Americans spend more than $127 billion each year improving their homes to protect their real estate investments. This definitive legal guide to home renovation projects offers essential information on contracts, permits, and laws pertaining to all aspects of home renovation. It features sidebars containing tips, checklists, expert advice, and key information. Topics include: • property rights and restrictions • homeowner’s and title insurance issues • shared ownership and ownership disputes • permits • property protection and liability • environmental hazards • condos and co-ops • planned communities and more Plus a resource guide for looking up laws and restrictions specific to individual states