Legal Column | Greater Harrisburg Association of REALTORS®

Municipal Codes and Zoning: What Every Pennsylvania REALTOR® Should Know

Few things derail a real estate transaction faster than discovering that a property's current use—or a buyer's intended use—does not comply with municipal ordinances. While title, inspections, and financing receive much of the attention during a transaction, municipal codes and zoning requirements are just as important. Understanding the basics can help REALTORS® identify potential issues early and better prepare their clients for a smooth closing… Read On

When a Seller Dies Before Closing: Does the Deal Survive?

Imagine this scenario: A seller accepts an offer on their home, inspections are completed, financing is approved, and settlement is only a few weeks away. Then, unexpectedly, the seller passes away. It is a situation no one wants to encounter, but it does happen. When it does, REALTORS® are often asked the same questions: Is the contract still valid? Read On

Who Needs to Be Included? Communication Obligations When Working with Real Estate Teams

When working through a real estate transaction, communication between agents is critical. But in today’s market, many REALTORS® no longer operate alone. Instead, they work as part of teams, often with multiple licensed agents, assistants, transaction coordinators, and administrative staff involved behind the scenes. That reality raises an increasingly common question: when one REALTOR® is dealing with another REALTOR® who is part of a team… Read On

When “I’ll Text You” Becomes Exhibit A: Digital Communications in Real Estate Disputes

Real estate professionals live in a world of constant communication. Deals move quickly, and it is often far more convenient to send a text or fire off a quick email than to formalize every exchange in a written agreement. But when a transaction goes sideways, those informal communications can quickly take center stage, sometimes as the most important evidence in a dispute… Read On

Lockboxes, Access, and Ethics: Where Convenience Meets Liability

Lockboxes are an essential tool in residential real estate. They provide efficient, flexible access for showings and help transactions move forward smoothly. But with that convenience comes risk, particularly when access is misused or granted improperly. For REALTORS®, improper use of lockboxes can lead not only to civil liability, but also potential violations of the National Association of Realtors® Code of Ethics… Read On

When “Creative” Offers Cross the Line: Legal and Ethical Risks for Pennsylvania Real Estate Agents

In today’s competitive market, real estate agents face constant pressure to make their clients’ offers more attractive. That pressure has led to increasingly “creative” strategies, limiting inspection contingencies, selecting financing terms unlikely to be satisfied, or proposing closing dates that everyone quietly expects to extend later. While these tactics may appear effective, they can expose agents to meaningful ethical and legal risks… Read On

Common Real Estate Scams — and How Pennsylvania Professionals Can Avoid Them

Real estate transactions involve large sums of money, tight timelines, and multiple parties communicating electronically. These conditions make them attractive targets for fraudsters. While scams continue to evolve, several schemes appear repeatedly in Pennsylvania transactions. Awareness and process discipline remain the best defenses. Wire Fraud / Business Email Compromise The scam: Hackers gain access to (or spoof) an email account belonging to an agent… Read On

Same Legal Concept, Very Different Risks: Residential vs. Commercial Easements in Pennsylvania

Easements are a familiar feature in Pennsylvania real estate transactions. Most REALTORS® encounter them regularly, often as utility lines, shared driveways, or access rights shown on a survey or title commitment. Because easements are so common, it is easy to assume they function similarly in all transactions. In reality, the differences between residential and commercial easements can be significant… Read On

Why Some Pennsylvania Deeds Contain Coal Notices and Others Don’t

If you’ve ever read through a Pennsylvania deed and spotted a paragraph labeled “Notice—This property may be subject to coal interests not owned by the grantor,” you may have wondered what it means. These “coal notices” appear in some deeds but not others. Understanding why can help you better advise your clients. A Legacy from Pennsylvania’s Mining Past Pennsylvania’s history with coal mining runs deep… Read On

A New Tool for REALTORS® to Help Protect Clients from Title Theft

Record Notification Services: A New Tool for REALTORS® to Help Protect Clients from Title Theft With property fraud on the rise across Pennsylvania, REALTORS® are increasingly finding themselves on the front lines of an emerging problem: deed fraud and title theft. These crimes can derail sales, complicate closings… Read On