There’s no shortage of unusual laws affecting real estate—far more than can be listed here. But here are five from the last year that deserve their time in the spotlight.

There are a plethora of laws that affect various aspects of mortgage lending, from lender compensation to consumer privacy.

The Home Mortgage Disclosure Act requires lenders to report on the loans they make.

The Mortgage Assistance Relief Services (MARS) rule regulates how one promotes short-sales or loan-modification business activities.

The USA Patriot Act regulates reporting of earnest money deposits.

Residential real estate has become more complex over the years as a result of laws enacted to protect consumers’ welfare. Here are 23 federal laws that play a part in residential real estate. The list is not exhaustive, but it provides an idea of how much of the real estate transaction falls under federal regulation.

Under tax laws, you must have receipts or other physical proof of a purchase in order to deduct business expenses. But what if you're missing some of your payment records? Here's what to do now, and how to avoid the problem in the future.

Readers share areas of legal risk.

Here Barbara Holland, CPM, of H&L Realty & Management Co. in Las Vegas, identifies some of the biggest liability mistakes common among those who haven’t yet learned the ropes.

REALTORS® serving on the Professional Standards Committee have labored to ensure that the Code is a living document that protects the sellers, buyers, landlords, tenants, and others who place their trust in REALTORS®; that the Code’s obligations are phrased in clear, objective, and unambiguous terms, and that the Code remains relevant and meaningful in the constantly changing real estate environment.

Here are the legal issues getting the most buzz in real estate circles these days.

Slower sales are compelling more home owners to rent their properties, at least for a while. If you’ve been asked to help, follow these tips.