Diving into some of the top advice and strategies for hiring a reliable property lawyer to help handle your next real estate purchase or sale.
Are you looking to hire a property lawyer?
Perhaps you want to buy a residential or commercial property. Maybe you’re in the market for a ranch. Or you just want to sell your beach house.
Regardless of your situation, you’ve made the right decision to seek the help of a real estate attorney. Real estate transactions are complex to the layman, but a lawyer will ensure everything is above board.
There’s one problem, though. How do you find a reliable property lawyer? With so many of them out there, you need to know how to separate the wheat from the chaff.
Keep reading for more insight.
Understand Your Situation
When you have a good understanding of the issue you’re facing, it’s much easier to find the right lawyer. This is because most property lawyers typically specialize in certain areas of real estate law.
For instance, if you need help buying or selling a house, you need a property lawyer who either specializes in real estate closings or has vast experience in this field.
Or let’s say you’ve just received a letter from a taxing authority, telling you that you’ve fallen behind on your property taxes. When this is the case, you need a property lawyer who specializes in property taxes.
Draw a List of Property Lawyers You’d Potentially Work With
Now that you know your needs, the next step is to start finding the names and contacts of the lawyers you’d like to end up working with. Whether you are looking into buying property in Melbourne, Florida, or a property in an area local to you, it is important to make sure you are using a reputable lawyer with plenty of experience in all property types.
Call up your relatives and friends and ask if they know any reliable property lawyer. Getting recommendations from the people close to you is the best way to find a good lawyer.
However, if your people don’t know any property lawyer or your search yielded just a few names, go online. A simple search for real estate lawyer services on Google will lead you to more lawyers.
Do They Have a Valid Law License?
In real estate, fraud is rife. If you’re not careful, it’s possible to be swindled off your money or property.
To ensure you aren’t putting yourself at risk, work with a licensed property lawyer.
Simply set up an initial consultation (which should be free) with the lawyers on your list and enquire about their license status.
Don’t just take their word for it; verify the information they give you with your State Bar.
In most instances, you’ll need a real estate attorney who is licensed to practice in your state.
In some cases, however, you might need a lawyer who is licensed to practice in another state.
For example, if you’re a California resident but you want to buy a home in Nevada, the transaction will be closed in that state.
As such, you need a property lawyer who is licensed to practice in NV.
Look Up Client Reviews
Let’s face it. Most property lawyers are well-educated and properly licensed. What makes the difference between a reliable and unreliable lawyer is the quality of services they provide.
What are past clients saying about the lawyer you want to pick? On sites like Avvo and Yelp, you’ll find reviews of lawyers. Choose a property lawyer who has lots of positive reviews.
Go Find a Reliable Property Lawyer
It’s not advisable to go into a property transaction on your own. You need a reliable property lawyer on your side.
With this guide, you now have the information that’ll help you find the best lawyer for your needs.
Keep reading our blog for more property tips and advice.
