Landlord-Tenant: When Your Landlord Faces Foreclosure . . .

You may discover, by the way, that the lender is quite happy to collect the rent and is in no hurry to foreclose. This situation has been turning up lately, since the real estate market is terrible and any lender would just as soon not own another rental property, at least not just yet. Some will give the borrower some time to find a buyer and (Glory Halelluia!) pay off the loan.

Summary of Durban Bill

Posted by Cliff Tuttle If you would like to know a little more about the Durbin Bill (wherein Bankruptcy Judges would be empowered to modify first mortgages) than is contained in the usual press coverage, click here for a detailed but readable summary. CLT

Mortgage Foreclosure: More Shift in the Balance of Power.

Citigroup, as the NYT article mentions, is receiving billions in federal bailout funds. It is not too hard to imagine that the two phenomena are connected. The new Congress that was sworn in this week is shaping up to look as activist as the one that was elected with Roosevelt in 1932. When Democratic Congressional leaders ask Citi what it intends to do to earn continuing support, they don’t believe self-serving statements that it will voluntarily modify mortgages. And so, Citi “proves” its dedication to this proposition by publicly supporting mandatory modification for all.

A Cardinal Lawyer

Posted by Cliff Tuttle The Pittsburgh Catholic announced in the January 9, 2009 edition that Pope Benedict XVI accepted the resignation of Cardinal Adam Maida, Archbishop of Detroit. Cardinal Maida was a priest in the Diocese of Pittsburgh who became a civil lawyer and a canon lawyer. Then he became the Diocese of Pittsburgh’s lawyer, […]

New York Times on How Pittsburgh is Weathering the Recession.

Posted by Cliff Tuttle The New York Times published a story this morning in which it noted that the economic indicators for Pittsburgh were better than the rest of the nation. While most of this is not news to Pittsburghers, it makes nice reading on a frigid January day. However, as local leaders warn, it […]

Real Estate: When Does Local Zoning Regulation of Coal and Oil & Gas Preempt State Regulation?

Despite the differences in statutory language, there is no valid reason why oil and gas cases should go one way and coal mining cases the opposite on the same issue. The two statutory sections quoted above should be uniform. Either add the Oil and Gas Act language missing from SMCRA to that statute or cut it out of the Oil & Gas Act.

Allegheny County Mortgage Foreclosure Mediation Begins: A Shift in the Balance of Power.

That won’t be happening anymore. The lender’s representative is now required to explain himself before a judge. The power equation has shifted. The judge has the power to refuse to permit the foreclosure to proceed. If he hears about a case going to foreclosure despite a forbearance agreement, he can right that wrong. If he hears that a borrower can make payments under a reasonable plan, he has the power to make it so.

LandAmerica 1031: The Missing Link Lost but then Found!

The commenter brought to my attention that the link at the end of the post, to a LandAmerica 1031 website, was broken. Thus, the juicy irony at the other side of the link would be lost to readers who are just finding my post. Fortunately, I was able to capture this little masterpiece for posterity.

LandAmerica Update

Crisis brings opportunity. As the President remarked, we might not bail out failing companies in normal times. Acquisitions that prevent venerable American institutions like Lawyers Title and Commonwealth Title from going down in flames are welcomed with open arms. Roll over, TR.

The Original Blogger: Poor Richard Still Has It.

Benjamin Franklin just celebrated his 300th birthday two January’s ago and it is worth sitting up and taking note when his writing is still able to draw a crowd. I have noticed Poor Richard’s Almanac is written in a style much like blogging. I’m sure that if Franklin were living today, he’d be blogging.

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Welcome

CLIFF TUTTLE has been a Pennsylvania lawyer for over 45 years and (inter alia) is a real estate litigator and legal writer. The posts in this blog are intended to provide general information about legal topics of interest to lawyers and consumers with a Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania focus. However, this information does not constitute legal advice and there is no lawyer-client relationship created when you read this blog. You are encouraged to leave comments but be aware that posted comments can be read by others. If you wish to contact me in privacy, please use the Contact Form located immediately below this message. I will reply promptly and in strict confidence.

Pittsburgh Legal Back Talk

Legal topics of interest to lawyers and consumers with a Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania focus.

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