Tuesday, July 10, 2018

The Difference between Appurtenant Easements and Easements in Gross


For nearly two decades, Henrietta Feldman has been practicing real estate law. Originally from Massachusetts, Henrietta Feldman now leads her own law practice in Palm Beach, Florida, and handles all aspects of residential and commercial real estate transactions. 

One issue facing owners of both residential and commercial properties is an easement. Easements affect property owners’ rights by allowing someone to go onto another person’s land without having an interest in owning said property. In Florida, two types of easements exist: easement in gross and appurtenant easements.

Appurtenant easements are tied to a particular property instead of being tied to a party or person. This means the easement continues benefiting the parcel of land regardless of who owns it. The land benefiting from the easement is called the dominant estate, while the land that is affected by the easement is known as the servient estate.

Normally, this type of easement lasts forever unless the owners of both involved properties agree to cancel the easement. This agreement must be made in writing. 

Easements in gross are granted to individuals and business entities. Since these easements are not tied to specific parcels of land, the easement does not transfer to new owners when a property is sold. Further, the easement cannot be inherited, nor can it be sold to another individual.

Wednesday, June 20, 2018

An Overview of Landlord Harassment


Attorney Henrietta Feldman has been practicing real estate law for nearly 20 years. Originally licensed in Massachusetts, she has maintained her own law office in Florida since 2015. Henrietta Feldman’s responsibilities include negotiating sale agreements and loan agreements, and handling other real estate issues.

One of the issues that some tenants may face is harassment from a landlord. When a person rents property, they have a right to peaceful enjoyment of their rental unit. When landlords disrupt this enjoyment and attempt to intimidate or pressure a tenant into leaving their rental unit, they are committing harassment. 

Landlords may do this to force a rent-controlled tenant to move or respond to tenant complaints, or because they don’t agree with the tenant belonging to a particular gender, religion, or other group of people. Regardless of the reason, harassment from a landlord is illegal.

A variety of behaviors constitute landlord harassment. These include entering a unit without giving the tenant proper notice or refusing to perform maintenance on the unit. Utilities may also be shut off to the tenant’s unit, or tenants may suddenly be cut off from certain amenities. More extreme examples of harassment include removing a tenant’s possessions, changing the locks on common area doors or unit doors, and raising rent without notice.

Even if a tenant encounters a behavior that is an example of landlord harassment, it is not considered harassment unless the behavior continues. Isolate incidents do not constitute landlord harassment.

Thursday, June 14, 2018

How to Volunteer with the Salvation Army of West Palm Beach


Henrietta Feldman, a Palm Beach, Florida, real estate attorney, is an avid supporter of the Salvation Army’s efforts to improve lives in her community by providing help to underprivileged people, along with implementing programs to meet specific local needs such as disaster relief. Thanks to contributions of finances and time by donors and volunteers like Henrietta Feldman, the Salvation Army assists more than 6,000 families in Palm Beach County each year. 

From working in one of the Salvation Army’s thrift stores to collecting donations during the holiday season, there are abundant opportunities for volunteers in Palm Beach County, who may choose to donate their time in groups or as individuals on specific tasks. Opportunities range from working with disaster relief efforts to collecting donations at storefronts during the holiday season. 

Volunteers and donors can create profiles and submit applications online, as well as see exactly how much help is needed for upcoming events. To learn more about volunteering with the Salvation Army of Palm Beach County, visit salvationarmyflorida.org/westpalmbeach/volunteer.

Thursday, May 17, 2018

Legal Protections for Escrow Deposits in Florida


After practicing real estate law in Boston for nearly 10 years, attorney Henrietta Feldman opened her own law office in Palm Beach, Florida. Henrietta Feldman provides legal counsel and services to clients involved in commercial and residential real estate transactions and disputes. 

During real estate transactions, buyers can demonstrate their interest in a property by putting down a small deposit. In Florida, this deposit is generally placed in an escrow account and managed by a third-party escrow agent. Only real estate agents licensed in the state of Florida can act as escrow agents. If the buyer closes the deal, the amount in escrow is applied to the final purchase price. 

However, if the sale doesn’t happen, the deposit must remain in escrow until approved for release by both parties. Though funds are usually returned to the buyer, there are certain situations where the seller is entitled to the escrow amount. This could include breaches of contract or a lapsed deadline. Deposit disputes can be resolved in several ways. Some common routes are arbitration, mediation, or civil actions.

Tuesday, May 8, 2018

Student Success at the Boston University School of Law


Real estate attorney Henrietta Feldman practices law at her own firm in Palm Beach, Florida. Before that, Henrietta “Hattie” Feldman practiced in Boston, where she earned her law degree.

Since 1872, the Boston University School of Law has been providing a top-tier education to its students in a range of different areas of law. U.S. News and World Report ranked BU Law at number 22 of the best law schools in the nation, and the faculty was ranked third in a 2017 Princeton Review report. 

BU Law was ranked at number 16 by a Law School Transparency report for its graduates’ ability to achieve work within the field of law. A full 91 percent of the school’s graduates passed the bar in New York or Massachusetts on the first attempt in 2015. 

BU Law offers its students 24 options for clinics and externships along with 21 opportunities to study internationally. Every year, students are invited to participate in the Spring Break Pro Bono Service Trip, in which they have an opportunity to apply their skills and gain real-world experience by helping people in need. 

Last year’s spring break trip sent students to Puerto Rico to help people with housing problems after the damage of Hurricane Maria. Students also visited Louisiana to provide legal support to the Southeast Immigrant Freedom Initiative.

Monday, April 23, 2018

Palm Beach County’s Luxury Real Estate Market


Henrietta Feldman has been practicing real estate law since 1999. After working for several years in Boston, Henrietta “Hattie” Feldman recently moved her practice to Palm Beach, Florida. 

Palm Beach is a picturesque town with great weather, beaches, and golf courses, making it a popular region for high-end real estate. The area is known for its luxurious homes, but the wider Palm Beach County real estate climate is heating up. 

In recent months, Palm Beach County has seen single-family homes and condos selling for $8 million to $70 million. The Bristol is a condo development on West Palm Beach that is known as the most expensive condo development ever constructed, with each unit valued at around $10 million. The complex will have 69 units with three to five bedrooms in each condo. 

Another new addition to the luxury condo boom in Palm Beach County is under construction on South Ocean Boulevard. This luxury complex will include a 24-hour concierge, private security, and a private jet airline provider for quick and convenient transportation.

Monday, January 22, 2018

Two Attractive Real Estate Markets in Florida for 2018


Henrietta Feldman is an experienced real estate attorney in Palm Beach, Florida. As the owner of her own law firm, Henrietta Feldman takes on clients dealing with matters of commercial and residential real estate law in both Florida and Massachusetts.

In 2017, Trulia listed the 10 most active real estate markets in the United States, with each of the top three positions going to Florida. In 2018, the real estate forecast calls for even more action throughout the state. Deltona and Lakeland are particularly interesting markets.

Residential properties in Deltona, Florida, have an average listing of $275,050, or about $159,000 within the city limits. However, industry insiders expect to see the market change with a 5.5 percent increase in sales and a price growth rate of 6 percent. Deltona’s location is a key selling point, as the city is just 30 minutes from both Orlando and Daytona Beach.

Lakeland also provides investors and homebuyers with a prime location. Located 40 minutes east of Tampa and about an hour’s drive from Orlando, Lakeland is an ideal location for commuters who are interested in cutting costs. Homes in the greater Lakeland area typically sell for about $225,000, though 2018 is expected to bring sales and price growth rates of 3 and 7 percent, respectively.