Real Property Law

Questions? Ask a Librarian

Home Construction / Remodeling

Agencies
- National Association of the Remodeling Industry
  Advice for the homeowner who is contracting for remodeling work. Includes a directory of NARI professional remodelers.
- WI Dept. of Safety & Professional Services
  Information and resources regarding the Uniform Dwelling Code, which is the statewide building code for one- and two-family dwellings. The UDC sets standards for fire safety; structural strength; energy conservation; erosion control; heating, plumbing and electrical systems; and general health and safety in new dwellings.
  - "Right to Cure" Brochure
    Highlights provisions of the "right to cure" law and contains the step-by-step claim and response interaction between consumers and contractors/suppliers. According to the law, consumers must be provided this brochure before any dwelling construction begins.
Complaints
- Home Improvement Complaint Form - Print/Mail (WI Dept. of Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection)
  Online form also available.
Home Improvement (WI Dept. of Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection)
Includes: Tips on Hiring Contractors, Contractor Requirements, Contracts, Lien Waivers, etc.
Home Improvement: Wisconsin Consumer Protection Laws (WI Dept. of Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection)
Topics include: Contractor Financial Responsibility, Theft by Contractor, Theft by Fraud, Home Inspectors, Basement Waterproofing, Building Codes, etc.
Home Improvement & the Right to Cure (WI Dept. of Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection)

The Law (Additional statutes, regulations & opinions may apply to your specific situation.)

Search for more statutes, regulations & opinions.

Home Ownership

For buying or selling your home, see: Real Estate

Frequently Asked Questions About C.L.U.E. (Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange) (WI Office of the Commissioner of Insurance)
Database of insurance claims history. Property owners, insurers, and lenders can request access to property claim data.
Home Improvement
Insurance / Liability
- Consumer's Guide to Homeowner's Insurance (WI Office of the Commissioner of Insurance)
Manufactured / Mobile Home Forms (WI Dept. of Safety and Professional Service)
Mobile Home Park Living (WI Bureau of Consumer Protection)
Neighbors
- Neighbor Disputes (Nolo.com)
  Answers to frequently asked questions on noise, boundaries, fences, trees, views, and information on water damage and the right to farm. Discusses home improvement & understanding homeowners' associations.
Property Assessment
- Guide for Property Owners (WI Dept. of Revenue)
  Questions & Answers about WI property assessment, appeals & taxation.
- Property Assessment Appeal Guide for Wisconsin Real Property Owners (WI Dept. of Revenue)
- Property Assessments
- Property Tax (WI Dept. of Revenue)
- WI Property Assessment Manual (WI Dept. of Revenue)

The Law (Additional statutes, regulations & opinions may apply to your specific situation.)

Search for more statutes, regulations & opinions.

Real Estate

Agencies / Organizations
- U.S. Dept. of Housing & Urban Development
- WI Housing and Economic Development Authority
Brokers
- The "New" Chapter 452: Defining Real Estate Broker Practice (Wisconsin Lawyer, June 2006)
Buying / Selling
- ABA Guide to Consumer Law: Buying and Selling a Home (American Bar Association)
  Includes selecting a real estate agent, financing, home inspection, the purchase contract, contract riders, etc.
- Buying a Home (WI Dept. of Financial Institutions)
- Buying a Home: A Glossary of Terms (WI Dept. of Financial Institutions)
- Buying / Selling Real Estate: Answering Your Legal Questions (State Bar of WI)
- Frequently Asked Questions About C.L.U.E. (Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange) (WI Office of the Commissioner of Insurance)
  Database of insurance claims history. Property owners, insurers, and lenders can request access to property claim data.
- Real Estate & Rental Property (Nolo.com)
  Includes buying & selling a house, getting a mortgage, your home as a tax shelter, etc.
- Taxation
  - Individual Income Tax: Sale of Home (WI Dept. of Revenue)
    FAQs concerning taxes and selling a home.
  - Selling Your Home (U.S. Internal Revenue Service)
    Explains the tax rules that apply when you sell your main home.
Complaints / Fraud
- Complaints (WI Dept. of Safety & Professional Services)
  Includes complaints against real estate brokers, appraisers, home inspectors, architects, etc.
- Discrimination Complaint Fair Housing (WI Dept. of Workforce Development)
- Housing Complaints (U.S. Dept. of Housing & Urban Development)
  Includes: discrimination, bad landlords in federal housing, manufactured housing, land sales, deceptive contractors under Title 1 programs, fraud & waste in HUD programs, etc.
- Mortgage Banker/Broker Complaint (WI Dept. of Financial Institutions)
  - Guidelines for Submitting
- Mortgage Complaint (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau)
Discrimination
- Fair Housing (U.S. Dept. of Housing & Urban Development)
- WI Open Housing Law (WI Dept. of Workforce Development)
Foreclosure
Foreclosure information is now on its own legal topic page: Foreclosure
Forms
- Manufactured / Mobile Home Titling Forms (WI Dept. of Safety and Professional Service)
- Real Estate Forms (WI Dept. of Safety & Professional Services)
- Real Estate Forms $ (State Bar of WI)
  Includes: Warranty Deed, Quit Claim Deed, Land Contract, Guardian's Deed, Personal Representative's Deed, Special Warranty Deed, Trustee's Deed, Condominium Deed, Satisfaction of Mortgage, etc.
- Real Estate Forms (Chicago Title Insurance Company)
  Includes: land contracts, quit claim deeds, condominium deeds, warranty deeds, bill of sale, waiver/satisfaction of liens, assignment of mortgage, satisfaction of mortgage, etc.
- Residential Offer to Purchase, WB-11 (WI Dept. of Safety & Professional Services)
- Real Estate Condition Report (WI Realtors Assoc.)
- Transfer on Death / Termination of Decedent’s Property Interest (WI Register of Deeds Assoc.)
- Quit Claim Deed Forms from Wisconsin Counties (WI State Law Library)
- Real Estate & Property Forms from Wisconsin Counties (WI State Law Library)
- Wisconsin Real Estate Forms $ (WSLL)
Ginnie Mae
Glossaries
- Definitions - Real Estate Document Types (WI Register of Deeds Assoc.)
Home Ownership
Mortgages / Reverse Mortgages
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
- Consumer Guides to Home Mortgages (Federal Reserve Board)
- Loan Modification Programs (National Consumer Law Center)
  Resources to modify a mortgage loan and avoid foreclosure.
- MakingHomeAffordable.gov
  Determine if you are eligible for a refinance or modification.
- Mortgage (Cornell Legal Information Institute)
  Commentary with links to federal statutes, regulations & opinions.
- Mortgages / Real Estate (Federal Trade Commission)
  Includes information on foreclosure and making mortgage payments.
- Reverse Mortgages
  - Reverse Mortgages (AARP)
  - What is a Reverse Mortgage? (Lawyers.com)
- SafeBorrowing.com (American Bar Association)
  Aimed at users starting the mortgage process. Includes: making sense of your legal documents; what loan products are available; loan features such as closed-end loans, open-end loans, adjustable rate loans (ARMs), fixed-rate loans & balloon payment loans; insurance products; information on lenders; how to know if the price of the loan is a good price; questions to ask yourself before pursuing a loan; glossary of mortgage terms.
Real Estate Transactions (Cornell Legal Information Institute)
Commentary with links to federal statutes & opinions.
Records
- Real Estate Records, WI Counties
  Access real estate records from selected Wisconsin counties. Access often provided via fee-based services of Tapestry or Laredo
- Tapestry $
  Search land records for Midwest states. Includes mortgages, deeds, etc.

The Law (Additional statutes, regulations & opinions may apply to your specific situation.)

Search for more statutes, regulations & opinions.

County Resources

Recommended links from our County Resources database:

Guides
- Civil Process (Rock Sheriff's Department)
  Execution or service of legal documents; civil process timeline; civil process fees; writ of replevin and execution

Last Updated: May 13, 2013 | Up to Top