Our New Jersey Real Estate Attorney Handles All Aspects of the Homebuying Process
The New Jersey real estate lawyers at the law firm of Helmer, Conley & Kasselman understand that buying a home is a difficult process, whether you are buying or selling your first home or a subsequent one. We are here to assist individuals with the following:
- Drafting and review of purchase and sale agreements, property transfer agreements and leases;
- Financing and refinancing;
- Title search and title insurance; and
- Mortgage closings.
It’s Important
Whether you are buying or selling, you should not sign a real estate sales agreement before consulting a NJ real estate attorney who is experienced in real estate transactions.
Be aware that others involved in the transaction may try to talk you out of consulting with an attorney. For example, a realtor or other person in interest may insist on immediate signing, saying that you will have three business days to consult with an attorney. This is true, but if any clause is not good for you, your attorney will have to drop everything he may be doing and give certified mail written notice that the agreement is disaffirmed. He or she will probably have to bill you for the service. That costs you money, not the person who gave you bad advice.
On the other hand, if you take an unsigned agreement to the same attorney and something is wrong, a simple phone call to the realtor or to the other party if there is no realtor should suffice. Generally, if you are forearmed and able to say that unless whatever is disadvantageous is changed, we can’t sign, an accommodation that meets your needs should result. In any event, a difficult and potentially time sensitive procedure which may be much more expensive will be avoided.
Seeing your NJ real estate lawyer first will put the only person who is operating only in your interest in the picture early. That will enable you to be protected by someone whose only interest is to protect you in what may be the largest investment of your life.
Why Do You Need a New Jersey Real Estate Lawyer When Buying or Selling a Home?
Even with all of these considerations in mind, many homebuyers and sellers still choose to move forward without hiring an attorney to represent them. Unfortunately, this seems to be due primarily to misconceptions about the ways in which an attorney can help and the costs that are involved. If you are preparing to buy or sell a home, here are five reasons why you should hire a New Jersey real estate lawyer to help you:
1. Your Agent Cannot Give You Legal Advice
While a good real estate agent can help you in many ways during the homebuying process, one thing he or she cannot do is provide you with legal advice. While many agents will tell you this, some simply choose to ignore the legal aspects of homebuying entirely. By hiring a lawyer to represent you, you can feel confident that you have all of your bases covered, that you are not overlooking major risks, and that you are not leaving anything to chance.
2. You Will Need To Negotiate Before and After You Sign Your Purchase Agreement
When buying a home, there is more to negotiating than simply settling on the purchase price. There are various other issues that it will likely be in your best interests to negotiate as well, and an experienced New Jersey real estate lawyer can both (i) identify these issues for you, and (ii) negotiate effectively on your behalf.
3. Real Estate Purchase Contracts Contain Important and Complicated Terms
Even if you will be using the standard New Jersey Association of Realtors contract for the purchase of your home (as is typically the case), it is still very important that you hire an attorney to review the terms of the contract for you. This is a complicated legal document; and, even if it is presented to you as a “standard” agreement, you cannot afford to assume that it is in its original form.
4. You Need to Make Sure You Know All of the Deadlines that Apply
Depending on the terms that you negotiate, your purchase agreement could potentially contain several different deadlines. If you miss any of these deadlines, you could lose your ability to request repairs, negotiate for concessions or back out of the agreement if necessary. Your attorney can make sure you know all of the deadlines you need to meet and help you make informed decisions in a timely manner.
5. Problems Can (and Do) Arise at Closing
Finally, while most residential real estate closings are uneventful, problems can (and do) arise. If a problem arises during your closing, you will want to have an attorney on hand to help you deal with the problem and resolve it as effectively and expeditiously as possible.
Other Considerations
Often people who are buying houses also have other major life changes going on. Is your family expanding or contracting? Are you getting married, or divorced? Has a change in your health or financial status prompted your move? When you are completing the purchase of your new house, also be sure to touch base with your attorney about whether you should revise other documents including wills or trusts at the same time.
Why Choose Us to Be Your New Jersey Real Estate Law Firm?
The New Jersey real estate attorneys at Helmer, Conley & Kasselman have assisted individuals in real estate transactions for many years. We have the knowledge and the experience to help ensure that appropriate steps are taken to make certain of a smooth transfer. Our attorneys may represent either the buyer or seller in the transaction. Come in and meet with our attorneys to discuss how we may assist you in what is among the most significant transactions of your life. To schedule an initial consultation with our New Jersey real estate attorney at your convenience, call 877-435-6371 or tell us how we can reach you online today.
