In past articles for this column, we have talked about how to ‘keep the lake cabin in the family’. For this article I will compare the use of a cabin trust vs. a cabin LLC. It’s important to note that this article addresses only a single component of an estate plan. A cabin trust or cabin LLC is something that…
I handle a lot of landlord-tenant issues, predominantly from the perspective of the landlord. What’s becoming more of an issue I am encountering is questions regarding what to do with abandoned personal property that remains on the premises following the tenant vacating, either voluntarily or through an eviction. This article will help shed some light on this topic. For those…
Short term rentals are becoming more commonplace. If you plan on renting your own home, there are several things to consider. Make sure you review any recorded covenants before you rent. Do they regulate rentals and how can rules be amended are issues that one should know before making any decision about renting your home. More neighborhoods are adopting restrictions…
Associations are a common way to own land in Lakes Country for a couple different reasons. Probably the most common example is to address senior living arrangements where owners want to still own their own home but avoid lawn maintenance and other headaches of single family home ownership. The other common example is shared ownership along lakeshore as it is…
In prior articles I’ve shared with you some information about the importance of estate planning for “non-traditional families”. This article is specifically covering the impact of owning real estate with another person who is not your spouse and the importance of addressing those ownership interests in your estate plans. I see the scenario quite often where two people are not…
I represent a lot of landlords around the area and while some are very familiar with the eviction process, others are not. Today’s article will focus on the eviction process and how it’s current status in Minnesota due to COVID-19. Back in March, Governor Walz issued an Executive Order placing a moratorium on all eviction proceedings. This decision brought about…
There has been some legislation and much discussion about prohibiting evictions and/or foreclosures during this time of crisis. The press had reported how many people have been unable to make their payments as they can’t work outside the home. Preventing legal enforcement of lease or mortgage default does not, however, solve the problem. In the end, there needs to be…
A roof is just one example, but here’s a list of issues that I’ve been hired to fix over the years caused by homeowners hiring contractors that did not do as advertised. If you get a bid that is way lower than the rest, you should be on high alert and confirm things as described below before you commit to…
I handle a lot of landlord-tenant issues, predominantly from the perspective of the landlord. What’s becoming more of an issue I am encountering is questions regarding what to do with abandoned personal property that remains on the premises following the tenant vacating, either voluntarily or through an eviction. This article will help shed some light on this topic. For those…
Misconceptions about title insurance keep popping up so I thought it would be a good time to clarify a few things. First of all, if you do not purchase an owner’s policy, you have no protection even though you paid the premium for a lender’s policy. Secondly, insurance will not cover every scenario so working with a reputable company and…