Law Offices of Robert A. Goldman, lawyers in Pittsburgh, PA, Pennsylvania

Land Installment Contracts

A land installment contract, also known as a contract for deed, is a financing mechanism where title to real property remains in the seller until the buyer has paid the sale price of the property in full. The buyer is required to pay the sale price in installments over a period of years.More...

Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act FIRPTA

In the year 1980, Congress enacted the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act (FIRPTA). The law can be found at 26 U.S.C.S. § 1445. Briefly stated, the law provides that if a seller of real property is a "foreign person," the buyer must withhold a tax equal to 10% of the gross purchase price, unless an exemption applies under the law. More...

Residential Real Estate Contracts

When buying or selling real estate, a contract must be drawn up between the buyer and the seller. In order to satisfy the requirements of the Statute of Frauds, the contract must be in writing and signed by the parties. Ordinarily, the contract consists of a blank form that is provided by the seller's broker, but an attorney may also draw up the contract. Other times, the seller will draft the contract himself or herself. The responsibility for drafting the contract may vary from one location to the next, depending on local custom and statutes.More...

Trees -- Damage to or Destruction of by Persons Other than the Property Owner

A tree is owned by the property owner on whose property the trunk of the tree sits. When a property owner has an interest in a tree, the property owner has the right to recover in the event the tree is damaged or destroyed by another. More...

Insuring Your Real Estate against Liability

A homeowner, a landlord, or a tenant may be subject to liability if someone is injured on the premises. If there is no insurance, the damages will have to be paid out of pocket. Various types of insurance policies can shift liability from the property owner to an insurance company in exchange for the payment of premiums.More...