Real Estate Law
A real estate transaction can shape your future – positively or negatively. It’s a huge purchase that warrants legal advice. Our experienced team can guide you through a variety of personal and commercial real estate actions, including:
- Real estate transactions
- Land use and Zoning law
- Real Estate Conservatorship
- State and County Redevelopment Incentives
- Landlord and Tenant
- Seller Disclosure Disputes
- Property Acquisition and Redevelopment
- Unfair Trade Practices
- Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act
Every property is unique – and so are our client’s needs. Wakefield Law Group, PC is dedicated to protecting your interests and meeting your real estate goals.
Contact us for your free 15-minute consultation.
ACT 135 CONSERVATORSHIPS
If you have not heard the term “Conservatorship” used in a real estate context, it describes a situation in which a nonprofit or neighbor of a blighted property fitting certain statutory criteria may “take over” the property. A conservator cures the blight and returns the property to productive use or otherwise proceeds with a court approved plan to minimize the negative effects of the property on the neighborhood or business district. Wakefield Law Group handles these cases for organizations whose focus is strictly on conservatorships as well as for individuals who want to do right by their neighbors and earn conservatorship fees to compensate them for their willingness to get involved and revitalize their communities. This can be an excellent strategy for building a real estate portfolio as a new investor, or for protecting the value of your existing portfolio from the negative effects of nearby undesirable properties. Many conservators face hardships due to improper service and lack of attention to detail by their counsel. Jeannie and Kathryn are laser focused on moving Act 135 Petitions from filing to hearing date by complying with all of the service requirements from the beginning. Delays caused by other law firms visit upon their clients debt service carrying costs and, often times, costly quiet title actions that are required to pull equity out of post-plan Conservator owned properties. Many conservators and developers are turning to Wakefield Law Group because of our attention to detail and respect for the sanctity of title required to leverage rehabbed properties without additional legal costs.
LANDLORD-TENANT
Attorney Wakefield has been representing commercial and residential landlords and tenants for many years and has been a landlord in Pittsburgh’s East End for 22 years. Having spent 3 years in-house handling collection and damages lawsuits for Pittsburgh’s largest property management firm, Kathryn has negotiated amicable payment agreements, sued tenants for property damage in all Allegheny County courts and can garnish wages for judgments based on tenant damage to real property. Jeannie Branthoover, Paralegal, also a former landlord, assists clients with lease drafting to avoid pitfalls and protect the interests of business tenants and landlords in complex buildout scenarios. As experienced landlords, we are adept at drafting commercial and residential leases. We also represent a number of affordable housing/LIHTC funded housing companies and are familiar with the heightened legal standards landlords receiving funds of this nature must observe.
CONSUMER REAL ESTATE LITIGATION
Wakefield Law Group handles Seller Disclosure Fraud/Realtor Liability cases, Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Cases (relating to landlord/tenant, real estate agent or contractor disputes), Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act and other real estate related litigation. We typically represent plaintiffs, but also handle defense of cases not claimed on insurance. We also represent commercial and residential property owners in assessment appeals.
