20 topics covered across all 50 states and DC. Pick a topic to see your state's rules.
Montana 1031 like-kind exchanges defer capital gains tax on real-estate sales when proceeds reinvest in similar property — strict 45/180-day deadlines + qualified intermediary required.
See all 51 jurisdictions →Alabama adverse possession requires 20 years (10 with color of title or paid taxes) of continuous, open, hostile, exclusive, and notorious possession.
See all 51 jurisdictions →Illinois property boundary disputes are resolved through surveys, deeds, adverse possession, acquiescence, or boundary-line agreements — but they're often more about neighbors than law.
See all 51 jurisdictions →Massachusetts construction defect claims are governed by statutes of repose (typically 6-15 years from substantial completion), pre-suit notice requirements, and warranty rules — but homeowners have real remedies if they act quickly.
See all 51 jurisdictions →Oregon earnest money deposits: 1-3% typical. The deposit shows good faith and gives the buyer skin in the game; held in escrow until closing or contract termination.
See all 51 jurisdictions →Louisiana easements give one party the right to use another's land for a specific purpose — utilities, access, drainage, conservation. Created by deed, prescription, necessity, or implication.
See all 51 jurisdictions →Ohio fair housing law — federal Fair Housing Act + state law — protects against discrimination in renting + buying based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, familial status, and (state-dependent) sexual orientation, source of income, etc.
See all 51 jurisdictions →Ohio foreclosure: Judicial. Typical timeline: 180-220 days.
See all 51 jurisdictions →Virginia HOAs are governed by recorded covenants/declarations and Virginia Property Owners' Association Act . Disputes commonly involve assessments, architectural-control decisions, rule enforcement, and board governance.
See all 51 jurisdictions →Montana has TWO different homestead exemptions: one for property taxes and a separate one that protects equity from creditors.
See all 51 jurisdictions →Rhode Island eviction (non-payment): 5-day demand for rent. Typical timeline: 30-45 days. Middle of the road posture overall.
See all 51 jurisdictions →District of Columbia lis pendens — recorded notice of pending litigation affecting real property — clouds title and stops sales until resolved. Powerful but limited to specific claims about the property itself.
See all 51 jurisdictions →Rhode Island contractors and suppliers can secure payment with a mechanic's lien — but the deadlines are short (typically 60-120 days from work / supply) and the rules are unforgiving.
See all 51 jurisdictions →Iowa property management disputes — between owners + managers, managers + tenants — center on agency authority, fee disputes, accounting, security deposits, and licensing requirements.
See all 51 jurisdictions →Michigan property-tax appeals are filed with Local Board of Review. Deadline: March (Board of Review); July 31 (Tax Tribunal).
See all 51 jurisdictions →Ohio quiet-title actions ask the court to definitively resolve title disputes — establishing one party as the rightful owner against all other claimants.
See all 51 jurisdictions →Minnesota real-estate fraud — non-disclosure of defects, title fraud, mortgage fraud, deed fraud — has multiple legal remedies including rescission, damages, treble damages under consumer protection laws.
See all 51 jurisdictions →Nevada security deposit: max 3 months rent. Return deadline: 30 days.
See all 51 jurisdictions →Illinois title insurance protects buyers and lenders from financial loss due to title defects, liens, fraud, or boundary disputes that existed before the policy date.
See all 51 jurisdictions →Nevada zoning and land-use disputes typically involve municipal zoning boards, planning commissions, and (when needed) state courts.
See all 51 jurisdictions →These guides are for general information only and do not constitute legal advice. Laws change and outcomes depend on your specific situation — talk to a licensed attorney before acting on anything you read here.