Recent News

More than ever before in human history, negative messages are capable of viral dissemination.  Online platforms and various forms of social media spread information, good and bad, with various levels of accuracy, faster than ever before.  For both businesses and individuals, negative information can deal a devastating blow to reputation.  People and businesses who feel… Read More

Most people with some experience in real estate transactions are aware of a seller’s duties generally to disclose to the buyer adverse material facts about the property being sold.  But what duties do brokers have in this regard?  Washington law imposes on brokers certain non-waivable duties owed “to all parties to whom the broker renders… Read More

Not all deeds are created equal.  For example, in the case of a quit claim deed, the grantor makes no warranty that they even own the property being conveyed.  Rather, the grantor merely transfers whatever the transferor actually owns.  But in the case of a statutory warranty deed, the grantor makes certain promises which give… Read More

In almost all instances, the sale of real property occurs pursuant to some written contract, typically a purchase and sale agreement.  The sale generally becomes complete when title to the property transfers to the buyer via a deed.  But what happens if, after consummation of the sale, one of the parties claims the contract was… Read More

In almost all instances, the sale of real property occurs pursuant to some written contract, typically a purchase and sale agreement.  The sale generally becomes complete when title to the property transfers to the buyer via a deed.  But what happens if, after consummation of the sale, one of the parties claims the contract was… Read More

Real estate purchase and sale agreements range from the simple to the highly complex.  In most circumstances, the buyer deposits some amount of earnest money to show their good faith and commitment to performing under the contract.  Depending upon the language of the purchase contract, a typical consequence of the buyer defaulting is forfeiture of… Read More

Most of us at some point will be the party to a contract which the other party breaches, or will be the victim of someone else’s negligence or wrongful conduct.  Such breaches of duties owed to you may make the other party liable to you.  But this does not mean you can just sit back… Read More

In a recent news story (see this video from Inside Edition: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAxpCbUSmrk), a Maine man decided to cut his neighbor’s garage in half after learning from a survey that the garage encroached on the man’s property.  It is a common misconception that just because records show land belongs to someone, that person has the unfettered right… Read More

Real estate brokers in Washington frequently confront situations where they must carefully navigate to avoid acting as lawyers.  In Washington, it is a misdemeanor to engage in the “unauthorized practice of law.”  Court rules define the practice of law as “the application of legal principles and judgment with regard to the circumstances or objectives of… Read More