Recent News

If you are a contractor building homes or a homeowner settling into a new property, you have likely heard the term “easement” before. But what does it mean, and how can it be modified? A recent Washington State Court of Appeals case, Carter v. C&K Contracting, Inc. (No. 40485-4-III), offers practical lessons about easements that can save… Read More

Even if you’ve made every effort to be a good neighbor, you may find yourself caught in a dispute you didn't see coming. A disagreement over a late-night backyard party, a disputed property line, or an unapproved fence repair can quickly escalate, leading to long-term friction between neighbors. If you’ve found yourself at odds with… Read More

Commercial landlords and tenants have dramatically different considerations from residential landlords and tenants. Commercial landlords, for example, must deal with longer lease terms, complex code regulations, and significant financial consequences stemming from the success or failure of their tenants’ businesses. These do not generally come into play for residential landlords, who deal with shorter term… Read More

You would not be the first property owner that desired to have trees taken down. It might be to improve sun light, a view, or just to cautiously avoid a potential scenario where a fallen tree could damage your home. Before proceeding with any tree removal, it would be wise to understand the entire process.… Read More

In Washington, unless co-owners have agreed otherwise, any co-owner of property can file a lawsuit to have the court divide that property.  This could be personal property or real estate.  For the purpose of this article, we will be discussing the resolution of disputes involving real estate.  The court process of dividing property is called… Read More

In almost every residential sale of real estate, the seller is required to provide a Seller Disclosure Form.  This is usually completed on MLS Form 17.  In a recent Washington case, the court addressed the effect of an incomplete Form 17.  The case is Lyons v. Liu and the opinion of Division 1 of the… Read More

Back in April, I published a piece here regarding the status of Western Washington Real Estate inventory. It outlined the large jump in residential listings across King and Snohomish Counties in March of 2025, compared to March of 2024, reflecting a noticeable increase in the availability of real estate. This post serves as a brief follow up… Read More

In Washington State, many mechanisms exist to enforce a debt. One of the most powerful mechanisms is the claim of lien. At its most basic definition, a lien is a claim to the personal or real property of another who owes the creditor money. With respect to real property, a lien creates an encumbrance that… Read More

June 19th, 2025 C. Michael Kvistad discusses "Owning Property with an LLC – Managing Financing Challenges". Read More