Real Estate Attorney in Sonoma County Outlines Why You Need a Lawyer When Buying a House

At Johnston & Associates Law, one misapprehension we often witness is people thinking that no one needs a real estate attorney in Sonoma County except for wealthy people or investors.  In fact, it’s far from the truth.  While it’s possible to buy a house without having a lawyer, it’s not a good idea.  A real estate attorney can provide several important services, and – most importantly – help you avoid major pitfalls.

When tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars are on the line, a real estate attorney in Sonoma County is an excellent insurance policy.  Here are just a few of the things we can do for you when buying a house.

Four Ways a Sonoma Real Estate Attorney Can Help in Any Property Purchase

1 – A central communicator/coordinator 

Most property purchases involve more entities than just the buyer and the seller.  There are banks, lenders, insurance companies, property inspectors, tax collectors and more.  Without an attorney, the burden will be on you to know who must be contacted, how to contact them, and what to say – or the deal could fall through.  An attorney can easily handle these matters on your behalf.

2 – Examination of the title

More than anything else, when buying property, you need to know you have a clear and legal title to it.  You also need to know whether there are any restrictions on the land or its usage.  An experienced property attorney can dig into these questions, and be certain you know exactly what you’re buying before you sign.

3 – Obtaining title insurance

Title insurance (usually) is not a necessity, but it’s also a very good idea.  This protects you – and often the mortgage lender – if property disputes come up against your title, or some overlooked historical detail ends up causing future problems.  This is much easier to obtain at reasonable costs with an attorney by your side.

4 – Records and disbursements

Finally, there is a lot of record-keeping involved in purchasing property, as well as payouts which will need to be made to several of the entities involved.  This is another area where an attorney will be most helpful.  You can focus on the purchase, rather than the bureaucracy.

Find an Experienced Real Estate Attorney in Sonoma County

Johnston & Associates Law brings decades of real estate legal expertise to the table.  Contact us to learn more.