How much money does a developer need to spend before the government cannot pull the rug out from under a project? On April 24, 2026, the Iowa Supreme Court answered: how much you spend doesn’t matter—no permit, no vested right.
Iowa Real Estate & Land Use Blog
The Iowa Real Estate & Land Use Blog, published by Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen, P.C., focuses on legal issues related to real estate and land use in Iowa. It covers topics such as mechanics' liens in commercial and residential construction, changes in real estate laws including the Iowa Real Estate Transparency Act, administrative rule changes affecting cooperative compensation, and the impact of national real estate settlements on local practices. The blog also addresses practical legal guidance for real estate agents, brokers, contractors, and property owners navigating regulatory compliance, contract negotiations, and dispute resolution within the Iowa real estate market.
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Latest from Iowa Real Estate & Land Use Blog
Attorney William Serangeli Retires from Dickinson Bradshaw
Congratulations to William Serangeli on his retirement from Dickinson, Bradshaw, Fowler & Hagen, P.C.
With a remarkable legal career spanning across five decades, Bill focused his practice on representing business clients, including real estate companies, banks, and insurance companies,…
It’s Mechanics’ Lien Time
There is no question that the U.S. economy is under stress from several factors. One sector where stress is turning into distress is commercial construction. In September, Experian reported that while construction, and in particular commercial construction, has reached new…
Understanding the Iowa Real Estate Transparency Act and Administrative Rule Changes
In the wake of the NAR Settlement, law and administrative rules were changed to implement the two practice changes in Iowa. The Iowa Real Estate Transparency Act (Senate File 2291) and proposed administrative rules (ARC 7931C…
Dickinson Bradshaw Named a Leading Law Firm by Chambers USA 2024
Dickinson, Bradshaw, Fowler & Hagen, P.C. has been ranked as one of the top firms in Iowa by Chambers USA in its annual survey, America’s Leading Lawyers for Business 2024.
Chambers identifies, ranks and differentiates the best legal talent globally…
Real Estate Agent Practice Changes Under the Proposed NAR Settlement
Last year, the real estate profession was rocked by a lawsuit from Missouri known as the Sitzer/Burnett case. This case drew national attention as well-known real estate brokerages and the National Association of REALTORS® (“NAR”) received a $1.78 billion verdict…
Attorney Matthew Blake Joins Dickinson Bradshaw
Dickinson, Bradshaw, Fowler & Hagen, P.C. is pleased to announce that Matthew Blake has joined the firm as an Of Counsel attorney.
With an extensive background serving as the General Counsel to the Iowa Association of REALTORS, Matt’s practice primarily…
Litigator L. Lars Hulsebus Joins Dickinson Law
Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen P.C. is happy to announce that attorney L. Lars Hulsebus has joined the firm.
Lars brings nearly ten years of litigation experience with him, having handled a wide array of litigation cases in state and…
Iowa Supreme Court Ruling Benefits Subcontractors
On June 17, 2022, the Iowa Supreme Court resolved an ambiguity in the mechanic’s lien statute which greatly benefits subcontractors.
As we have shared in prior blog posts, the law is clear that both general contractors and subcontractors must…
Bogart & Soderstrum Join Dickinson Law
Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen, P.C. is delighted to announce that Grace Bogart and Rachel Soderstrum have joined the firm as Associate Attorneys. Both women began their legal careers at Dickinson Law as summer clerks in 2019.
Grace…