When I am asked what I do or what type of law I practice, my ten second “elevator speech” is to say that I primarily focus on every aspect of real estate law “from A to Z, from acquisition to zoning and everything in...more
They say you can’t stop progress. And growth and development is an inevitable part of progress. The State of Maryland and its more rural counties have made efforts to find some balance to the inevitable growth and development...more
A breath of fresh air and a second wind was breathed into dreams and potential plans for a large wind farm in Allegany County, Maryland. The Court of Special Appeals of Maryland in Dan’s Mountain Wind Force, LLC, et. al. v....more
Online retail giant Amazon recently shortened the list of potential locations for its future second corporate headquarters, referred to as Amazon’s “HQ2”, to twenty locations around the country. Three of those 20 locations...more
In a case of first impression in Maryland, the Court of Appeals of Maryland recently held in Waterman Family Limited Partnership v. Boomer, 456 Md. 330, 173 A.3d 1069 (2017) that a newly elected Board of County Commissioners...more
The Maryland Court of Appeals recently heard and decided a case involving Development Rights and Responsibility Agreements. In my first blog post on this topic, “Development Rights and Responsibility Agreements: The Give and...more
In my previous article “The Tiny House Craze: Zoning Laws Could Be a Tiny Impediment” I discussed the popular new “tiny house” trend in residential housing options. Along with the “tiny house” craze, another new and growing...more
Beginning on October 1, 2017, several new laws will go into effect in Maryland governing condominiums and homeowners associations (“HOA”). With so much of new residential real estate being developed as part of an HOA or a...more
As I write this article, powerful Hurricane Irma is bearing down on Florida, and Hurricane Jose is close behind it, farther out in the Atlantic Ocean. Hurricane Irma has already devastated parts of the Caribbean Islands, and...more
Craft wineries, breweries and distilleries are a rapidly growing industry and agri-business in the State of Maryland and beyond. Leading the way, Frederick County, Maryland, now boasts more than 30 wineries, breweries and...more
With anticipation and wonder many of us stood still for several moments on August 21, 2017 hoping to catch at least a glimpse of the much anticipated total eclipse of the sun. Whether you were fortunate to be in the area of...more
The “tiny house” movement is all the rage right now. The cause of the craze may be many faceted. Whether the popularity and demand is being driven by a shift in peoples’ preference to downsize to a more simplified lifestyle...more
In my previous blog post, “Development Rights and Responsibility Agreements: The Give and Take of Development,” I discussed the purpose and requirements for a Development Rights and Responsibility Agreement (“DRRA”) between a...more
Under Maryland law, the rights of a land developer to develop property for commercial or residential uses generally do not “vest” until there is some visible, lawful, construction on the property. Of course, development of a...more
In my previous blog, “Preserving Agricultural Land in Maryland – Reaping Rewards for Farmers,” I discussed the various programs available in the State of Maryland to provide financial incentives to encourage farmers to...more
While growth and development is inevitable in the name of progress, the State of Maryland and its more rural counties have made efforts to find some balance by providing incentives to farmers for preserving agricultural land...more
We all know we are not immortal. Death is a certainty for all of us. But the topic of death and our own mortality can be one of discomfort, or even denial. We’ve all made or heard the usual excuses for avoiding or delaying...more
Life in the big city has its advantages. Desirable public services, such as police protection, trash collection, public water and sewer service, and other services and amenities are available that you may not have if you live...more
With the ringing in of the New Year it also means it’s that time of year again for Maryland property owners—tax assessment time.
So perhaps you are one of the lucky one-third (1/3) of property owners in the State of...more