Real estate attorneys provide legal representation to buyers and sellers in residential real estate transactions. They often handle issues like chain of title, lot line disputes or other contract problems that can arise during the process. They also work with clients who are buying or selling a home as part of a divorce settlement, auction sale or other unforeseen event that requires legal assistance.
How to Find a Real Estate Attorney
Once you’ve decided that you want to become a real estate attorney, the next step is to earn a degree in law from an accredited school. Any four-year degree is enough to get you started, but some law schools prefer applicants with a bachelor’s degree in a pre-law major, such as business, economics or psychology.
You may choose to take advanced classes in a particular area of law, such as a specialization in real estate law, before you graduate. Your college’s legal studies department can help you choose the right courses, or a professor with experience in the field might be able to point you in the right direction.
When looking for a real estate lawyer, make sure they are certified by the American Board of Real Estate Lawyers or the State Bar Association. This certification shows that a real estate lawyer has extensive experience and that they have taken the time to study the specific laws and rules associated with property law.
Ask how many residential real estate transactions they advise on per year and what types of properties do they typically work with. This will give you a more accurate picture of how much time they spend working on real estate matters and how many clients they are currently serving.
Your buyer’s agent might be able to recommend a real estate lawyer who has helped them with a previous transaction. These lawyers are usually referred by their brokers and are not paid referral fees, which gives you peace of mind that they are on your side.
The best way to find a real estate attorney is to utilize your state’s bar association directory and online legal review sites. These websites will let you search for real estate lawyers near you based on their areas of practice, fee structure and reviews from past clients.
When buying a co-op or condo, you’ll want to find out whether the building has ever experienced any legal problems. This can include things like bed bug infestations or leaky roofs. The best way to determine this is to check the building’s offering plan, amendments and financial statements.
You’ll also need to know what kind of covenants the owner association has in place that govern what you can and can’t do with your property. If you’re planning to do some major upgrades, for example, the covenants will likely limit your options.
Once you’ve found the perfect property, a real estate attorney will review the purchase documents to ensure that the property is legally yours and that the deal is fair. This includes reviewing title commitments, ensuring that you’re not paying for any hidden fees and checking that the transfer of title is complete. In addition, a real estate attorney will conduct due diligence to identify any potential risks that might be lurking underneath the surface.
