Top 10 Real Estate Laws of 2017

Now that 2018 is here it is important to be aware of the changes in the law for our industry. This is not a list about the best events from 2017, but instead, a list that highlights the new legal landscape
that real estate attorneys face in 2018. Being familiar with these laws, regulations and opinions may help Attorneys better address their client’s goals and make them money while helping them
avoid malpractice.

Here is a link to the full article by Andrew Lieb, Esq. published in The Suffolk Lawyer. 

New Statute - Residential Rentals must be Code Compliant or Face Premises Liability Exposure

New section of the Real Property Law protects tenants from illegally converting dwellings in all residential leases. This statute will place an exorbitant risk on the landlords; a risk only magnified by the likelihood that a property insurance carrier will disclaim coverage for such a claim.

Read the full article by Andrew Lieb, Esq. published in the Suffolk Lawyer here.

New York State Senate Says Aye to Bill Allowing Title Insurance Marketing Expenses

With 61 ayes and 0 nays, the New York State Senate passed S6704 which provides a definition for “an inducement for, or as compensation for, any title insurance business” in Insurance Law 6409. The new definition allows title companies and agents to continue usual and customary marketing activities such as taking clients out for coffee or lunch. The only requirement is that these marketing expenses must not be offered as a quid pro quo for a particular piece of title insurance business.

Nonetheless, title insurance companies and agents are still holding their breath as it is still in the Assembly’s hands to approve A8467 and effectively ease Regulation 208’s prohibitions on inducements for title insurance business.

You can track the Assembly’s actions on A8647 through this link.