Gary Singer
Board-certified real estate lawyer Gary Singer writes about industry legal matters and the housing market. To ask him a question, email him at gary@garysingerlaw.com, or go to SunSentinel.com/askpro.
All Stories
![A reader asks real estate lawyer Gary Singer: My tenant added a water filter to the plumbing, resulting in a leak that damaged the neighbor's property. Who should pay for repairs? A reader asks real estate lawyer Gary Singer: My tenant added a water filter to the plumbing, resulting in a leak that damaged the neighbor's property. Who should pay for repairs?](https://www.sun-sentinel.com/wp-content/uploads/migration/2020/01/23/EIQR5LX7YJHAZECBDS3YFH7JNY.jpg?w=135)
Ask a real estate pro: Am I responsible for water damage caused by tenant?
A reader asks real estate lawyer Gary Singer: My tenant added a water filter to the plumbing, resulting in a leak that damaged the neighbor's property. Who should pay for...
![A reader asks real estate lawyer Gary Singer: How can I structure a home purchase using my inheritance and a mortgage with my wife while keeping the inheritance outside of our marital property? A reader asks real estate lawyer Gary Singer: How can I structure a home purchase using my inheritance and a mortgage with my wife while keeping the inheritance outside of our marital property?](https://www.sun-sentinel.com/wp-content/uploads/migration/2019/09/05/HGTNQLM57VDGPH6V4Q3SXOZ7WE.jpg?w=135)
Ask a real estate pro: How can I structure buying a home while keeping my inheritance value outside of our marital property?
A reader asks real estate lawyer Gary Singer: How can I structure a home purchase using my inheritance and a mortgage with my wife while keeping the inheritance outside of...
![A reader asks real estate lawyer Gary Singer: The city says the enclosed patio on the house I bought two years ago is an "unpermitted structure" that must be removed or I have to pay fines. What can I do? A reader asks real estate lawyer Gary Singer: The city says the enclosed patio on the house I bought two years ago is an "unpermitted structure" that must be removed or I have to pay fines. What can I do?](https://www.sun-sentinel.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/TFL-WRE0049450942.jpg?w=59)
Ask a real estate pro: ‘Unpermitted structure’ derailed home repair grant. What do I do now?
A reader asks real estate lawyer Gary Singer: The city says the enclosed patio on the house I bought two years ago is an "unpermitted structure" that must be removed...
![A reader asks real estate lawyer Gary Singer: Can the city enforce a fine for code violation issued 12 years after construction? A reader asks real estate lawyer Gary Singer: Can the city enforce a fine for code violation issued 12 years after construction?](https://www.sun-sentinel.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/TFL-WRE0049450942.jpg?w=59)
Ask a real estate pro: After 12 years, can I be fined for a code violation?
A reader asks real estate lawyer Gary Singer: Can the city enforce a fine for code violation issued 12 years after construction?
![A reader asks real estate lawyer Gary Singer: My neighbor's dead tree could fall on my house. How would the financial liability play out between us, them, and our respective insurance companies? A reader asks real estate lawyer Gary Singer: My neighbor's dead tree could fall on my house. How would the financial liability play out between us, them, and our respective insurance companies?](https://www.sun-sentinel.com/wp-content/uploads/migration/2020/05/15/YNLSYQYXLC64P63P3O4C2JU2VM.jpg?w=135)
Ask a real estate pro: What’s the financial liability for neighbor’s dead tree?
A reader asks real estate lawyer Gary Singer: My neighbor's dead tree could fall on my house. How would the financial liability play out between us, them, and our respective...
![A reader asks real estate lawyer Gary Singer: Shortly before the scheduled closing on our new home, one of the sellers died unexpectedly. What can we do next? A reader asks real estate lawyer Gary Singer: Shortly before the scheduled closing on our new home, one of the sellers died unexpectedly. What can we do next?](https://www.sun-sentinel.com/wp-content/uploads/migration/2017/10/04/GPUUAQJUSVGIDNJGDEQH3QQKDI.jpg?w=135)
Ask a real estate pro: Seller died days before closing. What can we do next?
A reader asks real estate lawyer Gary Singer: Shortly before the scheduled closing on our new home, one of the sellers died unexpectedly. What can we do next?
![A reader asks real estate lawyer Gary Singer: What advice can you offer on making a final mortgage payment, good procedures to follow, and if there’s a simple, inexpensive way to put the condo in both our names? A reader asks real estate lawyer Gary Singer: What advice can you offer on making a final mortgage payment, good procedures to follow, and if there’s a simple, inexpensive way to put the condo in both our names?](https://www.sun-sentinel.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/write-a-check.webp?w=140)
Ask a real estate pro: What do I need to know before making final mortgage payment?
A reader asks real estate lawyer Gary Singer: What advice can you offer on making a final mortgage payment, good procedures to follow, and if there’s a simple, inexpensive way...
![A reader asks real estate lawyer Gary Singer: A leak from a roof drain needs to be repaired in the wall between the two homes in our duplex. Do I have to pay for all of the repairs myself? A reader asks real estate lawyer Gary Singer: A leak from a roof drain needs to be repaired in the wall between the two homes in our duplex. Do I have to pay for all of the repairs myself?](https://www.sun-sentinel.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/APphoto_On-The-Money-NerdWallet-Infinite-Banking-Concept.jpg?w=132)
Ask a real estate pro: Do I have to pay to repair shared wall in a duplex?
A reader asks real estate lawyer Gary Singer: A leak from a roof drain needs to be repaired in the wall between the two homes in our duplex. Do I...
![A reader asks real estate lawyer Gary Singer: Can the HOA force us to change the color of our house after approving it? A reader asks real estate lawyer Gary Singer: Can the HOA force us to change the color of our house after approving it?](https://www.sun-sentinel.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/TFL-gary-singer-paint-colors.jpg?w=120)
Ask a real estate pro: Can HOA change rules about paint color for our house?
A reader asks real estate lawyer Gary Singer: Can the HOA force us to change the color of our house after approving it?
![A reader asks real estate lawyer Gary Singer: Our buyer couldn't get financing for the purchase and canceled the contract. Do we have to return the deposit? A reader asks real estate lawyer Gary Singer: Our buyer couldn't get financing for the purchase and canceled the contract. Do we have to return the deposit?](https://www.sun-sentinel.com/wp-content/uploads/migration/2017/11/30/3R7G6ELRHNGX3KSVYBF3B4DQI4.jpg?w=135)
Ask a real estate pro: Do we have to give back deposit after buyer couldn’t get financing?
A reader asks real estate lawyer Gary Singer: Our buyer couldn't get financing for the purchase and canceled the contract. Do we have to return the deposit?