If your dream of buying a house in Florida is about to come true, congratulations! You’ve no doubt worked long and hard to get to this point. The real estate market throughout the state is highly competitive. As a first-time homebuyer, it’s helpful to seek legal counsel as you embark on this journey. The right type of guidance and support helps ensure a smooth transaction.
There are no laws requiring you to hire a real estate attorney as you begin your search for a new home. However, if you’re unfamiliar with the home-purchase process, you might encounter challenges regarding all the paperwork, contracts, title searches, negotiations and other issues that may be relevant to a successful closing.
Safeguard your rights and protect your interests in real estate
There are two sides to every home sale — the buyer’s side and the seller’s side. Both of you want to get the best return possible on the investment and sale. Having someone who is well-versed in Florida real estate laws by your side is the best way to protect your assets. It is especially helpful to secure legal support if extenuating issues are impeding your right to a fair transaction, such as an agent, seller or lender discriminating against you.
For a real estate sale to be legally binding, one must sign a contract
Someone can offer to sell you a home, and you might agree to buy it. However, to make the deal legally binding, you must execute and sign a contract. It is wise to ask a real estate attorney to review your contract before signing. If language is ambiguous or the contract emits an important issue, etc., an attorney will be able to spot it right away. You should never sign anything unless you clearly understand all the terms and implications. An attorney acts as your personal advocate to make sure you fully understand and agree to the terms of the contract.
The title on the home must be free and clear
Someone who knows their way around in the legal system regarding title searches can streamline and, perhaps, expedite the process. To buy a house, you must make sure the title is free and clear, meaning that the person selling it has a legal right to do so. If a title search reveals a problem, an experienced real estate attorney will know what to do.
You can buy a house in Florida without a real estate attorney, just like you can sell a house without a real estate agent. However, in both cases, it’s beneficial to have a support network in place to help you achieve the best results possible from the transaction.
