Category Archives: Real Estate

Ask the Attorney: Should I use a joint tenancy to avoid probate?

Posted on November 6, 2012 by Bloomgren Hanson Legal

My husband and I own some hunting land up north Minnesota as joint tenants.  After his passing, I became the sole owner.  I am thinking about adding my sons to the deed so we would all be joint tenants. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Ask the Attorney, Estate Planning, Real Estate, Trusts and Probate) | Leave a comment

Reader Question: Can I purchase a business using a contract for deed?

Posted on November 22, 2011 by Bloomgren Hanson Legal

One of the recent searches that led to the Bloomgren Hanson website asked the question, “Can I purchase a business using a contract for deed?” The searcher didn’t find their answer here (until now). The simple answer to the question … Continue reading →

Posted in Real Estate, Small Business | Leave a comment

How To Cancel a Contract for Deed

Posted on October 10, 2011 by Bloomgren Hanson Legal

A contract for deed is a form of seller financing where the seller sells real property in exchange for installment payments over time.  In Minnesota, contract for deed transactions are governed by a statutory framework transferring all but an equitable … Continue reading →

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What to Consider when Buying Into a Homeowner’s Association.

Posted on June 6, 2011 by Bloomgren Hanson Legal

In law school they teach students to think of property ownership as a “bundle of sticks.”  A weird metaphor, but one that makes sense after a bit of thought.  When pioneers “staked a claim” to land, in theory they claimed … Continue reading →

Posted in Homeowners' Associations, Real Estate | Leave a comment

Contracts for Deed: Not Your Typical Rent to Own

Posted on April 28, 2011 by Bloomgren Hanson Legal

Folks regularly think they want to enter into a “rent to own” agreement when what they are more appropriately looking for is a contract for deed.  A rent to own agreement is basically a lease where the payments are applied … Continue reading →

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Are you “cra-zay” to consider seller financing to get your home sold?

Posted on February 11, 2011 by Bloomgren Hanson Legal

In the current hey day of tightened lending standards, parties to real estate transactions are becoming increasingly clever in trying to close real estate transactions. More often I am working with sellers who are being asked to and who are also willing … Continue reading →

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Home Owners Associations: Getting Paid During Foreclosure

Posted on February 9, 2011 by Bloomgren Hanson Legal

When a home falls into foreclosure, quite often the homeowner quits paying home owner’s association (HOA) dues long before a bank takes over the property and long before a new owner resumes paying regular monthly dues.   What happens to … Continue reading →

Posted in Foreclosure, Homeowners' Associations, Real Estate | Leave a comment

Basics of Property Ownership Between Spouses

Posted on January 11, 2011 by Bloomgren Hanson Legal

So many folks who I work with on real property (land) matters have at least some confusion about how property ownership generally works, especially between spouses.  Here are some of the issues I see the most often and a basic … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Law, Foreclosure, Real Estate | Leave a comment

How to Deal with Unpaid Home Owners Association Assessments.

Posted on January 4, 2011 by Bloomgren Hanson Legal

Many small to mid-size home owners associations (“HOAs”) are run by a board made of a few active members. It can be a thankless job, especially when the HOA cannot afford to pay an outside management company to be responsible … Continue reading →

Posted in Foreclosure, Homeowners' Associations, Real Estate | Leave a comment

The morality of walking away from your home.

Posted on December 29, 2010 by Bloomgren Hanson Legal

For over a year I’ve been providing clients an hour long “primer” on foreclosure and the risks in walking away from a home that is underwater. What strikes me in almost every case is the client’s strong sense of ethics/values/morals … Continue reading →

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