CRE Insider Blog
Welcome to the Commercial Real Estate Insider, insights from First American's real estate experts.

Recent Posts by Mike Berey

Senior Underwriting Counsel First American Title Insurance Company; formerly Chief Underwriting Counsel (New York) and Senior Vice-President, First American Title Insurance Company; Fellow, American College of Mortgage Attorneys; Member, American College of Real Estate Lawyers; Member, Executive Committees of NYSBA’s Real Property Law Section (2000 – 2014) and the New York State Land Title Association; Chairperson, Task Force on Electronic Recording and Webmaster, NYSBA Real Property Law Section (2000-2014); Chairperson, Law Committee (2010-2013) and President (August 2013 – September 2014) New York State Land Title Association; Recipient of NYSBA Real Property Law Section’s 2014 Professionalism Award. Boston College Law School, 1976. Frequent lecturer on mortgage recording tax, transfer taxes, transferrable development rights and New York’s Lien Law. Author of “Current Developments”, a summary of real property-related cases and legislation for New York, since 1997. Author of numerous articles including, most recently, “ Step Transaction Doctrine Applied to New York City Transfer Tax”, New York Law Journal (“NYLJ”) June 9, 2015; “A Primer on New York’s Mortgage Recording Tax”, N.Y. Real Property Law Journal (“RPLJ”) Spring/Summer 2015; “New York’s Court of Appeals Rules on the Lien Law”, NYLJ August 6, 2013; and “New York’s Mortgage Tax Partially Securing Multiple Obligations”, RPLJ Spring/Summer 2013. Current Developments and articles are posted at www.firstamny.com.
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Easement Abandoned

By Mike Berey on April 4, 2018

 

The common owner of adjoining parcels of land in Saratoga Springs conveyed one of those parcels, reserving “an easement or right-of way for ingress and egress from Green Street [across the property conveyed] to the garage and woodshed” located in the rear of the parcel that was retained. The Plaintiff, a successor owner of the benefitted...

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Topics: Easement

Contract Vendee In New York Has An Equitable Lien

By Mike Berey on March 22, 2018

 

Property was sold to Webber Enterprises, Inc. (“Webber”), subject to a judgment docketed against its seller. Weber executed a first mortgage to the Plaintiff’s predecessor in title. The Plaintiff then entered into an agreement with Defendants Mario and Nicole Curcio (“the Curcios”) to construct a home on the property for them. On and before...

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Application Of Step-transaction Doctrine To New York City Transfer Tax Upheld

By Mike Berey on January 18, 2018

 

 

GKK2 Herald LLC (“GKK2”) and SLG LLC (“SLG”), the owners, respectively, of 45% and 55% tenant-in-common interests in real property located at 2 Herald Square in Manhattan, transferred their interests to 2 Herald Owner LLC (“Herald LLC”). GKK2 received a 45% member interest in Herald LLC and SLG received a 55% interest in Herald LLC.

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Topics: New York Taxes

Foreclosure Of Common Charge Lien Is Limited To Recovery Of Unpaid Common Charges

By Mike Berey on December 21, 2017

 

The Plaintiff Board of Managers commenced an Action to foreclose its recorded common charge lien for unpaid common charges in the amount of $16,488.36, accrued interest and attorneys’ fees. During the pendency of the Action, the Defendants paid the common charges and interest. The Plaintiff contended that the lien remained unsatisfied because...

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Conveyance Of Mineral Rights Includes Rights To Sand And Gravel

By Mike Berey on November 28, 2017

 

A 1917 deed conveyed “all minerals in, under and upon” the property being deeded, together with the rights to “dig, mine and remove” those minerals from the land. The Appellate Division, Third Department, concurring with the ruling of the Supreme Court, Clinton County, held that the mineral rights owned by the Plaintiff included the right to...

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Topics: Mineral Rights Land Rights

City Can Assert Adverse Possession When It Collected Real Estate Taxes

By Mike Berey on October 26, 2017

 

The Plaintiff, whose predecessors-in-interest purchased the land in question in 1948, sought a ruling declaring that it was the sole owner of the property.

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Topics: Taxes