It is Marx David Sterbcow's refusal to “look the other way” and his single-minded focus on the real estate industry that has earned the young attorney a widening circle of influence both in Louisiana and throughout the United States.

Sterbcow is the only residing attorney in Louisiana to have earned an LLM in Real Estate Law and is one of less than 120 attorneys in the entire United States to have earned this highly sought after Master’s degree in Real Estate Law. Nominator Robert Pyles of The Solomon Tropp Law Group says of Sterbcow, “He has dedicated his professional career to the real estate field. He is one of the most knowledgeable individuals in the country regarding RESPA regulations and has created and implemented RESPA compliance guidelines for one of the largest Realtors in the state of Louisiana.”

His practice focuses on areas of real estate law impacting large local, national, and international real estate development projects, RESPA, federal and state mortgage lending and consumer credit compliance issues, real estate brokerage programs, affiliated business arrangements, marketing and promotional programs, licensing, and transactional matters. He also represents clients in connection with fair housing, RESPA, and other administrative enforcement actions.

Sterbcow was instrumental in helping Latter & Blum Realtors Inc. to become the first full-service real estate brokerage company worldwide to adopt a transaction management platform system that encompassed Latter & Blum’s Essential Title, Essential Mortgage, and Latter & Blum Property and Casualty Insurance divisions. It’s no surprise, therefore, that he also serves on the board of directors for the Real Estate Services Providers Council (RESPRO), as well as a host of other local, state and national bar and trade associations.

Sterbcow was recently named as one of the top ten people to watch in Louisiana by Southern Woman Magazine and Greater New Orleans Living Magazine and is widely quoted by both local, national and international newspapers and magazines on real estate topics that impact the Gulf Coast region.



I was hired to do RESPA compliance work for one of the countries largest real estate brokerages. The brokerage wanted to learn how to lower the closing costs for their home buyers (specifically first time homebuyers) and I structured a way for them to not only lower the costs but to significantly lower the costs and still make a profit while complying with RESPA.



I became an attorney to help people and companies get through the complicated legal jungle out there in a safe way. I’m still trying to figure out how I became a title agent (actually I think its because I didn’t know how to say NO).



I love to help government entities and/or companies unravel the various kickback and predatory lending schemes that the unscrupulous have created. My deep knowledge of how the real estate industry works allows me to penetrate deep into what is illegal or legal with regards to RESPA or for that matter predatory lending. Nothing gets my blood boiling worse than seeing a first time homebuyer incur $25,000 in closing costs on a $115,000 loan.



Never give up on anything until you find all the answers or accomplish your goal.



I had an attorney and his client contact me to find a way to violate RESPA without getting caught. I told them repeatedly there was no way I could legally construct a business plan to illegally violate the RESPA laws. Undeterred they sent me over 150 various illegal business arrangements proposals (none of which came close to complying with federal RESPA law) over a three month period.



My father, Arthur Sterbcow, has been the single biggest mentor. His knowledge of and insight into the real estate industry is extraordinary. I can clearly say that watching him conduct business and interact with people has been tremendous.



I’m the only person from Louisiana to have ever raced in the prestigious Mt. Baker Banked Slalom snowboard race (2000) and finished 2nd in the INSA Snowboard Series!



"The Pelican Brief" by John Grisham



Blue Rodeo’s Greatest Hits with their hit song “Five Days in May.”

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