Real Estate Law in Massachusetts

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

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

So, 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 Shrewsbury.

Having at least some knowledge of real estate law will be to your advantage in essentially any real estate transaction. Knowing the law can give you a bargaining advantage and prevent you from being saddled with obligations that you don't have to assume.

Common Real Estate Law Issues in Shrewsbury

Financing: The majority of people in Shrewsbury can't afford to make a major real estate purchase by paying the entire purchase price up front. Most people and small businesses, therefore, use a mortgage to make real estate purchases. A mortgage is a loan issued for the purpose of buying a piece of property, with the bank obtaining a security interest in that property until the loan and interest are paid off.

Zoning: Zoning laws regulate what types of structures can be built on given parcels of land. Generally, 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 to Disclose: sellers of real estate, especially houses and other residential property, are legally bound to tell the buyer about any defects in the property that the seller knows about, and that the buyer couldn't easily discover on his own (mold or termite problems are common examples). If the seller fails to make such disclosures, he or she could be liable for any harm the defect causes to the buyer, as well as the cost of repairing it. If the seller intentionally conceals or lies about the defect, he or she might also face punitive damages.

Implied Warranties: In Shrewsbury, 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 Shrewsbury Real Estate Lawyer Help?

The issues briefly discussed above, as well as many others, can be very complicated. Accordingly, if you are engaged in any real estate transaction, it's never a bad idea to first consult with an experienced Shrewsbury real estate attorney.