Homeownership is a goal for most Americans, but it is a big responsibility. There are many financial, legal, and maintenance issues that you must keep up with.
Structural encroachment is a big problem. Often it is expensive and time consuming to remedy.
Likely, you must hire a lawyer to deal with the issue.
Can someone steal your home title? No, but they can cause you a lot of problems.
Scammers use identity theft to forge documents and sell or borrow against your home.
There are steps you can take to prevent this from happening to you.
CC&Rs are legally binding agreements to maintain your property according to the community standards.
Their purpose is to maintain home values and help the appearance of the neighborhood.
Towns may grant a nonconforming structure variance when there is a major code violation that is expensive or very hard to remedy.
If you think your property may be in violation you should learn what the local laws are and get a survey.
Nonconforming use variances are granted when a property no longer complies with local zoning laws.
A business operating in a neighborhood when zoning laws change the area to residential probably will get a variance so they can continue to operate.
PUD in real estate is a planned unit development with a HOA. They enjoy flexible zoning.
Owners buy a lot and have access to opens spaces and amenities provided by the HOA.
The rules of eminent domain are confusing, emotional, and controversial.
They include, public use or purpose, just compensation, and right to due process.
Courts expanded these powers over time.
The government uses eminent domain to take land for public benefit.
They can only take your land for public use or purpose. Also, they must pay you a fair price for your home.
You can fight to stop the action based on use or compensation, but the litigation is often long and expensive.
An encumbrance in real estate can be land use or financial.
Land use restrictions include easements, setbacks and zoning issues.
Liens are financial issues and include mortgage, mechanics, and tax.
CAM in real estate includes common services and structures for tenants in a building.
These can get very complicated for commercial space, but are simpler for residential apartments and condominiums.
