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An important part of any home purchase is obtaining a title insurance policy on the property. A title insurance policy assures you and your lender that the property is “free and clear” of any other interests. This means that no one else may claim any rights to your property that would impair your ability to use and enjoy the property. To obtain a mortgage for a home purchase, lenders require a title insurance policy. Title insurance applies to any property you own—a condominium, a townhouse, a single-family home, or commercial property. Again, the purpose of the policy is to protect… read more »

Congratulations to Attorney Rebecca Shanaman for joining the Downtown York Rotary! Attorney Rebecca Shanaman is the Chair of the CGA Real Estate Group and focuses her practice on real estate law and business law. Originally from Chicago, Rebecca joined CGA in 2016 and brought over a decade of experience with her to strengthen our departments. Rebecca is experienced in negotiating and closing sophisticated business and commercial real estate acquisitions and sales. She is skilled at negotiating and drafting contracts, including purchase and sale agreements, commercial leases, asset purchase agreements, solar leases, and multi-member operating agreements. Rebecca has significant experience in… read more »

Solar energy generation is here in Pennsylvania, and it is growing. Currently, developers in PA have over 370 solar projects in process, requiring 60,000 to 80,000 acres of land for solar generation. The Commonwealth’s PULSE program, recently announced as part of Governor Wolf’s GreenGov initiative to advance renewable power, is the largest solar commitment by any government in the U.S. to date and proposes to generate fifty percent of the State Government’s electricity needs. The PULSE ProgramThe PULSE program will be powered by seven solar arrays constructed in six central PA counties including York and Adams Counties. York and Adams Counties… read more »

Virtual Leadership Luncheon: Commercial Leasing Overview: Exploring Overlooked Business Risks March 25, 2021 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM EDT Click Here to Register! When you sign a commercial lease, do you really know what you’re signing? In this session, Attorneys Rebecca Shanaman and Liliana Fisher review the various structures of commercial leases, common lease terms, risks to avoid and points of negotiation. No matter what the stage of the leasing journey you’re in, it is important to understand the major elements of a lease agreement. Join us virtually for this Leadership Luncheon presented by CGA Law Firm and it’s experienced team of Real… read more »

Buying a home is an exciting but often intimidating experience for people, especially for first-time buyers. People have a lot of questions about the process. One question is, “do I need an attorney?”. While the roles of the realtor and bank in a residential real estate transaction are obvious, the role of an attorney may be less so. But in real estate closings, as in all cases, the role of the attorney is to be an advocate for his or her client.  One very important reason to hire an attorney when buying a home has to do with the title… read more »

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to adversely impact the economy, Governor Tom Wolf signed an executive order extending the moratorium on foreclosures and evictions in Pennsylvania. As a result, banks cannot process foreclosures and landlords cannot process evictions in Pennsylvania for another two months. This means that no Pennsylvania resident will be removed from their home due to an eviction or foreclosure until July 10, 2020. It is important to note that unless a homeowner has made an agreement with their mortgage lender or a renter has made an agreement with their landlord to the contrary, mortgage payments and rental… read more »

Today (March 18, 2020), the Pennsylvania Supreme Court issued a per curiam Opinion which closes all Pennsylvania courts to the public from March 19, 2020 until at least April 3, 2020.   Of particular note to both Landlords and Tenants is the fact that the Court will not entertain evictions or ejectments until at least April 3, 2020. The Court states in the Order that it is aware that the economic consequences of COVID-19 are likely to affect things such as rent payments and mortgage-loan payments.  A loss of income is likely whether under self-imposed quarantine or for those who may be carrying… read more »

Article by: Rebecca Shanaman, Esquire Buying a home can be an intimidating experience for people, especially for first-time buyers. People have a lot of questions about the process. One question is, “do I need an attorney?”. While the role of the realtor and bank in a residential real estate transaction are obvious, the role of an attorney may be less so. But in real estate closings, as in all cases, the role of the attorney is to be an advocate for his or her client. One very important reason to hire an attorney when buying a home has to do… read more »