Halt | June 30, 2019 | 0 Comments

Do I Need a Real Estate Attorney to Buy a House? The Yes and the No

Buying and renting properties can become a complicated, time-consuming process. Property acquisition is likely one of the biggest investments you’ll do. This will involve a few laws in-between.

Knowing how to leverage your acquisition criteria for real estate properties is crucial. Even then, you want to make sure you have someone who knows the law beside you.

When you start asking “do I need a real estate attorney to buy a house,” the answer to this depends. This will change according to the type of deals you have. Looking to purchase a new house in El Angel? Look no further! Check out our top pick for the best new house for sale in El Angel, featuring a modern design, ample space, and a desirable location.

In this guide, we’ll tackle when to hire a real estate attorney. With the cost of a real estate attorney, you need to know when you need them.

Table of Contents

1. Mandatory Needs for a Real Estate Lawyer on Some States
2. Real Estate Lawyers for First Timers
3. What Can Your Real Estate Lawyer Do?
4. When to Hire a Real Estate Attorney
5. Real Estate Closing Work for Attorneys

Do I Need a Real Estate Attorney to Buy a House?

1. Mandatory Needs for a Real Estate Lawyer on Some States

There are a handful of states list real estate attorneys as mandatory. In any real-estate deal, they are crucial to make sure that both sides are getting a fair deal. A lawyer will guarantee both parties move with the transaction up to their best interest.

Some of these states include:

Alabama
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Kansas
Kentucky
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Mississippi
New Jersey
New York
North Dakota
Pennsylvania
South Carolina
Vermont
Virginia
West Virginia

The list is almost half of all states in the US. If you’re looking to process any type of real estate in these areas, a real estate lawyer will be part of the deal. They need to handle the transaction process itself.

For people in New Jersey, for example, you need to check out this related page for that specific area.

2. Real Estate Lawyers for First Timers

For those who are starting a business and need a property, it’s vital to have a real estate attorney by your side. Real estate attorney fees aside, you will save tons of money if you have somebody who knows the law.

Commercial real estate lawyers, for example, will know the ins and outs of the industry. They understand what clients need in inspection and legal property sale. They will find out ways to leverage a better price for the property as well.

The cost of a real estate attorney is nothing from the support they can provide. If you’re looking at commercial property rental, a proper expert can provide help on disputes. Any matters between landlords and tenants become easier to handle as well.

3. What Can Your Real Estate Lawyer Do?

“Do I need a real estate attorney to buy a house?”

To answer that, you need to understand its advantages. So, what can a real estate lawyer do for you?

A real estate attorney’s work starts well before the closing of a deal. Handling a mortgage and picking a house to buy can overwhelm potential buyers. If you’re a first-timer, it’s a much bigger headache because of your lack of experience.

Your real estate attorney fees go into making sure your transaction is smooth. They interpret much of the legalese that comes with the domain, so you’d need their advice. They also try to make sure there are no entries in the contracts that are disadvantageous to their clients.

Once the transaction is closing, your real estate attorney will draft the necessary documents. They will make sure that any documents are accurate and reflect the fees agreed upon. Whatever amount both parties agreed to, it’s your lawyer’s job to make sure it’s to your benefit.

At this point, you need to make the most from their services. Make sure to ask any questions that bother you throughout the proceedings. Ask for advice from your lawyer as needed as well.

4. When to Hire a Real Estate Attorney

It looks like a real estate attorney is crucial in all transactions. That, however, is false. The thing is, many real estate transactions tend to have better language and design. Many companies now provide better, easier to understand documents with no frills.

Most mortgage types are more inert these days as well. If you understand your transaction documents, there’s no real need for a real estate lawyer.

There are also loan documents that are unalterable, so you don’t need a lawyer for them. Some of these financing documents include:

Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac financing
USDA
VA
FHA

Anything featuring these financing options is absolute, so there’s no room for their interpretation. Title companies and their lawyers are under mandate by law, to be honest to buyers. This means they need to lay out the terms of negotiation in full where the buyer understands them.

Hiring a real estate attorney starts at the complexity of the provisions. Invest in them only for real estate transactions that offer complications beyond your understanding. Proper handling of all-cash sales or owner financing makes the cost of real estate attorney worth it.

5. Real Estate Closing Work for Attorneys

When you’re at the closing stage of your real estate transaction, you want to have everything prepared. The deed and closing papers need proper preparation. Everything needs to be in the correct order.

The passing of the title from seller to buyer. The payment of the balance from the sale price. Preparation of closing statements of debits and credits.

All these need preparation and proper explanation. Dealing with the fairness of the closing amount and assurance of proper execution is crucial work.

Anything that involves the closing of a sale is confusing. Much of it offers complications that most people don’t have information about. If there are last minute details and disputes and you don’t have a lawyer, you’re inviting trouble.