who choose the closing attorney

by Selina Bode 9 min read

Refinances

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Questions for a Real Estate Attorney

Since buying real estate is likely the biggest investment you’ll ever make, you need to make sure all your bases are covered. In your search, make a list of essential questions that you should ask everyone you talk to.

How long have you been practicing?

Find out how long the attorney has been working in your area. For residential closings, a few years should suffice. For bigger transactions like commercial real estate or investment property, you want an attorney who’s much more experienced.

How do you handle closings?

Tell the prospective attorneys about your particular situation. Then, ask them what they would do and what their typical procedures are. Knowing how they would plan to deal with things in advance will give you confidence and peace of mind.

What about fees and billing?

Some attorneys require a retainer up front and then bill you the balance later. Ask them what their rates are, and how much they think your individual situation would cost. With so many fees involved in real estate transactions, you need a firm price so you can add the attorney to your budget.

Will there be others working with us?

Some law firms rely on other attorneys and paralegals to work on their cases behind the scenes. Ask if other people will be involved in the transaction or if you can expect to simply deal with one attorney directly.

Knowledge is Power

There are several important things that every good real estate attorney should know. Read more about that so you’ll be aware of the intricacies involved in a real estate closing.

Attorneys and Your Success

Once you’ve done the legwork, you should have no problems finding a reliable, quality real estate attorney who can help with the closing process. Be sure to check reviews and ask the right questions so your transaction will be a success.

What is a real estate closing?

A real estate closing is often a nerve-wracking experience for both the buyer and seller. Typically, a large amount of money changes hands during closing and both parties to the transaction have done a lot of work leading up to the closing date. Plus, real estate contracts tend to be full of legal jargon that can be difficult for ...

What is the job of a lawyer?

It is your lawyer’s job to give you legal advice about your legal matter. That is the reason that you are paying him or her to represent you in a real estate closing. As a result, you should cooperate with your lawyer and take his or her advice for the best possible outcome in your case.

What is general practice law?

Many lawyers have a general law practice, meaning that they handle many different types of cases. Real estate law tends to be one area of the law that many general practice attorneys frequently handle. Contact the bar association in your state.

Do you need a real estate attorney if you have not hired a real estate attorney?

If you have not hired a real estate attorney in the past, but you have used an attorney to help with another legal matter, such as drafting a will, ask that attorney if he or she does real estate law, as well. Many lawyers have a general law practice, meaning that they handle many different types of cases.

Can an attorney specialize in real estate?

Check with your state bar association to see if attorneys in your state can become certified in real estate law.

Do attorneys offer free initial consultations?

Many attorneys offer free initial consultations, so schedule appointments with those attorneys whom your friends, family members, or colleagues recommended. When you go to these appointments, your main goal is to get a sense of the attorney’s experience in handling real estate transactions.

Do you have to pay an attorney to close a real estate transaction?

At this point, you will either need to pay the attorney the agreed-upon price, as many real estate transactions are priced at a flat fee, or pay the attorney a retainer, which is a set amount of money necessary to hire the attorney.

How Does a Real Estate Closing Attorney Help Buyers and Sellers?

The real estate closing is the last stage of any real estate transaction. Even with a strong real estate agreement and approval for the mortgage, there are many things that a skilled lawyer does to help clients at the settlement/the closing.

Serving as an escrow agent

Lawyers can serve as attorney-closing agents if need be. This means we can serve as:

Skilled real estate lawyers review the title insurance requirements

Seasoned Indian River County lawyers perform some of the following tasks depending on whether we represent the buyer or the seller:

Claims involving the real estate claim

Any claims by the buyer need to be resolved before the title company and the buyer’s lawyer will agree to release the funds due to the seller. A common issue at closing is the buyer’s claim that certain repairs haven’t been completed.

Closing documents

The buyers and sellers normally need to have, review, and sign certain documents. The lawyer for the buyer/seller reviews these documents with their clients. Common documents that are needed for the real estate closing include:

What happens after the closing?

There are still tasks the real estate lawyer at the closing must perform or make sure the title company performs:

Speak with an experienced Indian River County real estate lawyer today

At Lulich & Attorneys, our Vero Beach and Sebastian real estate lawyers represent buyers and sellers from the initial agreement of sale through the mortgage approval process, inspections, and the settlement closing. Lulich Attorneys & Consultants guides buyers and sellers, answers all your questions, and helps resolve any disputes that may arise.

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