Investing in real estate often requires looking beyond standard transactions to evaluate unique property rights. A scenario that occasionally arises involves a landowner who wants to sell their land but insists on carving out a “life estate” for a family member—such as a brother living on the property in a mobile home. The buyer purchases […]
Category: Real Estate Law
Fee Simple Determinable Explained
When transferring real estate in Texas, most transactions involve conveying full, unrestricted ownership known as fee simple absolute. However, property owners sometimes want to place strict conditions on how their land can be used long after the deed is signed. One of the most rigid legal mechanisms used to accomplish this is a fee simple […]
How Life Estates Work
When selling real estate in Texas, landowners occasionally face a difficult dilemma: they want to sell their land to capitalize on its value, but they also have family members currently occupying a portion of the property. For instance, a potential new client might want to sell a plot of land but has relatives living there […]
Texas Cops Can Now Arrest Squatters
For years, the word “squatter” has struck absolute terror into the hearts of Texas property owners. Historically, if an unauthorized occupant sneaked into a vacant residential home, changed the locks, and managed to get a utility bill registered in their name, local police would throw their hands up and declare it a “civil issue.” The […]
The 2026 Tax Cliff Is Coming: Is Your Estate Protected?
For the past several years, estate planning attorneys and financial advisors have been warning clients about the impending “tax cliff.” The sunset provisions of previous tax legislation meant that the unified gift and estate tax exemption was scheduled to slash roughly in half. However, new legislative updates for 2026 have completely shifted the landscape. If […]
Outrageous Fines Against Texas Landlords
If you own or manage single-family rental properties across the state of Texas, you know that keeping every property in perfect condition 365 days a year is a monumental task. Sometimes, despite your best efforts, things slip through the cracks. A tenant forgets to mow the lawn, an inoperable vehicle is left in the driveway, […]
Deeds Without Warranty vs. Quitclaim Deeds
When you want to quickly transfer a piece of property perhaps to a family member or out of a business entity without the hassle of a formal title search, you might be tempted to use what many mistakenly call a “quick deed.” In Texas real estate, this typically refers to a quitclaim deed. However, real […]
Why Commercial Evictions are Rare in TX
If you own an office building or a retail strip center in Texas and a tenant stops paying rent, your first instinct might be to file a formal eviction lawsuit. However, seasoned commercial landlords and their attorneys often take a much more direct route. In the world of Texas commercial real estate, the formal eviction […]
Big Changes to Texas Eviction Laws in 2026
The legal landscape for Texas landlords and tenants has undergone a significant transformation this year. With the 2026 updates to Texas Property Code Chapter 24, the rules governing the eviction process have been streamlined, though not without controversy. From digital notices to “shortcut” judgments, these changes affect everything from how a case is filed to […]
Title Insurance vs. Casualty Insurance
When purchasing a home in Texas, you will encounter various types of insurance requirements. Two of the most common and most frequently confused are title insurance and casualty insurance (often called homeowner’s insurance). While both provide financial protection, they operate on entirely different timelines and cover vastly different risks. Understanding these differences is crucial for […]