Welcome to the Real Property Law Section (RPLS) of the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA). We are knowledgeable and involved attorneys who encourage new members and law students to join the RPLS to enjoy its benefits and participate in its committees. You can join online today!
Currently, we have more than 3,800 members and thirty committees. Each committee devotes itself to a specific practice area within the real estate community such as Construction; Real Estate Finance; Condominiums and Cooperatives and Foreclosures, to name but a few. After joining the RPLS, you may join a committee by going to the Section Committee’s page on this website and contacting the Chair or Co-Chairs of that committee.
The RPLS’s highly active online Community is a vital resource for practitioners to address practice questions quickly and thoroughly. In 2020, there have been over 3,100 member posts with multiple responses to most. Often, the responding member will provide a case or a statutory reference fully addressing the question posed. The RPLS Community can also provide access to an attorney with a particular specialty necessary to assist you with a client or matter.
RPLS members also receive the Real Property Law Journal (RPLJ) published quarterly each year. The RPLJ has articles on a range of real estate topics including contracts, condominiums, recent decisions, and ethics. There is also a regular column on foreclosures provided by Bruce T. Bergman. Section members are encouraged to submit articles for publication. See the Publications portion of this website for more information about the RPLJ as well as an archive of prior articles and contact information for the editors.
The RPLS regularly offers high quality CLE programs. Members receive weekly emails alerting them to CLE events. For detailed information on upcoming CLEs, including program overviews and faculty listings, see the Events Calendar on this website.
Last but not least, the Real Property Law Section participates in NYSBA’s Annual Meeting in New York City each January. The annual meeting includes CLEs, rounds of committee meetings and many opportunities to meet and network with Section members. The RPLS also has an annual Summer weekend Meeting where members can gather in a relaxed atmosphere, learn from and get to know one another. Recent Summer Meetings have been held at resorts in New Hampshire and in rural Vermont. Members are encouraged to bring their partners, spouses and other family members to enjoy the destination.
The RPLS’s mission cuts across all aspects of real property law and includes:
- Commenting on and encouraging appropriate legislation;
- Working with title insurance companies, brokers, surveyors and other related industry professionals to improve transactional practices;
- Identifying problems in the real estate industry and working to solve them;
- Educating the public about the attorney’s role in protecting their interests in real property transactions and also, when necessary,
We look forward to more of our members becoming involved in our Committees and forging relationships with new members who always have much to contribute.
Contact the Real Property Law Section Liaison
To learn more about this Section, please contact Amy Jasiewicz
[email protected]
(518) 487-5682
Ira S. Goldenberg
Ira S. Goldenberg of White Plains is the chair of the Real Property Law Section.
Goldenberg is a partner at Goldenberg & Selker. He represents boards of condominiums, homeowners associations and cooperatives, as well as developers, unit owners, sellers and purchasers.
A 36-year member of the State Bar, Goldenberg previously chaired the Section Delegates Caucus. He was a member of the State Bar’s Executive Committee. He was co-chair of the the Real Property Law Section’s Condominiums and Cooperatives Committee, as well as its Attorney Escrow and Electronic Communications & Meetings task forces.
Goldenberg graduated magna cum laude from Brandeis University and earned his law degree with honors from George Washington University Law Center.
Online Community
N.Y. Real Property Law Journal
The N.Y. Real Property Law Journal features substantive articles relating to the practice of real property law on various topics including property transactions, leases, zoning, disclosure, and cooperatives and condominiums. Also included are a regular column entitled, “Bergman on Mortgage Foreclosures” as well as updates on Section news, programs and events. Co-edited by William P. Johnson, Esq., Prof. Robert J. Sein, and Marvin N. Bagwell, Esq., the N.Y. Real Property Law Journal is published by the Real Property Law Section and distributed to Section Members free of charge.
The Journal is published as a benefit for members of the Real Property Law Section and is copyrighted by the New York State Bar Association. The copying, reselling, duplication, transferring, reproducing, reusing, retaining or reprinting of this publication is strictly prohibited without permission.
© New York State Bar Association. All rights reserved. ISSN 1530-3918 (print) ISSN 1933-8465 (online)
The N.Y. Real Property Law Journal encourages article submissions on topics of interest to members of the Section. Writing an article for a NYSBA Section publication is a great way to get your name out in the legal community and advertise your knowledge. Our authors are respected state-wide for their legal expertise in such areas as property transactions, leases, zoning, disclosure and cooperatives and condominiums.
MCLE credit may also be earned for legal-based writing directed to an attorney audience upon application to the CLE Board. NYSBA Guidelines for Obtaining MCLE Credit for Writing as well as a Publication Credit Application are available.
If you have written an article and would like to have it considered for publication in the N.Y. Real Property Law Journal, please send it in electronic document format (pdfs are NOT acceptable), along with biographical information to any of its Co-Editors. Accepted articles fall generally in the range of 7-18 typewritten, double-spaced pages. Please use endnotes in lieu of footnotes. The Co-Editors request that all submissions for consideration to be published in this Journal use gender-neutral terms where appropriate or, alternatively, the masculine and feminine forms may both be used. Please contact the Co-Editors regarding further requirements for the submission of articles.
Marvin N. Bagwell, Esq.
[email protected]
William P. Johnson, Esq.
[email protected]
Matthew J. Leeds, Esq.
[email protected]
Prof. Robert J. Sein
[email protected]
Legislation
- Chart of Legislation
- Status of Pending Legislation
- Guidelines for Reviewing Legislation
- Guidelines for RPLS Legislation Memos
Real Property Law Section Committee
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Attorney Opinion Letters Committee (Real Property Law)
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Awards Committee (Real Property Law)
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CLE Committee (Real Property Law)
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Climate Change Committee (Real Property Law)
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Commercial Leasing Committee
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Condemnation & Certiorari Committee
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Condominiums & Cooperatives Committee
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Construction Committee
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Diversity Committee (Real Property Law)
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Ethics And Professionalism Committee (Real Property Law)
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Executive Committee (Real Property Law)
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Internship Committee (Real Property Law)
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Land Use And Environmental Law Committee
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Landlord And Tenant Proceedings Committee
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Legislation Committee (Real Property Law)
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Low Income & Affodable Housing Committee
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Membership Committee (Real Property Law)
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Nominating Committee (Real Property Law)
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Non-Profit Entities And Concerns Committee (Real Property Law)
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Public Interest Committee (Real Property Law)
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Publications Committee (Real Property Law)
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Real Estate Financing Committee
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Rent Regulation Task Force
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Social Media Task Force (Real Property Law)
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Sponsorship Committee (Real Property Law)
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Student Affairs Committee (Real Property Law)
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Title Agent Licensing Task Force
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Title And Transfer Committee
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Website And Communications Committee (Real Property Law)
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Workouts And Bankruptcy Committee (Real Property Law)
Attorney Professionalism Award
Each year, the Real Property Law Section has honored an outstanding individual real estate practitioner with its Professionalism Award. The Section’s Award Committee is seeking nominations for the 2020 award, to be presented virtually at the Section’s Annual Meeting during January 2021.
Outstanding Community Contributor Award
The Section created the Outstanding Community Contributor Award to recognize members who have made significant contributions to the Community, and to express its appreciation. The Section’s Award Committee is seeking nominations for the 2020 award, to be presented virtually at the Section’s Annual Meeting during January 2021.
Scholarships
The Real Property Law Section is now accepting applications for its two law student scholarships in the amount of $5,000 each. The scholarships will be awarded virtually at the Section’s Annual Meeting during January 2021.
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: November 20, 2020
Local Practice Guide for Residential Real Estate Transactions
Even though we all practice law in the same state, many aspects of a residential real estate transaction differ depending on where a property is located. Particularly Upstate, closing customs and practices vary widely from one county to the next. These practices include whether a contract is drafted by a realtor or an attorney, if a realtor-drafted contract is subject to attorney approval or disapproval, the length of the required title search, who orders and pays for title searches and even the type of deed.
An attorney who works on a transaction outside of his/her own home county may be at a disadvantage because local attorneys, title agents and realtors have different expectations about how the transaction will be conducted. Conversely, a local attorney may have difficulty convincing an attorney from outside of the area that “this is how we do things here.” This Local Practice Guide is designed to help bridge this gap. The Guide is organized on a county by county basis and will serve as a reference to the various local real estate customs and practices as well as provide a guide to local mapping and tax reference resources.
This Guide is provided exclusively as a benefit of membership in the NYSBA Real Property Law Section.
Legal Links of Interest
GENERAL LEGAL RESOURCES
- Practice Resources (New York State Bar Association)
- Legal Engine
- Legal Information Institute (Real Property)
- New York Legal Materials
- Real Property Materials
- State Statutes
- Legal-Pad
- Legal WEB and Database Searches, (“Lawcrawler”)
- Legislative Information on the Internet (“THOMAS”)
- Mortgage 101
- New York Law Journal
- State Home Pages, (Global Computing)
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
BANKRUPTCY
- Banrkuptcy Resources, Legal Information Institute
- Internet Bankruptcy Library
- Official Bankruptcy Forms
CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION
ENVIRONMENTAL LAW
- ABA Section of Environment, Energy and Resources
- New York City Watershed Agreement and Regulations
- New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Guide to Enforcement Hearings
ETHICS AND PROFESSIONALISM
GOVERNMENT RESOURCES
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
- Code of Federal Regulations , Index
- Department of Housing and Urban Development
- Code of Federal Regulations ,Title 24
- Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
- Internal Revenue Service
- Office of Foreign Assets Control , Treasury Department
- Public Lands –43 CFR
- Supreme Court
- U.S. Code, Legal Information Institute
NEW YORK CITY
- Assessments
- City Council
- Local Laws
- City of New York Home Page
- Department of Buildings
- Department of City Planning
- Department of Finance
- Online Owner’s Registration
- Tax Rates
- Department of Housing Preservation and Development
- Department of Transportation. Sidewalk Violations
- Landmarks Preservation Commission
- Rent Guidelines Board
- Zoning Resolution of the City of New York
NEW YORK STATE
- Attorney General
- Real Estate Financing Bureau
- Real Estate Policy Statements
- Institutional History of Banks
- Court of Appeals
- Department of Financial Services
- Department of Taxation & Finance
Tax Forms
Interest Rates
Publications and Technical Bulletins
Division of Tax Appeals/Tax Appeals Tribunal - Department of Environmental Conservation
- National Society of Professional Surveyors
- Division of Housing and Community Renewal
- Government Information Locator Service
- Office of Real Property Tax Services (“ORPTS”)
- Secretary of State
OTHER STATES AND MUNICIPALITIES
LANDLORD AND TENANT (RESIDENTIAL)
- Rent Guidelines Board, New York City
- TENANT.NET – Online Legal Resource for Legal Residential Tenants
- New York City Housing Court Decisions
- New York State Real Property Actions and Proceedings Law
- New York State Multiple-Dwelling Law
LAND USE AND PLANNING
ORGANIZATIONS
- American Bar Association
- American Bar Association, Section of Real Property, Probate and Trust Law
- American College of Mortgage Attorneys
- American College of Real Estate Lawyers
- Association of Real Estate Women
- Council of New York Cooperatives & Condominiums
- “DIRT”
- Freddie Mac
- Fannie Mae
- “MERS”
- Mortgage Bankers Association
- National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts
SURVEYS
TITLE INSURANCE
- American Land Title Association (“ALTA”)
- New York State Land Title Association (“NYSLTA”)
- Title Insurance Rate Service Association, Inc . (“TIRSA”)
TRANSFER TAX FORMS
- New York City Real Property Transfer Tax Return and instructions “RPT”
- New York State Real Estate Transfer Tax Return “TP-584”
- Supplemental Form “TP-584.1” and Instructions
UNIFORM COMMERCIAL CODE
- Commissioners on Uniform State Laws
- EAGLE 9 TM UCC Insurance Policy
- International Association of Commercial Administrators
- New York Department of State
- Revised Article 9 Resource Center
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