Locate Maryland Real Estate Lawyers
In Maryland, real estate law is a very broad area of law governing anything that has to do with the ownership of land and buildings.
Real estate law can apply to many various 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.
Maryland real estate law can be very complicated, 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 general knowledge of Maryland real estate law can make a lot of transactions, such as purchasing a house or renting an apartment, much easier.
Common Real Estate Issues in Maryland
Financing: Most people in Maryland probably can't afford to buy a house or a piece of land up front. Thus, most individuals and business use some form of financing to purchase real estate, normally 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: All rented residential properties have at least one general requirement: they must actually be fit for people to live in them. While the apartments they rent aren't required to be luxurious or pretty, landlords are absolutely obligated to ensure that their property meets some basic standards for human habitability. This applies whether the lease mentions it or not, and cannot be waived, under any circumstances. A dwelling will usually be found to be uninhabitable if it lacks running water, electricity, heating, or protection from the elements. There are many other ways that a dwelling could be uninhabitable, however.
Zoning Laws: Before you begin any construction project, you need to make sure that it will not violate any zoning laws in Maryland. This is because zoning laws decide what can and can't be done on a given piece of property. They can be pretty complex, but, in general, they are designed to ensure that people who use land in different ways can co-exist as harmoniously as possible. To that end, they work to keep industrial and residential uses separate, among other things.
Do I Need a Maryland 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 Maryland real estate lawyer before engaging in any huge real estate deal.
Interesting Facts About Maryland
Maryland is situated in the Mid-Atlantic region of the U.S. The state is named after Queen Henrietta Maria of France. Its nicknames are the Chesapeake Bay State, the Free State, and the Line State. Occasionally it is called "America in Miniature" due to its diverse range of geographical features. Maryland's capital is Annapolis, which is also where the U.S. Naval Academy is located.
Maryland's court system is often referenced for its one-of-a-kind characteristics. For example, the highest court is not named "the Supreme Court", but rather, the Maryland Court of Appeals. The Court of Appeals is also unique because all the judges wear red robes with white-colored British style collars, instead of the more common black robes. This is believed to be carried over from British legal tradition, where judges often wore red in association with royal functions.
Maryland is considered by many to be one of the most environmentally conscious states in the nation. It consistently ranks well in terms of energy, toxic waste, and emissions. This is often reflected in the state's laws and zoning regulations. Maryland is part of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, which is formed by all Northeastern U.S. states in efforts to reduce greenhouse emissions.
Lawyers in Maryland help clients by filing lawsuits, providing legal advice, and reviewing legal documents. Maryland lawyers are available to assist clients in all kinds of legal fields, and many specialize in specific areas of law. Attorneys in Maryland can help make the legal process more understandable.