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GENERAL OVERVIEW
James P. Babcock has been a builder since 1974 and became an attorney in 1977 because he felt understanding the legal system was essential to home building. Jim, his father and grandfather are all past presidents of our builders' association. Jim has acted as a special arbitrator for local courts for construction-related disputes.EDUCATION AND LICENSING
He attended and graduated from Georgetown University in 1971 with a Bachelor of
Science, Business Administration, major in Accounting and went on to Detroit
College of Law, which is now affiliated with Michigan State University,
receiving a Juris Doctorate Degree in 1977 with all elective classes being in
the real estate area.
He has held a Real Estate Broker's License in the State of Michigan since 1970
and has been a licensed Residential Builder since 1974.
LEGAL BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE
Jim has been an attorney since 1977 and concentrated in real estate and
construction-related courses in law school. As an attorney, his area of
expertise is condominium documentation, and he has drafted documents to create
or amend over 250 condominium complexes, residential apartment-style, site,
office buildings, mixed use, marina, industrial and commercial condominiums.
Jim has co-authored three articles on condominiums for the Michigan State Bar
Association and has been active in the Condominium Committee of the Real
Property Section of the Michigan State Bar for over twenty years.
He was also a presenter at a seminar in 2007 on Legal Aspects of Condominium and
Home Owners' Associations.
CONSTRUCTION BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE
Growing up with a father and grandfather who were builders, Jim learned about
construction at an early age. Since college he has acted mostly as a small
volume builder participating in all types of construction projects including
single-family residential, modular, small commercial and apartment construction,
as well as renovation and remodeling. He is a general partner in a large mobile
home park and has developed five condominium projects and a subdivision.
His family has primarily been involved in apartment development and specialized
in co-operative apartments and then rentals since the mid 1950's. This has
involved Jim in all phases of development and management of apartments, both
rental and for sale units. That is also why, as an attorney, he specializes in
condominium documentation as it went hand-in-hand with his family's background
and expertise in this area.
In addition to professional work, Jim has acted as the directing builder for
four Habitat for Humanity Blitz Builds projects since 1994, more recently
serving as the attorney for the local chapter.
He joined the local builders' association (Building Industry Association of
Southeastern Michigan) in 1980 after having participated under his father's
membership. He remains a lifetime Director of that Association, and a Director
of the Michigan Association of Home Builders and the National Association of
Home Builders. He was president of this local Association, which was the third
largest in the country, in 2006.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Macomb County Bar Association
State Bar of Michigan
Building Industry Association of Southeastern Michigan
Michigan Association of Home Builders
National Association of Home Builders
