Real Estate & Land Use Law

Our experienced team of legal professionals can assist you in navigating subdivision, zoning, and other land use control ordinances with to obtain approval from government agencies.

State and local agencies have enacted a myriad of regulations pertaining to the utilization, protection, restoration, and preservation of shorelines. Permit applications must be carefully crafted to comply with agency guidelines and rules.

Issues often arise between adjacent land owners regarding existing fence lines and structures along the record boundary line. Our office can assist in executing boundary line adjustments, boundary line settlement agreements, and quiet title actions to resolve these types of disputes in the most cost-effective way.

In any real estate transaction, it is important to take necessary steps to ensure clear title passes from buyer to seller. Unfortunately, these precautions are not always observed, resulting in “clouded title.” This can cause severe headaches when you try to refinance or sell your property. Our office works closely with title companies, national lenders, and governmental entities to ensure your ownership rights are secure.

Timber trespass means unlawfully entering onto another’s land and removing standing trees. Washington has strong laws to deter against this practice. Being aware of these laws can better equip you to protect timber and ornamental vegetation on your property. If you are planning to harvest timber near a boundary line, consult with our legal team to ensure you will not incur liability under Washington’s timber trespass statute. We can assist by drafting the appropriate easements, licenses, or other written agreements to minimize legal risks associated with removing timber.

If you are considering buying or selling real estate, financing can be a major obstacle to achieving your goals. Our firm can simplify this process by drafting appropriate private party financing documents, servicing installment purchase contracts, or by referring you to one of the many local institutional lenders to obtain the capital you need to realize your investments.

Litigation is asserting or defending a legal claim in a court of law. One of our firm’s core principles is providing practical representation at efficient cost. We pride ourselves in finding creative ways to avoid costly litigation. However, if you find yourself mired in a heated court battle, having competent legal counsel who will zealously advocate your claim in court is of supreme importance.

If your property is found to be contaminated, civil penalties and cleanup costs can quickly mount up. Navigating the complex federal and state regulations to remediate hazardous waste on your property can be a daunting endeavor. Knowing your rights under the law, and securing contribution from previous owners or 3^rd parties, can help ease the financial strain of associated with environmental cleanup. Our office can advise you through this process, and help you restore your property in the most efficient, cost effective way possible.

A quiet title action is a lawsuit for the court to determine legal ownership of land. A quiet title action may be necessary in a variety of contexts: to help determine your rights to an easement, ownership of disputed land, or even to extinguish a mortgage paid off years ago, but which continues to limit your ownership of your property.  If someone asserts they have an ownership interest in your land, you can bring an action to “quiet title” and have the respective ownership rights officially adjudicated in a court of law.

Washington’s constitution states that “no private property shall be taken or damaged for public or private use without just compensation having been first made.” Inverse condemnation is a term used to describe an action by a governmental entity which takes or damages privately owned land without paying just compensation to the landowner. Mr. Goldstein has argued before the Washington Supreme Court on the issue of inverse condemnation and prevailed. See Dickgieser v. State, a full citation is available under our ‘Published Works’ page.

Negotiating the right deal to fit your needs, and bank account, requires meticulous attention to detail and careful drafting. Our firm excels in drafting contracts.  Our experienced legal team ensures your rights are adequately represented, and the purchase or sale of your property runs smoothly.

Our office is well versed in drafting, interpreting, and enforcing a variety of commercial and residential leases. Lease provisions must be carefully drafted to account for contingencies, provide flexibility, and comply with applicable landlord-tenant laws.

We have a robust practice centered around advising and assisting landlords and property managers to maximize returns on your rental property. Whether you are a large-scale property management firm, or casual real estate investor looking to secure steady reliable rental income, our firm provides legal guidance regarding your rights and duties that govern the landlord-tenant relationship.

Real Estate Brokers are our friends, and we are honored to receive many referrals from them. We help their transactions close and resolve disputes, most of the time without litigation.

Subdivisions, Condominiums, and Homeowner Associations are governed by specific laws unique to each development. We assist in drafting and enforcing Covenants which govern allowed uses within the subdivision, condo, or HOA. We also assist managers of HOAs and Condo Associations in assessing and collecting unpaid dues. We also represent individual homeowners within HOA and Condo Associations who seek clarification or relief from charges improperly levied against them by their HOA or Condo Association.