Reena Gulati Blog

For most people, their house is their biggest financial asset, so avoiding costly mistakes is critical. The same is true of buying other real estate since it usually involves a substantial amount of money. No matter if it is your first time or the sixth in buying real estate, problems can arise. However, you can minimize the risks by having the right team of professionals, including your real estate broker, inspector/engineer, attorney, and/or lender to help guide you through the process and ensure a smooth closing.

A party wall usually is on the dividing line between two adjacent properties and used for the common advantage of both property owners. In the most common scenario, part of the wall on each property is owned by the owner of each property respectively, with an easement granted to the other adjoining owner for support. The question is what rights, you as the owner of the property have to the party wall, and what you can do to it.

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), a bureau of U.S. Department of the Treasury, issued a Geographic Targeting Order (GTO) that require the title companies to identify the individuals behind the LLC's or companies that purchase all cash real estate in Manhattan worth more than $3,000,000.00. This order currently applies to Manhattan and Miami Dade County, Florida. The purpose is to combat money laundering in the real estate sector in certain high end markets.

My client’s grandmother passed away without a will. Therefore, under New York law, my client should have inherited the house and the investment property of her grandmother. Unfortunately, at the time of her death, the house was owned by the grandmother and her mother, the great-grandmother.