Real Estate

Real Estate Law covers a number of legal issues for homeowners, home buyers, tenants, landlords, and more.

Real estate transactions can be very complicated, with the potential of something going wrong at every step of the process. Once a contract is signed, you are bound by its conditions. A home sale involves a number participants besides the home buyer and seller (the realtor, mortgage company, appraiser, title company and more). Each party will be looking out for their own interests and not necessarily yours. Be sure you have an attorney with you to guide you through the process and review any contracts before you sign. Protect your investment by having an attorney represent you throughout this often convoluted and highly complicated process.

An attorney will negotiate any contracts, review all documents, ensure clear title to the property, explain the tax ramifications of your purchase or sale, work with you to obtain financing, make sure that you understand what everything means, and much more. Your attorney serves as your advocate and will be the one looking out for your interests.
Additional Resources - Real Estate

Property and Real Estate Law

  • American Bar Associations Guide to Home Ownership

    Theres more to owning a home than saving up for a down payment. Just as a house has a frame to support the walls and keep the roof overhead, it also has a legal framework of rights and duties that can keep your dream of property ownership from crashing in on your head. This book is designed to help you understand that legal framework and answer some questions you might have. It can also help you avoid legal problems and work through problems that might arise.

  • Conflict of Interest? The Impact of Dual Agency on the Price and Speed of Residential Real Estate Transactions

    We examine the effects of dual agency, where the same agent or agency represents both the buyer and the seller in a real estate transaction. Dual agency raises concerns about potential conflicts of interest for agents, leading some states to prohibit the practice. However, dual agency may also benefit buyers and sellers, by offering information and transaction efficiencies, and by expanding the pool of houses and buyers that an agency can try to match with each other.

  • Consumer Handbook on Adjustable-Rate Mortgages

    This handbook explains how ARMs work and discusses some of the issues that borrowers may face. It includes ways to reduce the risks and gives some pointers about advertising and other ways you can get information from lenders and other trusted advisers.

  • Landlord Law

    This website will help landlords understand and exercise their legal rights and gain knowledge about their state’s Landlord/Tenant Laws.

  • National Association of Realtors - Legislative/Regulatory Issues
  • Nolo - Real Estate section

    Articles and forms needed for real estate transactions

  • Overview of Real Property Law in the United States

    This article will present an overview of real property law in the United States. The basic concepts underlying real property law are the same throughout the United States. However, there are numerous variations in the application of these concepts between states as well as between counties and cities within states.

  • Real Estate, the Web and Regulation

    Presentation given by Steve Kropper, president of Bank on Real Estate at ARELLO (Association of Real Estate License Law Officials).

  • Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Section of the American Bar Association

    The Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Section is a leading national forum for lawyers, and currently has over 30,000 members. The Real Property Division focuses on legal aspects of property use, ownership, development, transfer, regulation, financing, taxation and disposal. The Trust and Estate Division focuses on all aspects of trusts, estate planning, employee benefits, insurance, and probate and trust litigation.

  • Real-Estate-Law.com

    Articles and updates on real estate.

  • Understanding Real Estate Tax-Deferred Exchanges

    Much has been written over the years to explain tax deferred exchanges, however, it has been my experience that most explanations are lengthy and much too technical. Being a well known real estate attorney with an emphasis in tax deferred exchanges, as well as an author on this subject, it has been brought to my attention that a simple to read guide explaining tax-deferred exchanges has been in high demand for quite a long time. I hope this guide will be useful to you.