Real Estate Law in Massachusetts

In Hopkinton, real estate law can affect just about anything involving the use, purchase, or sale of land and fixtures to land, such as buildings.

The many laws affecting real estate in Hopkinton can sometimes feel overwhelming in their volume and complexity. This might apply doubly when your case involves a foreclosure, or a construction dispute.

Thus, if you're planning on engaging in any kind of real estate transaction, it's necessary that you learn at least the basics of real estate law in Hopkinton.

Some understanding of the proper law can give you an advantage in almost any situation. In the real estate instance, it can help you spot illegal terms in lease agreements, give you some idea of what your rights are in a dispute, among other things. If nothing else, knowledge of the law can help you spot people who are willing to break it, so you can avoid dealing with them.

Common Real Estate Law Issues in Hopkinton

Financing: Most people are unable to make major real estate purchases in Hopkinton with cash, because few people have that kind of money on hand. Therefore, to buy real estate, most entities use a mortgage. This is a loan used to buy a piece of property. When the loan is authorized, and the property purchased, the lender holds a security interest in the property until the loan is paid off, with interest.

Zoning: Zoning laws govern what types of structures can be built on given parcels of land. Usually, cities and towns are zoned in order to ensure that neighborhoods are clearly divided into residential, commercial, and industrial categories, to ensure that everyone who uses the land can make the best possible use of it, for their particular purpose

Duty of Disclosure: Sellers of homes are bound by a legal duty to disclose defects in the home to prospective buyers, before they buy the house. Any defect which the seller knows (or reasonably should know) about, and which cannot be discovered by the buyer through an ordinary inspection, must be disclosed to the buyer.

Implied Warranties: In Hopkinton, every residential rental agreement carries with it a warranty of habitability, in which the landlord implicitly promises that the unit is fit for human habitation. This applies whether or not such a warranty is stated in the lease agreement, and it still applies even if the landlord tries to disclaim any such warranty. There are many conditions that might make an unit uninhabitable. A few examples are a lack of electricity, no running water, or no heating.

Can a Hopkinton Real Estate Lawyer Help?

These issues, along with many others, can sometimes be fairly intricate. Therefore, you should never hesitate to consult with a Hopkinton real estate attorney if you have any questions.