While I used to think Whereas was just some archaic legal filler, I’ve come to appreciate it deeply. It frames the story. It gives the backstory. It sets the scene before the real terms begin. It’s the contract’s way of saying, “Here’s what led us here.” Do you like using recitals in your legal documents?

Before terminating a residential tenancy for a substantial violation or breach of the lease, NJ law requires landlords to serve a Notice to Cease. It’s not a suggestion—it’s a procedural requirement. The notice must: • Explicitly advise the tenant that the activity is offensive; and • Give the tenant a reasonable opportunity to cure the offending behavior. Miss this step—or get it wrong—and the eviction case may be thrown out, no matter how strong the underlying violation is. Make sure your notices are clear, specific, and legally sufficient—it’s the foundation for any successful action to recover possession.

Bridge loans are short-term loans—typically ranging from six months to three years—designed to provide temporary capital until longer-term financing is in place. They are commonly used to pay off construction loans when a project isn’t yet ready for permanent financing. But their flexibility makes them valuable in several scenarios, including: - Funding renovations or improvements to existing properties - Serving as an interim refinancing option - Navigating market fluctuations that delay or complicate access to long-term financing Another key advantage: Bridge loans are typically much faster to obtain than traditional institutional financing, making them ideal for time-sensitive opportunities. Bridge loans help investors and developers stay agile—even when timing or market conditions aren’t ideal.

In New Jersey, a landlord can’t just file for eviction—except in cases of nonpayment of rent. For most residential evictions, the landlord must first serve a written notice to quit and a demand for possession (and in some cases, a prior notice to cease is also required). Courts have long distinguished between the two. As the Appellate Division explained in Kroll Realty, Inc. v. Fuentes, 163 N.J. Super. 23, 26 (App. Div. 1978), the notice to quit terminates the tenancy, while the demand for possession is a jurisdictional requirement. In practice, these two requirements are usually combined in one written notice. Courts recognize this combined notice as satisfying the jurisdictional requirement. See Hous. Auth. of City of Newark v. Caldwell, 247 N.J. Super. 595, 599 (Law Div. 1991), which states that in practice, the notice to quit and demand for possession are combined and considered jurisdictional. If these steps are skipped or done improperly, the case may be dismissed.

Under New Jersey law, a landlord may evict a tenant for violating rules and regulations, but only if: (1) The rules and regulations are reasonable, and (2) The tenant agreed to them in writing, or they were included in the lease from the start. (N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1(d)) If a tenant violates these rules: (1) The landlord must first serve a Notice to Cease, giving the tenant a clear opportunity to correct the violation. (2) If the violation continues, the landlord may serve a Notice to Quit and Demand for Possession, but cannot file for eviction until at least one month later. (N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1(d)) Even after an eviction judgment is entered, the tenant has the legal right to cure the violation. (Jersey City Mgmt. v. Garcia, 321 N.J. Super. 543 (App. Div. 1999)). Proper notices and timing are mandatory to avoid dismissal of the case.

Sounds like a buddy cop movie… but it's really about liability. Good Guy Guaranty (in a lease): You’re personally liable until you vacate and return the keys like a mensch. Bad Boy Provisions (in a loan): You’re not personally liable — unless you do something shady, like fraud or unauthorized transfers. The other punishes bad behavior. Both can cost you. Know what you’re signing.

One sneaky clause in operating agreements to watch out for is when every partner gets one equal vote, no matter how much they equity they actually own. You could put up a majority of the money and still get outvoted. Have an attorney check before you sign.

Yes — under N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1(m), if the superintendent’s tenancy was conditioned on their employment and that employment has ended, you have a statutory basis to proceed with eviction. Jewish Center of Sussex County v. Whale, 165 N.J. Super. 84 (Ch. Div. 1978), aff’d 172 N.J. Super. 165 (App. Div. 1980)

Under the Anti-Eviction Act, a landlord must renew a tenancy unless there is good cause not to, and cannot terminate a tenancy without good cause (N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.3(a)). However, at the end of a lease, a landlord may offer a new lease with increased rent or modified terms if the changes are reasonable and the rent increase is not unconscionable (N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1(f), (i)). If a tenant fails to pay a reasonable rent increase after proper written notice, the landlord may evict — provided the increase is not unconscionable and complies with any municipal rent control ordinance (N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1(f)). There is no fixed “reasonable” number—judges have discretion. Consult an attorney to determine what would likely hold up in court.