Articles Posted in Real Estate

States and municipalities often find it necessary to procure private lands in order to complete development or infrastructure projects. State laws in Rhode Island and other states are designed to encourage government entities and private landowners to reach an agreement for the purchase of private land when the government desires such land for a development…

A residential real estate transaction in Rhode Island is a complicated and delicate process that usually includes several professionals in addition to the buyer and seller. Purchases and sales of real estate also require the preparation and review of many documents, including an examination of a title for marketability, preparation of a deed, drafting a…

Access to water greatly affects the value of developed and undeveloped property in Rhode Island. In areas outside cities and towns that do not have access to municipal or other public water systems, wells may provide the only water for residential or commercial development. A recently decided appeal by a state Supreme Court demonstrates the…

Rhode Island tort law generally sets a statute of limitations that mandates when a claim can be pursued against an architect, developer, or construction company for defects in the construction of a building. If a Rhode Island construction lawsuit is not filed within the statute of limitations, a plaintiff will not be able to obtain…

Short-term rentals offer a way for investors and homeowners to generate an income by renting out their property for a period of less than one month. Rhode Island short-term rentals can include vacation homes managed by the owner or an agency, as well as homes or parts of homes that are rented through Airbnb or…

The state and federal guidelines and regulations that have been established to protect Rhode Island tenants from eviction during a global pandemic have worked well to prevent homelessness among vulnerable populations and prevent the spread of Covid-19 that could be worsened by housing insecurity. Although the eviction moratoriums and other tenant protections were established to…

The federal Fair Housing Act, originally passed in 1964 and amended several times since its passage, protects Rhode Island home buyers and renters from certain types of discrimination based on race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, and age, among other protected statuses. Real estate agents, developers, property owners,…

As communities in New England continue to grow at a rapid rate, businesses and property developers may plan Rhode Island construction projects that require the rerouting or elimination of public roads. Occasionally, other residents or businesses who oppose eliminating or changing a public road for a private purpose may object to the construction plans. In…

The real estate market in Rhode Island is active, as many homes that would have been listed earlier in the year are being listed and sold now as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. In a market like this, homes are often sold quickly after they are listed, and anyone interested in buying a property…

In accordance with a federal order recently filed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Rhode Island district courts have extended an existing moratorium on residential evictions until the end of the year. The CDC has ordered courts in all 50 states to forbid landlords from evicting their residential tenants for nonpayment…