Michigan Association of REALTORS

Reference Library

Legal

Reference Library

Updated information on SAFE Act implementation
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RESPA and Home Warranty Programs
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Primer on Short Sales
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First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit Deadline Looms
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Good News from OFIR on Seller Financing and the Mortgage Loan Originator Act
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Legal Hotline Questions & Answers

Real Estate Forms
View samples of stardard real estate forms and disclosure publications.

Legal Action Fund Information

Get the facts about the Legal Action Fund.

2010 Legal Update Video Series

The 2010 edition features MAR's Legal Counsel, Greg McClelland & Gail Anderson as they cover the hottest legal topics in this 5 part video series.

Legal Update Archives

Download complete legal update packets here.

Legal Lines Archives
Greg McClelland's Legal Lines is one of the most popular series in Michigan REALTOR magazine. Download past articles here.

Foreclosure & Short Sales Resources

Resources for REALTORS in association with NAR and MSHDA.

Foreclosure & Short Sales Article Series

This series of articles, produced by Gregory McClelland, ESQ., MAR’s legal counsel, seeks to educate readers on the complexities of foreclosures and short sales. It is presented as a progression of questions and answers centering on a hypothetical family named “The Browns.” The series is divided into three parts: home value and short sales, abandonment and commission questions, and multiple mortgages and foreclosure purchases. It is recommended that readers review the three articles in order to gain a complete understanding of the information.

Download Part 1

The first section deals with the sale of a home that will soon be foreclosed upon. It discusses the rights of the seller, the selling agent, what to do in the event of receiving a Notice of Foreclosure, and what important information will be required when approaching a selling agent about a short sale.

Download Part 2

This set of questions concerns the concept of abandonment. It seeks to answer what abandonment entails, and how it will affect the selling process. The article also deals with the steps involved in a short sale, including the responsibilities and rights of the mortgage holder, the bank, potential buyers, and the selling agent.

Download Part 3

The concluding section addresses questions about multiple mortgages. It also deals with the responsibilities and rights of the buyer’s agent, rules of foreclosure purchasing agreements, seller disclosure statements, and insurance questions.

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