what type of lawyer does a real estate broker need?

by Vivienne Runolfsdottir DVM 8 min read

Answer: An attorney who wants to become licensed as a broker must first apply and meet requirements to become licensed as a real estate sales agent. After becoming licensed as a sales agent, the attorney can review the education and experience requirements for becoming a real estate broker.

Full Answer

How do you become a real estate broker?

Regardless, the Department of State has opinioned that an attorney who obtains a real estate brokerage license is not only exempt from “the educa- tional and examination requirements for admission,” but also from “the con- tinuing education requirements.” See 1979 N.Y. Op. Atty. Gen. 69. So, an attorney who wants a license must merely pay a fee.

How do you become a real estate attorney?

Answer: An attorney who wants to become licensed as a broker must first apply and meet requirements to become licensed as a real estate sales agent. After becoming licensed as a sales agent, the attorney can review the education and experience requirements for becoming a real estate broker.

Should I become a real estate lawyer?

Mar 13, 2022 · Generally people hire an attorney if their real estate deal is anything outside a “vanilla transaction,” says Bryan Zuetel, a real estate …

What are the requirements for a real estate broker?

Feb 28, 2022 · A real estate broker is a licensed real estate professional in their own right in addition to being a licensed real estate agent. A real estate broker holds expertise that can help people with real estate transactions, and like an agent, a broker can also assist with selling or buying real property. The big difference between a broker and an ...

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What is a real estate attorney?

A real estate attorney is someone who is licensed to practice real estate law, meaning they have the knowledge and experience to advise parties involved in a real estate transaction, such as a home sale.

Why do you need an attorney for a home purchase?

Here are a few reasons you might need or want an attorney to be part of your home buying team: State or lender requirement: Every state has slightly different laws regarding real estate transactions, and some states consider certain actions that are part of the process to be “practicing law.”. These regulations are often meant to prevent real ...

How much does a real estate attorney charge?

If you want your own attorney in addition to the one required by your lender, you’ll also pay for any services they provide you. How and how much a real estate attorney charges will vary, but here are some basic ranges to give you an idea of what you’ll spend: 1 Fixed hourly rate: A real estate attorney who charges an hourly rate may charge $150 – $350 per hour, but this can vary a lot depending on how experienced the attorney is and what area you’re in. 2 Fixed rates for specific services: They may also charge a flat fee for the particular services they provide. For example, a real estate attorney might charge $500 – $1,500 to conduct a home closing. Their fees may also depend on the sale price of the property in question.

Who is in charge of closing a home?

In some cases, a real estate attorney is also the person who’ll be in charge of your closing. In a home purchase transaction, both the buyer and seller can hire an attorney to represent their interests during the process. Or, in the case where an attorney is overseeing a closing where the home is being purchased with a mortgage loan, ...

Why do I need a real estate attorney?

Reasons to hire a real estate attorney even if it’s optional 1 You’re an out-of-town buyer. 2 You’re buying a property that is a short sale or bank-owned. 3 You’re buying a property that is part of an estate sale. 4 You’re buying a commercial property. 5 You’re buying a property that could potentially have some structural issues. 6 You’re buying a property in a problematic area such as a flood zone or areas with adverse conditions (tornado-prone, radon, toxicity levels, etc.).

Which states require a real estate attorney to be present at closing?

These include Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia. Keep in mind that these rules can vary by region within states, too.

What does it mean when you are selling a house?

You’re selling a property that is in some state of distress. You’re the heir or executor of a property whose owner is now deceased. You’re selling a house with an uncooperative partner. You have judgments or liens on the property.

Who is Julie Ryan Evans?

Julie Ryan Evans is an editor and writer who has covered everything from politics to pop culture and beyond. She loves running, reading, cold wine, and hot weather. Get Pre-Approved Connect with a lender who can help you with pre-approval.

What is a real estate attorney?

A real estate attorney can assist in the negotiation and drafting of the construction contract and handle the closing of the construction loan. Four common types of construction contracts include unit pricing contracts, cost plus contracts, lump sum/fixed price contracts, and time & materials contracts.

What is the role of an attorney in real estate negotiations?

An attorney performs due diligence to protect the client’s best interest while giving the client legal advice regarding the real estate matter.

Why is it important to have an attorney review a real estate contract?

It is important to have an attorney review a real estate agreement before signing the contract. Breaching a contract (failing to perform the terms and conditions within the contract) can result in costly real estate litigation and damages.

What is the job of an attorney?

An attorney’s job is to protect his or her client’s best interest. The attorney cannot do that when the attorney represents parties that have adverse concerns. Throughout a real estate transaction, the attorney provides sound legal counsel to his or her client.

Can a real estate attorney write a title insurance policy?

Some real estate attorneys can also write title insurance policies as agents for a title insurance company. Title insurance companies offer insurance that covers title defects and problems. The fee for title insurance is usually based on the sale price of the property or the mortgage loan amount. Before an attorney or title insurance agent can issue a title insurance policy, a title search must be completed.

What happens if a real estate contract is not drafted correctly?

However, if a real estate contract is not drafted correctly, the parties could incur substantial costs and time attempting to enforce the terms of the contract. Real estate lawyers have extensive experience drafting and reviewing real estate contracts.

Does title insurance cover closing?

Most title insurance policies contain exclusions and exceptions that the policy does not cover. It is important to discuss title insurance with an experienced real estate lawyer before a real estate closing. An owner needs to understand what the title insurance policy covers and what is not covered.

What an Agent Can Do For Your

While you are not required to engage a real estate agent in your real estate transaction, it is quite common for people to do so, and, depending on your state's real estate laws, a real estate agent may be able to handle most or all of the different aspects of your real estate transaction.

What an Attorney Can Do For Your

When particular legal issues or difficulties arise in the context of your real estate transaction that are beyond your real estate agent's capabilities, a real estate lawyer is the appropriate professional to handle your situation. The most common tasks that a lawyer can perform in a real estate transaction include:

Advantages of Using a Lawyer for Real Estate Transactions

The biggest advantage of using a lawyer in a real estate transaction is that the lawyer, unlike the real estate agent, has no financial incentive for the real estate transaction to be successful.

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