The COVID-19 pandemic has been a game-changer for interstate migration. MoveBuddha (an internet based company that advertises it helps coordinate cross-country moving services) conducted a study of over 400,000 relocation queries in 2021 to uncover Americans’ patterns for moving. Another company connected to helping people relocate, United Van Lines, did a survey of their own,… Continue reading
Category: Real Estate
Certification of Trust: Protecting your Living Trust’s confidential information
I have helped many of my clients develop comprehensive estate plans that include revocable inter vivos trusts, often referred to as “living trusts.” A “living trust” is a legal document that allows a person to distribute their possessions and assets to the people they want to after they die. A living trust “owns” the property… Continue reading
Estate Taxes and Life Insurance
It’s a question I am obliged to ask my clients at the outset of the initial consultation about estate planning. I will gravely ask if they think there will be a concern with federal estate taxation. A concerned look will cross their faces – “Should we be concerned?” I will reply that if their gross… Continue reading
IS THE HOUSING MARKET SLOWING DOWN?
As the Coronavirus pandemic took hold of our society back in March, 2020, and the Governor issued his executive orders effectively shutting everything down, the outlook for real estate sales looked bleak. As an attorney whose practice involves a lot of buying and selling of residential properties in the south side of the Chicago metropolitan… Continue reading
Why Do You Need A Real Estate Attorney?
Many non-legal professionals, such as realtors, bankers, or mortgage brokers might still insist that real estate contracts and closings can be accomplished without the assistance of an attorney. They argue that the expense is too great, especially when customers are paying so much in other expenses related to selling or buying their home or obtaining… Continue reading