Recent News

Beresford Booth Partner Bill Kessler and REAPS (Real Estate Association of Puget Sound) present 1031 Exchanges, DSTs, and real estate pitfalls. Read More

In his 1962 State of the Union address, President John F. Kennedy sagely advised that “the time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining.” He didn’t live in Seattle. There is no doubt his advice—the promotion of planning and preparation—was well-intentioned and sound, but it isn’t always practical to wait for a… Read More

The sale of real property involves a variety of different forms of financing and purchase.  In the Washington State real estate market, all cash offers have become more common, and of course, many prospective purchasers seek out lending opportunities through banks and mortgage companies.  A less common, but sometimes very effective tool for the right… Read More

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