Howard County Real Estate Lawyer

howard county real estate lawyer

Real estate is one of the biggest investments that most people will make in their lifetime.

When problems arise with real estate that you own, or with property you are buying or selling, it can be overwhelmingly stressful and scary.

Proper and timely legal advice is of critical importance, as mishandling the matter could end up being financially and emotionally devastating. Coover Law Firm, LLC, has extensive experience in both commercial and residential real estate law in Maryland.

For over 30 years, we have represented the interests of buyers, sellers, builders, developers, and investors in Columbia, MD, and beyond.

We put your goals and interests first and are ready to take your case to court. We’ll work diligently to obtain the best result for you and your family or business partners. Real estate can be frustrating and convoluted; let us represent you in your land acquisition, project financing, or litigation dispute. 

  • In property line disputes, a simple misunderstanding often devolves into a nasty and expensive struggle. Our Howard County boundary dispute attorneys remove that stress and help you obtain a satisfactory outcome.
  • Latent defects like painted-over mold can cause serious harm to new owners. An owner who knows their home has a defect, but intentionally sells the home without disclosing the defect can and should be held responsible.
  • Contracts are legally-binding documents designed to hold people to their word. With the help of an experienced attorney, buyers or sellers who breach binding contracts can be held liable and ordered to pay damages.
  • The argument “No, I don’t have a title, but I’ve had this land for years so it’s mine” doesn’t hold up in court. If someone is claiming all or part of your property as their own, it’s time to hire an experienced attorney.
  • It’s lawful for a seller to change their mind, but it’s unlawful for them to withhold the buyer’s earnest money deposit. If this has happened to you, your best chance for getting your money back is to hire an attorney.

Maryland Commercial Real Estate Law

howard county real estate attorneyCommercial real estate refers to property that is used solely for business purposes, such as office complexes, hotels, restaurants, shopping centers, and convenience stores.

Coover Law Firm, LLC, has extensive experience representing Howard County, MD, builders and developers in matters relating to the purchase, sale, lease, and/or development of commercial real estate in Maryland.

We help ensure that the process goes smoothly and are skilled in the following areas:

  • Entity formation
  • Land acquisition
  • Contracting with subs
  • Litigation of disputes, should they arise

Coover Law Firm, LLC, is well-versed in all areas of commercial real estate law, from obtaining permits to understanding liability for violations.

Likewise, as a Howard County real estate lawyer, Mr. Coover is highly knowledgeable regarding liability for injuries occurring on private property, as well as other civil litigation matters.

Commercial Real Estate Litigation

When a dispute arises over commercial real estate, time is often critical. Knowing where to go to get things done early on in the process can make a huge difference in the outcome. At Coover Law Firm, our extensive experience handling commercial real estate matters in Howard County, MD, allows us to react quickly and effectively on our clients’ behalf.

While we always encourage our clients to try to resolve matters at hand without intervention by the courts – often by utilizing mediation and/or arbitration – sometimes the parties are simply unable to reach an agreement. In cases where litigation becomes necessary, Coover Law Firm aggressively advocates for our clients’  interests, both in and out of the courtroom.

Coover Law Firm highly experienced in a wide range of commercial real estate-related conflicts, including:

  • Breach of contract
  • Breach of fiduciary duty
  • Construction defects and mechanic’s liens
  • Construction trust actions
  • Fraud, misrepresentation, and nondisclosure
  • Little Miller Act claims
  • Payment bonds/performance bonds
  • Real estate partnership and joint venture disputes
  • Recovery of earnest money
  • Title insurance litigation
  • Establishing real estate partnerships & joint ventures

For more information on these and other issues related to commercial real estate, please contact us.

What’s On the Line With Maryland Residential Real Estate

According to Zillow, in April, 2018, the median value of homes in Howard County, MD, was $435,998. That’s more than double the national median of $213,146.

Why does this matter? Quite simply, it means that you must put a lot of money on the line when you choose to purchase real estate in the Columbia, MD, area. Therefore, when problems arise with a property that you own, or are buying or selling, you need an experienced real estate attorney on your side that you can trust to represent your interests and protect your investment.

Here are a few examples of common issues that arise relating to Maryland residential real estate:

  • A buyer purchases a home, only to later discover that the home has major (and expensive) structural problems that were not disclosed by the seller.
  • The seller backs out of the contract prior to settlement and is refusing to return the buyer’s earnest money deposit. The buyer feels that not only are they entitled to a refund of their deposit, but that the seller is guilty of breach of contract.
  • A buyer purchases a new construction home, and later finds evidence of sub-standard construction by the builder.

Fred L. Coover, Esquire has a long history of representing clients’ interests in residential real estate matters. In addition to advocating for clients in his private practice, Mr. Coover also serves as a mediator for the Maryland Association of Realtors  (MAR).

  • In property line disputes, a simple misunderstanding often devolves into a nasty and expensive struggle. Our Howard County boundary dispute attorneys remove that stress and help you obtain a satisfactory outcome.
  • Latent defects like painted-over mold can cause serious harm to new owners. An owner who knows their home has a defect, but intentionally sells the home without disclosing the defect can and should be held responsible.
  • Contracts are legally-binding documents designed to hold people to their word. With the help of an experienced attorney, buyers or sellers who breach binding contracts can be held liable and ordered to pay damages.
  • The argument “No, I don’t have a title, but I’ve had this land for years so it’s mine” doesn’t hold up in court. If someone is claiming all or part of your property as their own, it’s time to hire an experienced attorney.
  • It’s lawful for a seller to change their mind, but it’s unlawful for them to withhold the buyer’s earnest money deposit. If this has happened to you, your best chance for getting your money back is to hire an attorney.

Maryland Residential Real Estate Law: Defects

Maryland real estate attorney

Residential real estate comes with an inherent degree of risk, and that risk can cost you a fortune. 

Unfortunately, sellers aren’t always honest, and some withhold information about the home’s defects. Maryland law requires sellers to disclose any defects of which they are aware, and if they don’t, they may be held liable under the law.

Some of the most costly types of defects are “latent” defects, which are hidden problems or issues with the house that are not easily found in a home inspection. Section 10-702 of Maryland’s Real Property Article defines a “latent defect” as:

  • A defect that the buyer would not reasonably be expected to observe by careful visual inspection.
  • A defect that would pose a direct threat to the health or safety of the buyer or any occupant of the property.

Some common examples of latent defects are mold, termite damage, and water penetration. 

We Are Here to Help

If you are looking to develop commercial property, or find yourself facing a real estate dispute that requires legal intervention, call us today at (410) 553-5042 to schedule a consultation with an experienced Howard County or Columbia MD real estate lawyer, Fred L. Coover.

We look forward to serving you!