Do You Need A Real Estate Lawyer When You Are Buying Or Selling A Home?

real estate lawyer Ottawa

A professionals guidance is always a good option when making a financial decision that will affect your life, and a sale or purchase of an existing home definitely fits the description. In addition to employing a real estate agent before buying or selling, most buyers also will consult with an inspector, and also make an appraisal payment.

A real estate lawyer is another expert who could be pivotal in the transaction.

Some states require involvement from real estate lawyers, others don't. This article will explain the reasons why Ottawa real estate lawyer may be an excellent idea. It's both the buyer's viewpoint and the seller's perspective.

What exactly does an attorney for real estate do?

A real estate lawyer is licensed to practice law, and specializes in transactions involving real estate. A real estate lawyer is knowledgeable with all aspects of the process of buying a home and can represent buyers, sellers or lenders.

In states where a lawyer is required to attend closing there is a chance that the lawyer will be present only to represent the buyer's lender. You will need to hire a lawyer yourself if you require someone who will exclusively represent your interests. Requirements governing the involvement of real estate lawyers differ from state to state and even within states, for instance, in California, where the rules differ by county.

A few people employ a real estate lawyer Ottawa early in the process to take care of issues like reviewing the brokerage contract with an agent from the real estate industry and others do not hire a lawyer until the purchase agreement is completed, or until closing. The price for a lawyer could be around $200-$300 per hour, or even a flat fee of several hundred dollars which you pay at the time of closing.

 

What are the best times to employ a real estate lawyer?

A real estate attorney can be helpful in many situations, including looking over a purchase agreement for a standard sale or dealing with one that's unusually complex.

Purchase Contract

While real estate agents are generally the ones responsible for preparing purchase agreements, a lawyer might be able to review and amend those agreements. Real estate agents are known to be restricted in their ability to create contract templates. This is why more complex contracts may need to be drafted by an attorney.

It is important that you allow a few days for legal review in the event that you are planning to engage an attorney during this phase. It can help you avoid any potential issues later on in order to make the contingencies as advantageous to you as possible.

Contracts are the most significant documents used in the home-sale process. They contain a variety of variables that can be negotiated. Some of the most important concerns in the purchase contract are:

Timing. The sale of your house or any other issue outside your control, such as delays with lenders, can impact the closing date of the property.

Inspection. A home inspection could reveal numerous issues, and the seller and buyer could end up negotiating on the cost of repairs. In some instances, the buyer -- if the contract allows it -- can opt to pull out from the contract with no penalty.

Title. Title. A title search is an everyday procedure to conduct prior to making an acquisition. It may find a lien on the property you're buying or selling. An attorney can help investigate. A real estate lawyer Ottawa may also be able to ensure the title insurance on the new property adequately shields you from any potential problems.

Closing

Closing on a home purchase or sale is the day you have been waiting for. There are usually many legal documents to be examined. A lawyer can help the seller and buyer get through the process that can be particularly difficult and confusing for the first-time homebuyer.

If representing the buyer, we negotiate repairs, monitor financingand look over title. We explain to buyers all details regarding the mortgage documentation at the time of the time of closing.