In 1988, one of my first legal projects was to get a bank from Colorado off the back of a local developer who had built a shopping center. It turns out the bank was fearful that Arizona was about to enter a bad season in commercial real estate, the only problem was the developer was really not in default. The judge slammed the bank & by the time we cut a settlement deal with them, the market had really corrected. They should have waited and played fair. Declaring bogus defaults hurt them.

Now, the next shoe is about to drop because of commercial loan resets. Commercial landlords continue to lose office & retail tenants at an accelerating pace, indicating that the industry’s troubles are worsening.

The amount of occupied space in U.S. shopping centers and malls declined a net 8.7 million square feet in the first quarter of 2009, according to real-estate-research company Reis Inc. The amount of occupied space lost in that one quarter was more than the total amount of space retailers gave back to landlords in all of 2008 and any other year in recent history, according to Reis. It makes 1988 look like a cake walk. If you need help dealing with the ever changing real estate market give the Scottsdale law firm of William A. Miller a call at 602-319-6899.

Why are all the con men now “going green”? Pretty simple. These are the same type of idiots and narcissistic jerks who polluted our rivers in the 1940-50’s. It is where the money is. It is easy money because there are no rules. It is a brand new industry and language and the best B.S. gets the contract and hustles the rest.

Remember money is green. Add that to the fact that our President, who only recently was well versed enough in economics & finance to buy his first home at the age of 43, gave a few hundred billion to going green and you have a perfect storm. My due diligence first question to the potential green investment guru on a client’s behalf is… How long have you been a member of Green Peace or the Sierra Club? Rhetorical indeed. Call the Law Firm of William Miller with further questions about any investment in stocks, real estate or the ‘go green’ tsunami. 602-319-6899.

I just sent in my annual money for registration of a vintage car I own to the great State of California. I drive it too much, yet I cannot bear to drop the California plates. The car is classic, just like my memories of California. It is where I was born, but I was raised…

No one wants to even think about the F-word — “Foreclosure.” It is so sad to see so many good folks losing their homes in foreclosure. It is also good to see some banks playing “fair” and trying to work with defaulted borrowers. Yet note something curious in Arizona law. Normally after a default and…

At the Law Firm of William A. Miller in Phoenix we manage a number of high-profile estates. On Jan. 1, the amount exempted from federal estate taxes rose to $3.5 million from $2 million, which means that estates at or above the new limit would save $675,000 in estate taxes (at the 45% rate) compared…