Real Estate

Kennedy Luce acts as legal counsel to individuals and families for the purchase, sale and refinance of residential real estate in Connecticut. This includes family homes, beach houses, apartments, condominiums and country cottages. For new construction and renovations, we assist in negotiation with designers, architects and other professionals, as well as permitting. Additionally, the firm acts as an agent to provide title insurance which is usually required in land transactions.

We also offer commercial real estate services to developers, owners, investors, purchasers, sellers, landlords and tenants. We have handled matters involving residential subdivisions, office buildings, apartment complexes, industrial facilities, shopping centers, restaurants, and retail businesses. This includes the formulation of entities to develop, hold and operate said properties. Our clients appreciate that we are also lawyers experienced in construction law when it comes to the negotiation of agreements involving construction contractors, architects and other professionals.

If our clients become parties in real estate litigation we represent them in all trial and arbitration venues. We have tried cases in Connecticut, New York, and federal courts, as well as in arbitration forums such as American Arbitration Association.

We aim to resolve disputes to our client's satisfaction and as quickly and cost-effectively as possible. There are multiple ways to resolve a dispute. With each client's particular circumstances, we seek to create a strategy to ensure our clients achieve the best possible settlement. It is essential that we fully understand their requirements from the outset, which in some cases may involve making site visits to the property.

 

PROPERTY TAX APPEALS

Kennedy Luce provides both advice on property tax issues and representation in property tax appeals. The appeals process begins at the local level at a board of assessment appeals, then can be appealed further to superior court. We help guide you along the way to ensure that we maximize any reduction.

 

ZONING ISSUES

Zoning and land use regulations govern all residential property owners. These regulations differ from town to town but in general they control the types of activities which are permitted within the zone in which the property is located. Violations of regulations are enforced by zoning or wetlands officials. We have extensive experience in all areas of regulation compliance, petitions to change regulations, violations citations and appeals to the superior and appellate courts of Connecticut when local decisions are adverse to clients.

 

PRIMARY AREAS WE HANDLE

Acquisitions and Dispositions

Development Projects

Financing, including SBA loans

Construction Contracts

Joint Ventures

Leasing

Distressed Real Estate

Zoning, Environmental and Wetland

Debt Management Issues

Like-Kind Exchange Transactions

RECENT REPRESENTATIVE WORK

Represented hundreds of individuals in purchase, sale or refinance of residential properties.

Represented a real estate developer in acquisition of $10,000,000.00 apartment building.

Structured a foreign investment in a regional real estate holding company.

Represented a developer in the acquisition of a historic downtown Hartford mixed-use building.

Represented an investor on issues surrounding his investment position in a real estate private equity fund.

Represented the owner of a large New York City apartment building in a refinance transaction.

Represented the purchaser/developer of a large New York City mixed-use development.

Represented a landowner in evaluating a property tax appeal, resulting in a 30% reduction in tax bill.

Appeal of administrative decisions concerning zoning and land use issues.