Recent News

In Washington State, owners commonly find themselves in situations where they have long possessed land, only to find out – typically through a survey – that some of the land they think they own sits outside of their record legal boundaries. This creates a conundrum in which a property owner has exercised longstanding ownership rights… Read More

Most buyers of real property do not wonder “what land did I buy?” Usually that question has an easy, intuitive and straightforward answer. But not always. Your legal description is the law’s expression of your property’s dimensions. Absent claims like adverse possession, a buyer of real property effectively purchases whatever is provided in his or… Read More

August 10th, 2023 Beresford Booth Attorney William O. Kessler talks about Damage to Land Adverse Possession and… Insurance? Read More

In Washington State, the county assessor values real property to reflect the property’s true and fair market value, in accordance with its highest and best use. The assessor bases the value on what a buyer in an arms-length transaction would pay for the property. The county assessor may use several different methods to appraise real… Read More

August 3rd, 2023 Beresford Booth attorney Per E. Oscarsson talks about the Washington Real Estate Excise Tax. Read More

Mortgages and deeds of trust often secure loans that provide for one or more advances by the lender. Depending upon the loan involved, the lender may be obligated to make the advance or the lender may have the discretion to make the advance. Typically, a mortgage or deed of trust has priority over most other… Read More

The state of Washington recently enacted the covenant homeownership account and program act.  The purpose of the act is to address the state’s “history of housing discrimination due to racially restrictive real estate covenants” of various types. Under the act, one or more special purpose credit programs will be created to provide down payment and… Read More

June 15th, 2023 Beresford Booth Lawyer Babak Shamsi discusses the joys and perils of community living. Read More

New legislation in Washington state drastically changes zoning for most single-family neighborhoods. This piece covers one of the most impactful statutes, House Bill 1337. In much of Washington, housing is expensive, and inventory is very tight. In response, the Washington legislature recently enacted HB 1110 and HB 1337. HB 1110 – discussed in detail by… Read More