Mercer Island Condo and Co-op Lawyers

Find the right Condominium and Cooperative attorney in Mercer Island, WA

Condominium and Cooperative Law in Washington

Cooperative and condominium communities are examples of a class of housing developments recognized as "common interest communities."

This is a type of community in which the individual residents rent or own residential units in a building, or collection of buildings, but are collectively accountable for taking maintaining the common areas in their communities, such as lawns, gardens, swimming pools, and the like. This responsibility is normally taken care of by charging the residents a periodic maintenance fee, to pay for the upkeep of the common areas.

Just looking at the outside (or inside, for that matter) of a condo or cooperative community, you likely can't tell which it is.

This is due to the fact that there are no visual or physical characteristics that can distinguish one from the other. All the differences between them lie in the ownership arrangements that the residents have. With a condominium, the residents normally own their housing unit, and collectively own the land on which it sits. In a cooperative, the residents rent the units, and the land is owned by a single entity, either a corporation or other type of business association.

Laws and Regulations Concerning Common Interest Communities in Mercer Island, Washington

There are various laws in Mercer Island, Washington that might be applicable to common interest communities. But most of these laws are not unique to common-interest communities. Rather, they usually concern zoning, land use, and contract law, which are applicable to most other types of real estate, as well.

One's daily life in a cooperative or condominium community is more likely to be affected by the rules set by the owners or managers of the property, rather than the regulations of your state or city.

The owner or manager of the property on which your unit sits will likely have a considerable number of regulations concerning what can be done in and around the housing units. These rules will likely concern cleanliness, noise, and policies governing the presence of pets and long-term guests.

Some rules set by property owners or managers may not be enforceable, however. For instance, in Mercer Island, Washington, any rule which purports to exclude residents based on race, color, national origin, or religion will not be legitimate. There are likely some others, as well.

Can a Mercer Island, Washington Attorney Help?

If you have problems with your landlord, your homeowners association, or a neighbor, a seasoned Mercer Island, Washington real estate lawyer may prove invaluable.

Talk to a Real Estate Law Attorney now!

Life in Mercer Island

Mercer Island, Washington is a city situated in King County, on an island in Lake Washington. Its population, according to a 2008 Census estimate, is about 24,000 people.

Mercer Island is part of the Seattle Metro area, and is considered a suburb of that city. The Mercers, a wealthy Seattle Family, settled Mercer Island in the late 1800s, and gave the area its current name.

During that time, an industrialist built a large, luxurious resort on the waterfront, and it was accessible via steamboat from the nearby towns on the mainland. The resort was burnt by a mysterious fire in 1908, however.

Mercer Island is quite affluent, and the IRS has ranked it among the 50 wealthiest Zip Codes in the U.S. The median household income is about ,000, and only 0.2% of the population lives below the poverty line.

There are quite a few parks in Mercer Island, Washington. Luther Burbank Park is one of the largest, and covers about 77 acres, and a significant portion of waterfront. It features a public dock for boats, tennis courts, picnic areas, and nature trails.

Given their sophisticated clientele, and proximity to the largest city in the state, Mercer Island, Washington lawyers are experienced in a wide variety of legal areas. If you have any legal issue, there's a good chance that a Mercer Island, Washington lawyer can solve it, or point you to someone who can.

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