LIEB BLOG

Legal Analysts

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

The Intersection of Pet Policies and Anti-Discrimination Laws in Real EstateBreach of Contract in Real Estate Cases

Monday, January 20, 2014

Free CE on 2/28 in NYC: Foreign Buyers (limited seating)!


Foreign Buyers


Instructor: Andrew Lieb, Esq., MPH

Credits: 3

Price: Free

February 28th, 2014: 11:00am to 2:45pm

Registration: Advanced Registration Required through www.liebschool.com 

International clients are all the rage … sometimes. Learn diverging perspectives on their ownership of US soil. Explore cultural sensitivity and anti-discrimination statutes while gaining an understanding of the real estate agents / educators need to familiarize foreigners with our local customs and laws. This course will split hairs between different levels of citizenship and the resulting rights and obligations afforded to purchasers. You will be familiarized with a multitude of reporting requirements and tax withholding statutes for purchasers, sellers and their property managers that can turn a foreign purchase into your worst nightmare, if ignored. After this course, the student will know what it takes to be a foreign buyer or the seller / property manager to such a buyer in New York.

Google and the Smart Home

Google is on its way to creating the “Smart Home,” revolutionizing the way we live in the home and bringing advanced technology to everyday appliances and devices. In the beginning of January, Google bought Nest Labs for 3.2 billion dollars. For those of you that do not know, Nest is the founder of the Learning Thermostat, which adapts to your daily routine, saves energy in the home, and can be controlled from your phone. Millions of Americans have outdated and complicated thermostats that are left at the same temperature all day, which, in turn, waste energy and increase heating bills. The Nest Learning Thermostat brings efficiency to home heating and is the hottest home appliance on the market. More and more homeowners are attracted to the idea that the home will now “adjust to us” and our schedules.

There are already talks of Google creating more tools and appliances that are connected to the internet. This “Internet of Things” began with the smartphone but is expanding to include vacuums, toasters, thermostats, refrigerators, smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and many other mundane but essential household items. Some are afraid that the Google-run Smart Home will invade homeowners’ privacy by gathering and analyzing their personal information in order to improve the Internet of Things and user-based advertisements. However, Tony Fadell, CEO of Nest, has recently announced that there will be no change in the current privacy policy for Nest. This technology should considered as something that is exciting and revolutionary and will only make our lives easier.

Tony Fadell  is also the co-creator of the iPod and iPhone. Instead of selling the company to Apple, he has decided that Google is the company that can best support Nest’s growth and development.  Google understands Nest and is eager to take people’s interests to a whole new level.