Residential
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July 02, 2025
How CEQA Reforms Address California's Housing Squeeze
California lawmakers on Monday enacted a new set of escape routes to the California Environmental Quality Act, the state law blamed for constricting housing development to a crisis point. Experts told Law360's Real Estate Authority that while the changes could speed permit processing in some cases, previous attempts to spur housing development by easing CEQA restrictions have proven ineffective.
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July 02, 2025
Local Restrictions In New Fla. Hurricane Law Cause Friction
The Florida Senate hailed the signing late last week of a wide-ranging bill aimed at bolstering the state's handling of hurricanes, but a legal battle could lie ahead, as Gov. Ron DeSantis provided his signature over objections that portions will trample on local governments' authority to regulate land use and development in their own communities.
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July 02, 2025
Q&A: Policyholder Atty On Career Win Against Calif. FAIR Plan
A major ruling last week that fire insurance offered by California's insurer of last resort doesn't meet minimum standards under state law should redefine the conversation around what constitutes insurable fire risk, according to one of the plaintiff's lawyers. Here, Law360 talks to policyholder attorney Dylan Schaffer of Kerley Schaffer LLP about the decision and case he regards as the most meaningful in his career.
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July 02, 2025
Dorm Operator To Face Venue Challenge In Ch. 11
A company that runs dormitory facilities at campuses in Georgia's public university system will have to overcome a motion the colleges' board is planning to bring to have the firm's Chapter 11 case transferred from Delaware bankruptcy court to Georgia.
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July 02, 2025
Fla. Broker, Atty Sued Over Taking Impaired Man's Home
A cognitively impaired man has sued an attorney and a Florida real estate broker in Connecticut state court for alleged unscrupulous sales practices, saying they took advantage of his condition to purchase his home for a "predatory discounted price" and left him homeless.
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July 02, 2025
Seattle Sued Over 'Unconstitutional' Affordable Housing Rules
A Washington construction company and two Seattle homeowners claimed in Washington federal court that the city's Mandatory Housing Affordability program is "unconstitutional," in part because it doesn't consider the public impact of housing projects and makes land-use permit applicants pay upzoning fees for the city's public housing fund.
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July 02, 2025
RI To Let Cities Exceed Tax Levy Cap For Eligible New Homes
Rhode Island will allow municipalities to exceed a statutory cap on annual property tax increases for the construction of qualifying residential property under a bill signed by the governor.
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July 02, 2025
Which Inning Is The Sunbelt Residential Boom In?
Real estate executives often take to the baseball analogy in describing cycles, and one favorite pastime is to offer up an opinion on which inning the sector is in.
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July 02, 2025
Marcus & Millichap Arranges $61M For Bay Area Build
Marcus & Millichap division IPA Capital Markets said it has secured $61 million in financing for the construction of a mixed-use multifamily and office property in San Mateo, California.
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July 01, 2025
Fla. Court Tosses NY Judge's Defamation Suit In Condo Feud
A Florida federal judge tossed a defamation suit between a senior federal judge in New York and former members of a condominium board where he owns a unit, saying neither party provided sufficient evidence of their claims stemming from a feud over renovations.
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July 01, 2025
Weichert, EXp Can't Pause Mo. Broker Fees Antitrust Case
A Missouri federal judge rejected Weichert Co. and eXp's bids to stay an antitrust class action accusing the National Association of Realtors and multiple brokerages of conspiring to artificially inflate buyer-broker commission fees.
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July 01, 2025
Insurer Seeks To Avoid Covering Conn. Cockroach Injury Suit
A Markel unit insuring a pest management company told a Connecticut federal court it should owe no coverage to a property owner facing a woman's claims that she suffered injuries after a "volume of cockroaches spilled" onto her, arguing the property owner didn't qualify as an insured.
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July 01, 2025
8 NYC Casino Applicants Meet Deadline For Key Licenses
A series of multibillion-dollar applications rolled in ahead of a June deadline for the three coveted casino licenses up for grabs in New York, with prospective developers promising millions for infrastructure upgrades, housing development and other community needs.
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July 01, 2025
Celebrity Broker's Co. Renews NAR Antitrust Suit
A real estate listing company owned by broker Mauricio Umansky hit the National Association of Realtors with a renewed antitrust suit on Tuesday, alleging in California federal court that the trade group's clear cooperation policy for property listings is anticompetitive.
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July 01, 2025
McGuireWoods Guides $173M Refi For Luxury NYC Rental
Cammeby's Management Company LLC borrowed more than $173 million from NewPoint Real Estate Capital LLC to refinance a luxury New York City apartment building in a deal guided by McGuireWoods LLP, according to official property records filed Tuesday.
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July 01, 2025
Walker & Dunlop Closes $240M Affordable Housing Fund
Commercial real estate finance firm Walker & Dunlop said Tuesday that it has closed a $240 million fund aimed at advancing affordable housing developments in 10 states.
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June 30, 2025
Newsom Signs CEQA Reform, Aiming To Ease Housing Crisis
California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday evening signed into law two bills overhauling the state's landmark environmental law to knock down hurdles to new development in an effort to address the state's ongoing housing shortage.
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June 30, 2025
Bankruptcy Judge Rejects NYC Landlord's Cash Collateral Bid
A New York federal bankruptcy judge refused to let landlord Pinnacle Group's 82 debtor entities use nearly $30 million in cash collateral intended for creditor Flagstar Bank, ruling that the debtors haven't shown they will meet the "adequate protection" requirements for using the funds.
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June 30, 2025
Conn. Expects Corporate Tax Changes To Raise Almost $350M
Connecticut will make changes to corporate taxes that are projected to raise nearly $350 million over two years — largely from repealing the state's $2.5 million cap on tax increases for some combined unitary taxpayers — under the 2026-27 budget signed Monday by the governor.
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June 30, 2025
NJ Lawmakers OK Tax Hikes On Online Gambling, Cigarettes
New Jersey lawmakers approved tax increases Monday on cigarettes, online gambling and certain property sales of more than $2 million alongside a $58.8 billion budget plan that also provides property tax credits for senior citizens.
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June 30, 2025
Developers File $11.1B Plan In Biggest NYC Casino Pitch
Developers Soloviev Group and Mohegan have submitted an $11.1 billion pitch for a vacant lot known as Freedom Plaza on the east side of Manhattan in the priciest bid to New York officials for one of three open downstate gaming licenses.
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June 30, 2025
Data Brokers Can't Escape NJ Judicial Privacy Law Actions
Data security company Atlas Data Privacy Corp. has won the go-ahead to proceed with dozens of lawsuits based on the judicial privacy measure Daniel's Law against a group of data brokers in New Jersey federal court.
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June 30, 2025
Florida To Eliminate Business Rent Tax
Florida will eliminate its business rent tax under budget-related legislation signed Monday by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis.
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June 30, 2025
Real Estate Groups Say NYC Broker Fee Ban Is Raising Rents
Real estate trade groups, landlords and brokers have told a New York federal court to block the enforcement of a New York City law that bans broker fees in certain circumstances, arguing that the local law is raising rents and that it needs to be blocked while they appeal the dismissal of several claims.
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June 30, 2025
Judge Hits Pause On Civil RICO Suit Against NJ Power Broker
A New Jersey judge has entered a consent order pausing a real estate developer's civil racketeering suit against influential South Jersey businessman George Norcross III, holding the parties' dispute in stasis until an appeal over the dismissal of a related criminal indictment can be resolved.
Expert Analysis
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What Contractors Can Do To Address Material Cost Increases
In light of the Trump administration's plans to increase tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China, construction industry players should proactively employ legal strategies to mitigate the impacts that price increases and uncertainty may have on projects, says Brenda Radmacher at Seyfarth Shaw.
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Reg Waiver Eases Calif. Rebuilding, But Proceed With Care
California Gov. Gavin Newsom's executive order suspending some environmental review and permitting requirements for the reconstruction of homes and businesses damaged by recent wildfires may streamline rebuilding efforts, but will require careful navigation of the evolving regulatory landscape, says Gregory Berlin at Alston & Bird.
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A View Of The Shifting Insurance Regulatory Landscape
Attorneys at Eversheds Sutherland explore how the Federal Insurance Office's climate report, the new presidential administration and the California wildfires might affect the insurance regulatory landscape.
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The Tides Are Changing For Fair Access Banking Laws
The landscape of fair access banking laws, which seek to prevent banks from denying services based on individuals' ideological beliefs, has shifted in the last few years, but a new presidential administration provides renewed momentum for advancing such legislation against the backdrop of state efforts, say attorneys at Latham.
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How Congress Can Stem Consumer Finance Law Uncertainty
In the face of rising uncertainty about consumer finance laws that are based largely on fluctuating administrative rules, Congress should cement certain existing laws into statute and clarify federal agencies' delegations of authority, say attorneys at Bradley Arant.
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Illuminating The Trend Of Florida's Unpaid Hurricane Claims
The sheer number of insurance claims closed without payment for damage caused by Hurricanes Milton and Helene reveals a systemic problem within Florida's insurance industry exacerbated by complex issues, including climate change and state regulators' resource limitations, say attorneys at Farah & Farah.
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Insurance Considerations For LA Wildfire Recovery
Businesses and homeowners affected by the destructive Southern California wildfires must act swiftly and strategically to navigate the complexities of the insurance recovery process, including by identifying all applicable policies, documenting damage thoroughly and keeping abreast of relevant state law, say attorneys at Morgan Lewis.
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LA Wildfires' Effect On Calif. Insurer Of Last Resort
Attorneys at Willkie discuss the background of California's insurer of last resort — known as the Fair Access to Insurance Requirements Plan — and examine the process of assessing member insurers and relevant recent property insurance market developments in light of the destruction from the ongoing Los Angeles wildfires.
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Algorithm Price-Fixing Ruling May Lower Antitrust Claims Bar
A Washington federal court's refusal to dismiss Duffy v. Yardi Systems, an antitrust case over rent prices allegedly inflated by revenue management software, creates an apparent split in the lower courts over how to assess such claims, say attorneys at Morgan Lewis.
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California's New Homeowner Law Could Hamper Foreclosures
While A.B. 2424, which took effect this month in California, gives homeowners in default additional protections, it also provides loopholes that can be used to delay foreclosure auctions, and the cost of these delays will likely be passed on to the borrower, says Stephen Britt at Severson & Werson.
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Small Biz Caught In Corporate Transparency Act Crossfire
Despite compliance being put on hold due to a nationwide preliminary injunction, small businesses have been caught in the middle of the legal battle over the Corporate Transparency Act — and confusion over the law's requirements could result in major penalties, say attorneys at Snell & Wilmer.
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What's Ahead As Transparency Act Comes To A Crossroads
Synthesizing the contrasting federal district and appellate court rulings on the Corporate Transparency Act’s validity reveals several main areas of debate that will likely remain at issue as challenges to the law continue winding through the courts, say attorneys at Farella Braun.
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Ohio Banking Brief: All The Notable Legal Updates In Q4
Ohio's banking and financial services sector saw several significant developments in the fourth quarter of 2024, including a landmark Uniform Commercial Code ruling, adjustments to the state's Homebuyer Plus Program and the launch of the state's first women-led bank, says attorney Alex Durst.