Real Estate

LANDing deals

From the simplest project to the most sophisticated transaction, Smith Haughey's real estate lawyers are well-positioned to meet any real estate need including acquisition, preservation, planning, land use, tax, and development. While we work diligently to resolve conflicts outside the courtroom, we are a premier litigation firm, and often litigate real estate disputes in state and federal courts.

Land owners, purchasers, contractors, engineers, title companies, planners, and governmental entities trust our team to accomplish a variety of real property matters, including:

  • purchase, sales, and exchange of real estate
    mortgage transactions
  • title examination and review
  • real estate property tax assessment, appeals, and relief
  • easement and private road agreements
  • mortgage foreclosure
    boundary line/lake access disputes
    plat and street vacation
  • condominium development and financing
  • zoning and land use
  • leasing
  • construction contracts
  • construction liens
  • environmental law
  • preservation
  • environmental assessment
  • receivership
  • financing and tax exempt financing
  • brownfield redevelopment
  • tax abatement
  • merger and acquisition
  • refinancing and restructure
  • construction lien foreclosure
  • contract disputes
  • business entity formation
  • banking and secure transactions
  • conservation easement
  • differed exchange, multi party exchange
  • Act 198 industrial facilities
  • 1031 exchanges

Our real estate attorney work with buyers and sellers of homes and other private properties - drafting and negotiating contracts, analyzing title and surveys, arranging closing dates, protecting client interests at closing, and later with property tax appeals.

Our real estate attorneys also work closely with the members of both our Construction and Renewable Energy industry teams in the areas of green building - including LEED certification - and renewable energy issues. We also work with municipalities and other governmental entities to protect public land interests.

We've gained extensive experience managing the rights and responsibilities of developers and property owners in regards to Michigan's natural resources - notably "critical dunes", lakefronts, and water access rights. Our attorneys also have access to the full resources of the firm's environmental attorneys - an invaluable asset in handling MDEQ issues.

Condominium development is another of this group's expertise. Our insight into the complex legal issues surrounding plat developments, conventional condos, site condos, and condo conversions has helped many developers achieve their goals more quickly and efficiently.

Our attorneys are relied upon to resolve landlord-tenant matters, commercial and residential, in and out of the courtroom.  We assist banks, credit unions, and other financial institutions with mortgages, construction liens, foreclosures, and bankruptcy-related issues.

Learn about our Renewable Energy Practice