How to Choose a Good Real Estate Attorney
Real estate closings can be nerve wracking experiences for both buyers and sellers. Typically, large sums of money are exchanged during closing and a lot of work by both parties in the transaction is usually done leading up to the closing date. Additionally, real estate contracts often have plenty of legal jargon which to the average person can be difficult to understand. Therefore, it is necessary to pick a good real estate attorney to help with the transaction, since it can relieve plenty of stress associated with closing such as ensuring all the prerequisite documents are well prepared, making sure all the paperwork is in order and drafting the deed. Here are some factors to bear in mind when seeking the best real estate attorney, to ensure you have a smooth home buying or selling process.
Begin your search for a good real estate attorney very early in the process i.e. start searching for one ideally while you are still searching for a buyer/new home. This is useful since you need ample time to find a good attorney otherwise, you could easily find yourself in the predicament of having to settle with any attorney at the last moment.
Prioritize attorneys you already have a good relationship with. If you have had positive experiences during real estate transactions with a certain attorney, highly consider hiring them again. Due to your past experiences with a particular attorney, you generally have an idea of the quality of their services and understand the procedures when handling real estate closing. Since you approach this attorney as a repeat customer, he/she may be willing to handle your transaction at a lower fee. If you have never worked with a real estate attorney before, but have hired an attorney to assist with other legal matters, then consider asking that attorney if they happen to know any good real estate lawyers. Most lawyers practice law on a general basis i.e. had handled cases of different nature, therefore it goes without saying that many general practice attorneys can handle real estate laws since it is one such area.
Ensure you reach out to the bar Association within your area. By contacting the bar Association, you can be provided with a list of attorneys operating in your area who specialize in real estate law. Using the state bar ensures that the attorney you ultimately pick is properly licensed to not only practice law within your area but also in real estate. Usually, to gain access to such a list you need to visit their website or give them a call.