Real Estate is an important segment of Western Colorado’s economy. Whether it is a scenic mountain ranch, a home on the ski slopes, a residential subdivision, or investment property, experienced legal representation is essential to avoiding pitfalls and maximizing a property’s value. Karp Neu Hanlon offers a wide array of legal services to individual property owners, ranchers, government entities and the real estate development industry.
Real Estate Acquisitions
A good real estate investment begins with a well managed property acquisition. Karp Neu Hanlon specializes in representing buyers of real estate by structuring contractual relationships and undertaking appropriate due diligence.
The real estate contract guides what is for most persons the most expensive purchase of their lives. Our attorneys are skilled at drafting agreements for acquisitions large and small. This work spans the spectrum of drafting a real estate contract for a “for sale by owner” property to assisting a developer in negotiating agreements for a multi-phase acquisition. We also prepare deeds, financing documents, post-closing memoranda, and other agreements related to buying and selling real estate.
Due diligence is the process of vetting a property before purchase to identify potential problems and determine whether the real estate can accomplish the client’s goals. Our attorneys work closely with other real estate professionals – brokers, surveyors, planners, architects, and engineers – to help a buyer understand the financial, legal, regulatory, and development aspects of the property. We work to make deals happen by successfully resolving issues from affordable housing and boundary encroachments to water rights and zoning compliance.
Examples of Karp Neu Hanlon’s work on real estate acquisitions include:
- Working with an investment buyer to determine the state of land use entitlements.
- Working with a ranch buyer to acquire water rights for irrigating pastures.
- Working with a governmental entity to acquire substantial acreage to facilitate the enlargement of a reservoir.
- Working with a developer to acquire land to be subdivided for a residential development.
- Working with an oil and gas exploration company to acquire land and water rights.
- Working with a local community to acquire land to undertake a public/private partnership to provide commercial, residential and recreational amenities.
Real Estate Finance
Code Enforcement and Variances
Occasionally, a landowner finds that an existing use of property is at odds with local rules and regulations. Other times, a land owner desires to modify the existing use of his or her property in a way that does not quite conform with local codes. Karp Neu Hanlon works with landowners to navigate the regulatory process to obtain solutions that achieve the client’s goals. Our attorneys are also experienced in obtaining administrative waivers and practicing before municipal and county boards of adjustment.
Resort Development
Foreclosures
Common Interest Communities
Agricultural Tax Status
Real Estate Litigation
Sometimes, the best efforts of a client and attorney cannot resolve a real estate dispute without litigation. Karp Neu Hanlon has broad experience in dealing with real estate issues before the courts, including representing clients in the trial courts and on appeal.
Real estate litigation can take many shapes. Karp Neu Hanlon has successfully worked with clients on wide ranging litigation such as:
- Litigating a trespass case against a neighbor who located a commercial operation on the client’s property.
- Litigating a quiet title case against a prior owner who claimed an interest in the property.
- Litigating the right to use easements across property and restrictions on holders of easements who seek to expand their scope of use.
- Litigating the efficacy of deed restrictions imposed by a municipal government.
- Litigating the breach of a deed warranty for failure to properly subdivide property.
- Litigating breach of lease and evictions.
Examples of Real Estate Clients
- Colorado ski areas
- Government entities acquiring land for public projects
- Golf course developers
- Residential subdivision developers
- Big box retail developers
- Oil and gas exploration companies
