35% of ’11 residential sales were ‘distressed’

Not much of a surprise here in Central Ohio. The strong communities aren't as affected by this. It is more of a statistic in areas where middle class and lower class folks live - the one's that have been most affected by the economic recession.

35% of ’11 residential sales were ‘distressed’

Foreclosure rates plunge in 2011 - Jan. 12, 2012

Don't get too excited by the following article. I believe that there is still a tremendous backlog of loans in default in Ohio that the lenders have just not proceeded forward. There is the robo-signing issue, Courts requiring pre-foreclosure certifications of documents, more loan modifications and other attempts at diverting foreclosure and other factors slowing the process. Gradually this year and the next, the banks will have exhausted all loss mitigation efforts and have to proceed with foreclosing on the backlog of default mortgages in Ohio.

Foreclosure rates plunge in 2011 - Jan. 12, 2012

Foreigners bid up shale-drilling rights

Woo Hoo! Let the bubble ride begin. Can't blame landowners from cashing in, but this could be the beginning of making a mess of this opportunity. Stay tuned!

Foreigners bid up shale-drilling rights

Oil, gas lease filing more than quadruples in 2011

Recorders' Offices have been under siege since this "boom" started.  The oil and gas companies are moving from the research/acquisition phase to the drilling phase, but it is a bumpy road.

This is an area of law that I am excited about getting involved with. I have found work in clearing title issues related to oil and gas leases, quiet title actions, lease review, title research, and am looking to assist landowners and oil companies in achieving their goals in this exciting wave entering Ohio.

Oil, gas lease filing more than quadruples in 2011



My advice to all involved - don't rush into any deals without consulting a real estate and/or oil and gas attorney familiar with the issues that can complicate these deals if they are not addressed at the outset.  Feel free to contact me if I can be of any service.

Vacant houses swamping city

Vacant houses swamping city

This is the type of problem facing many cities in the Midwest and beyond. Columbus has actually fared better than most in the real estate collapse. However, this problem, although maybe not to this extreme, is moving into the suburbs and other developments where foreclosures are prevalent. Vandalized homes can't be sold by the banks and are eventually left to continue to fall into disrepair until no one wants them and no one will pay to demolish them. Sad state of affairs.

Home prices down for 6th straight month

Home prices down for 6th straight month

New Year's Resolution is to revive this blog with a business/current event bent, but I will try to mix business with pleasure when possible. Unfortunately these types of articles cannot be ignored due to my legal practice area. Expect more articles with this same headline over the next couple of YEARS!! Anyone who predicts a quick recovery of the housing market is kidding themselves.

Forecast for homeowners struggling to pay their mortgages or sell their homes is MORE PAIN in 2012.

9/11 Parent Essay - My Son Cole's Assignment

September 11, 2011

Hilliard Memorial

RE: 9/11 Assignment

Cole Linville - 8^th Grade Hilliard Memorial M.S.

To Whom it May Concern:

I am told this essay is supposed to be about how America has changed since 9/11. The short answer is that it certainly has changed. The changes are sometimes hard to see and sometimes, obvious.

The best way to describe the changes, in my opinion, is that prior to 9/11, the United States mainland had not been physically attacked by an outside enemy since the 1800's. WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Lebanon, Kuwait, Iraq...these are all areas where US citizens have been killed, but they all occurred far away. The 9/11 attacks happened in our homeland, in New York, Washington DC and Pennsylvania. This is why 9/11 changed America so profoundly.

One example of this change is the way we travel. TSA agents “patting down” passengers, taking off your shoes in a airport, not being allowed to wait at a gate unless you are a passenger, and bringing only 4 ounces of liquid on plane are all habits that didn't exist prior to 9/11.

Our laws have changed dramatically, as well, affecting civil liberties that are guaranteed to us by the Constitution. Police agencies have much broader authority to stop and question and search civilians. Many political prisoners no longer have a right to a speedy trial, right to have charges read to them, rights to an attorney. Some prisoners have been tortured during government sanctioned interrogations. These are mostly unintended consequences, but many come directly from choices our government has made in the aftermath of 9/11.

Lastly, war is seemingly a constant since 9/11. Prior to 9/11 there was rarely a war in my lifetime, now there are long wars on multiple fronts.. The War on Terror has taken a turn, in my opinion, from a mission to stop terrorist organizations, to a political no-win gambit to enforce American ideas and practices on foreign cultures. However, recent events akin to the tearing down of the Berlin Wall in Egypt, Libya, Syria and other middle eastern countries show that their world is changing and the people of those countries are ready for a change. Perhaps they are motivated in some ways by changing world attitudes since 9/11.

One thing that hasn't changed is the American spirit. While we were shocked by the events of 9/11, we have eventually rebuilt. A newsman stated that America is a nation of builders, not destroyers. I believe that. Another stated, Americans do not live in fear, Americans live in freedom. That's a good message on which to end.

Sincerely,

J. Bradford Linville