LIEB BLOG

Legal Analysts

Friday, June 02, 2017

NY Radio CLE (for Attorneys only): Law You Should Know: Real Estate Brokers and the Law (1 CLE Credit)

Law You Should Know: Real Estate Brokers and the Law
CLE Provider: Nassau Academy of Law
Featured Guest: Andrew Lieb, Esq.
CLE Credit: 1 Credit in Areas of Professional Practice

Dates:
Wednesday June 7th at 3pm
&
Sunday June 11th at 7am

on 90.3FM in Nassau County
&
broadcast over the internet www.ncc.edu/whpc


To Obtain CLE Credit for the Program
Prior to Listening to the Program: Download an affirmation form

Tune into 90.3 FM and be sure to listen for a program verification code that will be announced by the host. 
Listen for the Code!
 Code must be written on the affirmation form in order to receive CLE credit. 

Monday, May 29, 2017

Fees for Brokerage License Increased on April 20, 2017

Fees for licensing have increased by $5 as of April 20, 2017. For real estate brokers the fee is now $155 and for real estate salesman (a/k/a, real estate salespersons) the fee is now $55.

Real Property Law 441-b(1) now reads (words in brackets are the former statute and capitalized words represent the now current statute):

The  fee  for a license issued or reissued under the provisions of
this article  entitling  a  person,  co-partnership,  limited  liability
company  or  corporation  to  act  as a real estate broker shall be [one
hundred fifty] ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-FIVE dollars. The  fee  for  a  license
issued  or  reissued  under  the  provisions of this article entitling a
person to act as a real estate  salesman  shall  be  [fifty]  FIFTY-FIVE
dollars.  Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision seven of section
four hundred forty-one-a of this article, after January first,  nineteen
hundred  eighty-six, the secretary of state shall assign staggered expi-
ration dates for outstanding licenses that have been previously  renewed
on  October  thirty-first  of  each  year  from the assigned date unless
renewed. If the assigned date results in a term that exceeds twenty-four
months, the  applicant  shall  pay  an  additional  prorated  adjustment
together  with  the  regular  renewal  fee. The secretary of state shall
assign dates to existing licenses in a manner which shall  result  in  a
term of not less than two years.

Tuesday, May 23, 2017

Top 10 Questions for Landlords to Ask Themselves Before Leasing to a Friend

Many homeowners on the East End rent out their property for various parts of the summer season in order to recoup their carrying costs on the property and to have an additional source of income. Some even rationalize their initial purchase of their vacation home by calling it an investment property, where they plan to designate a set period of time that the property will be used for investment purposes and another limited time where it’s designated for pleasure. So when a friend asks to rent this vacation property, knowing of its availability, it may sound like a godsend: you can have an easy experience, avoid using a real estate broker, and save on brokerage fees while also helping out a friend who will love your property as you do. However, before letting your friend lease your property, you need to ask yourself: do I want to lose my friendship with this prospective tenant if the rental doesn’t work out?
If your answer to this question is that it’s completely inapplicable to you because your plan is to simply allow your friend to live at your expense and you have no problem with the financial burden resulting from the lost income stream, you should nonetheless consider possible liabilities that your friend can cause you. Beyond the liabilities of town/village code violations for noise violations, parking violations, rental permit violations, and so on, there is property damage and don’t forget feeling unappreciated when you are doing a good deed.
Regardless, all landlords should ask themselves the following questions before just jumping to the conclusion that renting to a friend is a good idea:

Friday, May 19, 2017

CLE Materials - Real Estate Business Ethics in 2017

Monday, May 15, 2017

Agency 1 Hour ONLINE | Video Clip of CE Course Preview

Friday, May 12, 2017

Top 5 Estate Planning Considerations for the Effective Transfer of Real Estate Ownership

Friday, April 21, 2017

Real Estate Brokerage Regulatory Updates - 4/12/17 NYS Board of Real Estate meeting summary

On 4/12/17 the NYS Board of Real Estate continued its mission of optimizing the regulation of real estate brokers in our state by holding its meeting in NYC and Albany. To remind real estate brokers and salespersons, the public is welcome at these meetings where the public can bring comments from the floor. It is encouraged that Lieb School students attend these meetings to have your voices heard. 

"[T]he Board has general authority to promulgate rules and regulations affecting real estate brokers and salespersons in order to administer and effectuate the purposes of Article 12-A of the Real Property Law."

A complete video of the meeting is available on youtube.

While there was no quorum, the following was discussed:
  1. An education audit program was conducted from December through March on licensees seeking license renewal where approximately 360 such audits were conducted resulting in a finding of approximately 80% compliance and approximately $27,000 in fines;
  2. Many schools are offering classes at 1 and 2 hours in response to the change in regulations;
  3. The possibility of changing the Preliminary Statement of Complaint so real estate brokerage firms can make complaints about their salespersons and associate brokers with the Department of State;
  4. That the Department of State received a question about clarifying whether property managers must comply with the Corporate Title Opinion Letter from April 26, 2013 and will address such question accordingly; and
  5. A public comment that NYS Department of State should coordinate with the Attorney General's Office to enforce unlicensed activities, particularly against auctioneers. 

The next meeting is scheduled for September 13, 2017. 

Wednesday, April 19, 2017

Lieb at Law is hiring | Associate Attorney | Litigation

Fast paced and tech savvy law firm seeks Associate Attorney who can hit the ground running. Ideal candidate is a work product producer with impeccable research, writing and oral advocacy skills. You will be thrown into complex litigation and will quickly learn to thrive while engaging with the leaders of the field.

This role will start off working across all aspects of the firm's litigation practice inclusive of real estate litigation, contractual litigation, premises liability, ownership disputes, plaintiff personal injury, estate litigation and more. You will draft legal memos, pleading, discovery demands, discovery responses and motions. You will negotiate and prosecute personal injury claims against insurance adjusters and then, defend real estate brokerage and title claims while reporting to insurance adjusters. You will also help prepare for depositions, mediations, arbitrations and trials.

Proven competency quickly leads to more challenging and rewarding litigation opportunities such as oral arguments, depositions, trials and appeals. Those that succeed will be charged with developing their own personal niche as their career evolves. Business opportunities exist.

Types of clients include high net worth individuals, start-ups, national real estate brokerage firms and title insurance companies.

The firm offers an environment that supports personal and professional growth without micromanagement or dogmatic resistance to fresh and innovative ideas. Competence trumps experience and career growth is limited only by your own ability, ambition and desire to learn. We will push you to evolve and earn career "wows".

This position is located in Center Moriches, which is in Suffolk County within the Riverhead / Westhampton Area. Clients span across Metro New York area.

Compensation: Commensurate with experience, includes full benefits package.

Requirements:
  • Minimum of 1 year Litigation Experience
  • Experienced in court appearances, motion writing, legal research with Westlaw, pleadings, discovery, oral arguments a plus, depositions a plus, client management a plus. 
To Apply: Email Cover Letter and Resume to careers@liebatlaw.com or submit your application ONLINE here. 

Monday, April 17, 2017

Foreclosure Considerations When Representing Private Lenders

NY Department of State Update for License Renewal (Applications and Fees)

This is a direct note from the New York, Department of State.

This notification is to inform you of an increase in Real Estate original and renewal application fees, effective immediately.

The new application fees are as follows: Real Estate Broker Application $155, Real Estate Branch Office Application $155, Real Estate Salesperson Application $55.   

Please stop using the old applications immediately.  The new applications are available on the Department of State website, here are the links:





http://www.dos.ny.gov/forms/licensing/0022-a-HT.pdf  (Sales Application Haitian Creole)





Also, as a result of an ongoing Real Estate Licensee Qualifying Audit, we are finding that many licensees are noncompliant. The majority of noncompliant licensees state they did not know, and were not told, that prior to applying for a license education, requirements include completion of the 75 hour course, passing the final school exam and receiving a certificate of completion.