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Category Archives: Real Estate

Vesting: When a Property Development Plan is Grandfathered … or Not

By J. Grady Randle |

VESTING (Not an article of clothing) (Not assuming office) (Not what Warren Buffet does) Does the NFL change rules in the middle of a football game? The NCAA? Is it fair for a city to change the rules in the middle of developing a parcel of land? With the recent tower fires in London… Read More »

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Texas Young & Old: How Demographics are Changing in Cities, Large and Small

By Judith El Masri |

If you think the demographics of your Texas town has shifted to older homeowners and young renters, you may be right. If this is true, how will this affect the real estate market and marketability of your home? Better yet, who will run for political office and step up to help run towns and… Read More »

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Lien In: A Guide to Lien Categories and Priorities

By Byron L. Brown |

Spell check is a wonderful tool, especially for attorneys. However, there are some words that attorneys frequently deal with and which often sneak past the spell check filters. One such word is “lien,” or rather, it is the phrase “a lien.” Amusingly, I have seen more than one petition filed with a court, complaining… Read More »

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I can’t fly my drone anywhere in Texas?

By Judith El Masri |

Flying drones seems like a harmless hobby, but the State of Texas is concerned about the privacy of Texas citizens. Many drones enable you to attach your smartphone to the drone to take video and pictures, or have built-in cameras. Texas drone laws are generally stricter than elsewhere in the country. While many states… Read More »

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When A River Changes the Course of Real Property

By Byron L. Brown |

Mark Twain famously quipped “buy land, they’re not making it anymore.” However, whether due to lava flows or receding glaciers, the fact is that Mother Nature is making more land available all the time. Sure, lava flows and glaciers are somewhat uncommon, especially in Texas, but geography anywhere can change by weathering, erosion, or… Read More »

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Can a Registered Sex Offender Move in Next Door?

By Byron L. Brown |

Individuals convicted or adjudicated of certain sexual offenses are required to register with a local law enforcement agency for a certain period of time, sometimes for life. The Texas Department of Public Safety compiles all of the local law enforcement registrations into a statewide sex offender registration database, known as the Texas Public Sex… Read More »

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Short Term Rentals in a Changing Texas Legal Landscape

By Judith El Masri |

Perhaps you are going on vacation, heading to a wedding or taking a college tour trip. The city you are visiting normally has ample hotel space, but a convention is in town and everything is booked or rates are at a premium. What to do? Short-term rentals of residences (STRs) are changing the travel… Read More »

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Anatomy of a Deed

By Byron L. Brown |

In some cases, the ownership of real property—even property worth millions of dollars—is evidenced solely by what is printed on one side of a single sheet of paper. I am referring, of course, to a deed. While there is technically no minimum or maximum number of pages required for a deed, the law does… Read More »

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Wraparound Mortgage or Lease Option in Texas Real Estate?

By Drew Shirley |

The wraparound mortgage and the lease option are two creative ways to sell residential real estate in Texas. They both offer an alternative to buyers and sellers who are unwilling or unable to use conventional lending to close the purchase and sale of the property. Unfortunately, both methods are also subject to strict governmental… Read More »

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How to Know Which House Fixtures Can Leave with the Seller

By Byron L. Brown |

Let’s say you’re in the market for a new home. You go to an open house in your target area and find “the one.” Walking in, you’re wowed by the layout, the natural lighting, and the kitchen—oh, the kitchen! It has brand new, ultra-modern frosted glass cabinets, all new high-end stainless steel appliances, and… Read More »

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