House of Horrors: The Legal Podcast For Real Estate Investors
Are you a real estate investor who wants to make sure your investments are a blessing not a curse?
The House of Horrors Podcast can help you protect your properties without losing your sanity. Learn from lawyer and landlord, Bonnie Galam, as she breaks down real estate horror stories so you can avoid them and to help you build a solid foundation for your portfolio.
In her straightforward way, Bonnie offers a mix of actionable steps to help you grow and tough love she knows you need to hear to check yourself before you wreck yourself.
Find out more at bonniegalam.com/podcast
House of Horrors: The Legal Podcast For Real Estate Investors
100. Post-Closing Title Surprise with Justin Eaton
This one’s personal, Justin’s been a client of mine for years, and in this episode, we finally unpack the horror story we’ve been sitting on for two years. What started as a killer commercial deal turned into a sewer line lawsuit with a surprise twist… and a happy ending (yes, with beer). We talk due diligence, problem-solving under pressure, and lessons from navigating the unexpected.
👩🏫 In This Episode You'll Learn
- Why your due diligence process needs to go beyond the checklist
- How to deal with unexpected post-closing issues without sabotaging your deal
- The surprising value of neighborly relationships in commercial real estate
📺 Subscribe to my Youtube channel
👩💼 Work with my law firm
Connect with Frankie D'Astoli on Social Media
🌍 Website - https://www.dwellsafenj.com/
📸 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/justin__eaton/
📺 YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/@dwellsafeinspectionsengine903
Connect with Bonnie Galam on Social Media
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📺 YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@bonniegalamesq
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📱TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@bonniegalamesq
💻 Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonniegalam
⌚ Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
00:12 Meet Justin: Client, Investor, Structural Engineer
01:00 Justin’s Real Estate Journey
02:00 The Killer Deal That Sparked the Story
03:20 How the Commercial Property Was Sourced
05:00 Sewer Trouble Begins
06:50 The Neighbor’s Discovery
08:00 No Survey, No Easement—Now What?
10:00 What Happens When a Pipe Runs Through Someone Else’s Basement
12:00 Legal Strategy and Rerouting Options
4:00 The Court Process and Final Settlement
16:00 Post-Lawsuit Surprise Call
17:40 Relationship with the Neighbor Today
18:30 Total Cost and Construction Headaches
20:00 County Road Permitting and Logistics
22:00 Tenant Impact and Timeline
23:00 Final Thoughts on Due Diligence
25:00 Bonnie’s Take on Legal Process and Lessons
27:00 Cash Reserves and Risk Management
28:00 Justin’s Real Estate Evolution
30:00 Transition into Laundromats
33:00 Favorite Asset Class?
36:00 Keeping the Growth Going
37:00 Book Recommendation: Am I Being Too Subtle?
38:30 Final Thoughts and Contact Info
DISCLAIMER: Although Bonnie is an attorney she doesn’t give legal advice without a dually signed engagement agreement. All episodes of House of Horrors are educational and informational only. The information discussed here isn’t legal advice and isn’t intended to be. The information you listen to here isn’t a substitute for seeking legal advice from your own attorney
© 2021-2025 Bonnie Galam LLC | All rights reserved | Any use of this intellectual property owned by Bonnie Galam LLC may not be used in connection with the sale or distribution of any content (free of paid, written or verbal), produce, and/or service by you without prior written consent from Bonnie Galam LLC