Rachel J. Foster
- Partner
My admin
- Emily Oostema
I love problem solving. And due diligence. In real estate – pushing for, protecting your client, drawing upon all of your creativity – is the epitome of that. Whether I’m representing buyer or seller, lessee or lessor, I’ve got to navigate through and figure out how to get around the obstacles that arise, to be the “fixer” that keeps the deal from falling through. This is where I truly shine.
Real Estate Attorney
Rachel Foster is a Warner partner and real estate attorney who provides skilled representation for clients across numerous industries in a wide array of real estate transactions – including construction contracts, condominiums, foreclosures, real estate acquisitions, sales and beyond. She most recently led the legal team in the sale of the historic Kalamazoo State Theatre.
industries
practices
Real Estate Attorney
- Helped with a new housing initiative in a Kalamazoo neighborhood offering energy-efficient condominiums priced for a range of income levels, making homeownership more accessible to working families and first-time buyers. The project also includes a commercial space to support community engagement and neighborhood revitalization.
- Assisted with a mixed-use affordable housing project that includes affordable housing units and an early childhood learning center. The development is in a historically underserved neighborhood and aims to provide both housing and essential community services.
- Supported a mixed-use development that provided affordable and workforce housing units. Multiple units were reserved for low inc
Real Estate Attorney
- Helped with a new housing initiative in a Kalamazoo neighborhood offering energy-efficient condominiums priced for a range of income levels, making homeownership more accessible to working families and first-time buyers. The project also includes a commercial space to support community engagement and neighborhood revitalization.
- Assisted with a mixed-use affordable housing project that includes affordable housing units and an early childhood learning center. The development is in a historically underserved neighborhood and aims to provide both housing and essential community services.
- Supported a mixed-use development that provided affordable and workforce housing units. Multiple units were reserved for low income and extremely low-income households. The project helped fill a regional housing gap by offering high-quality, income-restricted apartments with low rent.
- Contributed to a Kalamazoo housing initiative that delivered energy-efficient condos priced for diverse incomes, expanding homeownership opportunities and including a commercial space to boost community revitalization.
- Supported a mixed-use affordable housing project with an early childhood learning center in a historically underserved neighborhood, combining housing and vital community services.
- Helped advance a mixed-use development that addressed regional housing needs with affordable and workforce apartments, including units for extremely low-income households.
- Represents Land Banks in quiet title matters, eviction matters and other general real estate matters.
- Prepares purchase agreements, confidentiality agreements and other contractual agreements.
- Represents developers, landlords, tenants as well as commercial and residential property owners in the acquisition, sale and leasing of real property.
- Counsels developers in residential and commercial condominium projects.
- Represents condominium associations in a variety of legal matters including but not limited to amendments to condominium documents and the preparation of condominium liens.
- Prepares construction agreements and provides assistance with construction lien and bonding matters.
- Represents lenders in foreclosure matters.
- “Lunch and Learn: Common Questions and Issues Surrounding Construction Contracts,” Warner and The Barton Group Co-hosted Event, March 18, 2025
- PFAS, Grand Rapids Association of Realtors, March 28, 2018
- Open Meetings Act and Freedom of Information Act Seminar, December 2017
- “Environmental Responsibility Practices for Contaminated Parcels,”2017 Michigan Land Bank Leadership Summit, October 3, 2017, Battle Creek, Michigan
- “Due Diligence in Representation of Buyers and Sellers,” Warner, October 31, 2017, and September 11, 2017, Midland, Michigan
- Real Estate Scams, 201
- “Lunch and Learn: Common Questions and Issues Surrounding Construction Contracts,” Warner and The Barton Group Co-hosted Event, March 18, 2025
- PFAS, Grand Rapids Association of Realtors, March 28, 2018
- Open Meetings Act and Freedom of Information Act Seminar, December 2017
- “Environmental Responsibility Practices for Contaminated Parcels,”2017 Michigan Land Bank Leadership Summit, October 3, 2017, Battle Creek, Michigan
- “Due Diligence in Representation of Buyers and Sellers,” Warner, October 31, 2017, and September 11, 2017, Midland, Michigan
- Real Estate Scams, 2015
- Negotiating Commercial Leases: Tips and Traps, 2015
- How Does that Work Again? A Seminar on the Construction Payment Process, 2014
- Michigan’s Foreclosure Process, 2010
- Title Issues: From Start to Finish, NBI Seminar 2006
- Internet Strategies for Legal Professionals, NBI Seminar, 2004
- Advanced Legal Drafting for Michigan Paralegals, NBI Seminar 2003
- New FinCEN Reporting Requirements for Residential Real Estate Transactions Take Effect March 1, 2026Legacy Matters
- Warner Earns Multiple Honors for M&A Attorneys and Transactions from Crain’s Grand Rapids Business
- Warner Represents Lead Balloon Productions in Purchase of Kalamazoo State Theatre
- Three Warner Partners Recognized as ‘Notable Women in Law’ by Crain’s Grand Rapids
- Warner Partner Rachel Foster Selected Among Michigan Go To Lawyers
- Relaxation of Real Estate Evaluation, Appraisal Requirements Grand Rapids Business Journal
- Update: Court Vacates FinCEN Residential Real Estate Reporting Rule
- New FinCEN Reporting Requirements for Residential Real Estate Transactions Take Effect March 1, 2026
- Dividing Lines: Changes to the Michigan Land Division Act Expand Development Options
- Rachel J. Foster and Kurt M. Brauer Write GRBJ Article on Land Banks as an Economic Development Tool
- “Relaxation of real estate evaluation and appraisal requirements,” Grand Rapids Business Journal, 5/29/2020
- Members of the Construction Industry Be Warned – Michigan Department of Treasury is Aggressively Enforcing Application of Sales and Use Tax to the Construction Industry (2012)
- Changes to Homestead Exemption Designed to Provide Relief to Homeowners and Foreclosing Entities (2012)
- Principal Residence Exemption for Contiguous Property Is Clarified (2012)
- “Relaxation of real estate evaluation and appraisal requirements,” Grand Rapids Business Journal, 5/29/2020
- Members of the Construction Industry Be Warned – Michigan Department of Treasury is Aggressively Enforcing Application of Sales and Use Tax to the Construction Industry (2012)
- Changes to Homestead Exemption Designed to Provide Relief to Homeowners and Foreclosing Entities (2012)
- Principal Residence Exemption for Contiguous Property Is Clarified (2012)
- Tick-Tock: When has Time Run Out to Bring a Claim Against a Contractor? (2011)
- Residential Developers Beware! If You’re Not a licensed Residential Builder, Your Contracts are Unenforceable (2011)
- State Terminates Homeowner Construction Recovery Fund (2010)
- School Districts Should be Cautious When Adopting a Contractor Preference Policy (2010)
- Weathering the Storm: Complying with the Builders Trust Fund Act in Tough Economic Times (2009)
- Green Leasing (2009)
- Conditional Zoning: Is it Really Contract Zoning in Disguise (2008)
- Equitable Subrogation Doctrine Hampered in Mortgage Disputes (2006)
- Mobile Home Security Interests Can be Perfected with Mortgage Liens (2006)
- Court Clarifies Lender’s Duty with Respect to Future Advance Mortgages (2006)
- Michigan Lawyer’s Weekly – Account Agreements: Pay Attention to ‘Standard Language’ (co-author)
Testimonials
Rachel handled the largest real estate purchase I had completed to date. I was extremely impressed with her attention to detail and thoroughness. She caught many things the other legal team missed. I felt confident that nothing would go unnoticed with her. It definitely pays to have Rachel on your side! — Scott Bekins, Owner, Bekins
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Rachel Foster represents Hastings City Bank in all of our conventional and Small Business Administration (SBA) foreclosures. She is very knowledgeable and has become our go-to attorney. We know we can count on Rachel to provide creative solutions with a high level of detail. She exceeds our expectations and continues to deliver quality work on time, every time. We highly recommend Rachel for any organization seeking reputable counsel for their real estate needs. — Khaja (Jay) Ahmed, Vice President, Credit Department Manager, Hastings City Bank
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As the Executive Director of the Kalamazoo Humane Society (KHS), I had the privilege of working with Rachel Foster on real estate matters relating to the selection of property for a new facility. This process involved conducting due diligence on two buildings and two vacant pieces of land over a three year period. Rachel was very responsive in answering my many questions relating to surveys, environmental studies, real estate law and negotiations with property owners. Furthermore, she worked as a partner with the KHS every step of the way. When tough discussion needed to happen, Rachel was at our side guiding us or speaking on our behalf. Lastly, Rachel’s services were very affordable. Every dollar counts for a nonprofit organization. Rachel always made it clear which items the KHS could do on their own to avoid additional legal fees. Often we felt we’d save more time and have better results by having Rachel do the work instead of over burdening our already overworked staff members. — Aaron Winters, Executive Director, Kalamazoo Humane Society
