because it's really a collection of a lot of different areas of law. These areas of law include property rights, contracts, land use, and many others.

Having a good basic knowledge of Michigan real estate law can make a lot of transactions, such as buying a house or renting an apartment, much easier.

Common Real Estate Issues in Michigan

Financing: Most people in Michigan probably can't afford to buy a house or a piece of land up front. Therefore, most individuals and business use some form of financing to purchase real estate, usually a mortgage. A mortgage is a loan used to buy a piece of real estate, with the purchased real estate simultaneously securing the loan.

Disclosure: When a house or other building is being sold, it's possible that there will be some physical defects in the structure. Potential buyers generally have a right to know about these defects, which means that sellers have to disclose them. Generally, if the defect is one that the seller knows about, and the buyer probably couldn't discover it through a normal inspection, the seller has to disclose it. Really, though, it's a good idea for sellers to disclose every defect they know about, whether or not they believe disclosure is technically required as to a specific defect.

Warranty of Habitability: When renting property to be used as a dwelling, the landlord, as a matter of law, implicitly promises that the dwelling will be suitable for human habitation. It doesn't matter what the lease says on this subject - it's always a requirement. Therefore, a rented unit must have the basic amenities required for modern life - it must provide adequate shelter from the weather, it must have running water, it must have heating, and it must have electricity. Of course, there are many more specific requirements, and a court will also look at the condition of the unit as a whole when deciding whether or not it is habitable.

Zoning Laws: Zoning laws regulate what type of structures can be built in given parts of a town or city. Their general purpose is to ensure that a city is as livable as possible by ensuring that residential areas are not too close to the noise and pollution of industrial areas. It is very important that, before you make any improvements to a piece of property, you make sure that the proposed improvements comply with Michigan's zoning regulations.

Do I Need a Michigan Real Estate Lawyer?

Because of the potential complexity of the above-discussed issues, along with the many others that might come up in the real estate context, it would be smart to speak with a Michigan real estate lawyer before engaging in any major real estate deal.

Interesting Facts About Michigan

Michigan has a population of over 9 million people and is the 8th most populated state in the U.S. The name "Michigan" means "large lake". In the year 1837, Michigan became the 26th state to officially join the Union. The Michigan State Capitol is located in the city of Lansing in Ingham County.

Michigan's court system is comprised of three levels, each serving a different purpose. At the lowest level are the District Courts, Municipal Courts, and Probate Courts. Appeals and higher matters are heard at the intermediate level through the Circuit Court system. Michigan also operates a Court of Claims at the intermediate level, which hears administrative agency appeals involving claims against the state. Michigan's highest court is the Michigan Supreme Court.

Aside from hearing advanced legal claims, the Supreme Court also operates the Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society, dedicated to the preservation of Michigan's rich legal history. A famous Michigan court case is Workman v. Detroit Board of Education (1869), one of the first cases dealing with segregation in education. Another famous Michigan case is the Dr. Kevorkian trial involving assisted death and euthanasia. In 1846, Michigan was the first U.S. state to abolish the death penalty.

Lawyers in Michigan file most of their claims at the District or Municipal Court level. Michigan lawyers are experienced in a broad range of legal topics, allowing them to address the unique legal needs of the community. Michigan continues to promote its rich tradition of legal excellence and service.