Recent News

There are many possible interests in real estate.  “Fee simple” is the most easily understood, which means ownership of the land itself.  Easements are the right to use land owned by someone else for specified purposes.  Generally, easements are perpetual and run with the land, meaning that they go on indefinitely and transfer to new… Read More

December 16th, 2021 attorney Bill Kessler and real estate agent Zach McDonald discuss what you need to know about co-ownership of real estate in Washington State. Read More

Many non-lawyers have heard the term “due diligence” in the context of real estate, but the term can feel confusing or legalistic.  Due diligence refers to the investigation, research, and analysis which buyers are expected to perform prior to closing on a transaction, to satisfy themselves that the asset they are purchasing will meet their… Read More

November 18, 2021 William O. Kessler discusses the forced sale of real estate by co-owners. Read More

Are you trying to buy your first home? Do you peruse prices on Redfin with incredulity – then weep softly? Are you unwilling to commute from a shack on the outskirts of North Bend? Like many in your shoes, you might consider buying a home with friends. Residential co-ownership among friends is becoming an increasingly-common… Read More

I have often seen people make the mistake of assuming that one can easily determine the existence of an easement by simply searching the public records for a document called “easement.”  Owners, prospective owners, real estate brokers, and even attorneys are not immune from making that mistake.  This blog post will help you consider the… Read More

Real estate attracts investors for many reasons, including tax advantages. Upon sale of investment real property, you are subject to capital gains tax. However, you may delay payment of that tax by quickly purchasing new real estate (a “replacement” property) after the sale of the original property. Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code sets… Read More

When purchasing a property, a buyer has a multitude of different considerations to keep in mind, such as reviewing Form 17 disclosures, addressing financing contingencies, reviewing inspections, and considering earnest money deposits, escalation clauses, and more.  The list can feel endless.  One of the most important documents involved in the purchase of a home, the… Read More

Earlier this year, I wrote a blog post about assigning commercial leases generally.  Sometimes, contractual rights or obligations get transferred without an express assignment.  This can happen, for example, where a party to the contract gets acquired by someone else, or where the party’s ownership or control changes hands.  An entity tenant under a commercial… Read More