You’ve reached closing day in your real estate transaction. You are about to sign final paperwork and have keys or a check handed to you. What could possibly go wrong now? Unfortunately, incorrectly prepared documents, title problems and other complex issues can delay or even completely derail real estate closings.
You can reduce the possibility of problems arising by getting knowledgeable legal help for your real estate transaction. Our experienced closing attorneys resolve issues throughout the process of buying or selling homes and commercial properties, so that closings go as smoothly as possible and without the unnecessary stress that is common when expensive properties are bought and sold. On the all-important closing day, a Jacksonville real estate closing attorney from our firm will help ensure that everything is in order so you can complete your purchase or sale.
When you work with a real estate closing lawyer from Adam Law Group, you can rest easy knowing your interests are protected.
While many types of meetings have gone virtual, most real estate closings are still done in person. To help make closing day more convenient for your schedule, we are happy to come to your home or office, or meet with you at another location of your choosing in the Jacksonville area. Or you can come to our law office if that works best for you.
Contact our real estate closing lawyers to learn more about how we smooth the closing process through effective legal advice and responsive service. Call (904) 329-7249.
In basic terms, closings are the final step to completing a real estate transaction. In a closing, purchase and sale documents are reviewed and signed, payment is made and ownership is transferred. Buyers, sellers, their respective attorneys, the closing agent—who may be a closing attorney or a title company agent—and other interested parties may be present, depending on the transaction.
Some of the documentation to be signed at real estate transactions includes:
Before signing each document, you will be told what they are and have a chance to read them. Once everything is signed, the documents are notarized. Then funds are transferred to the seller and the buyer gets keys and the deed to the property. As you can see, there is a pile of paperwork to get through. Depending on the details of a transaction, a closing can take hours.
Here is how a knowledgeable real estate closing attorney can help at a real estate closing:
While real estate transactions and closings In Florida don’t require attorney involvement, it is to your benefit to have an attorney representing your interests. If a legal problem arises anytime during the property sales or purchase process, your attorney can work to resolve it before it disrupts and potentially shuts down the transaction.
During the actual closing, if there is no lawyer at the table, it can delay the closing process for hours, days or longer. While title companies can prepare closing documents and hand over titles and keys to new property owners, they can’t resolve legal problems or answer legal questions. Time can be wasted while a lawyer is found to handle legal concerns.
Our experienced real estate closing attorneys at Adam Law Group can answer all of your questions about your sale or purchase of a home or a business property and represent you throughout the process. Don’t delay–reach out to us for a free consultation today.
Following are common questions we get about real estate closings. A real estate lawyer from our firm can answer your specific questions related to your situation. Contact us for a free consultation about your real estate matter.
Closing costs are fees paid by buyers and sellers when a home or other property is sold. What do real estate closing costs include? They include payment for items such as:
When we advise you in your transaction, our Jacksonville real estate closing attorneys can inform you about what your closing costs may include.
Real estate closing costs in Florida are different for every transaction. There is no one-size-fits-all number. The type of property you buy, such as a condominium versus a single family home, the cost of the property, where the property is located, the third parties you use for surveying and inspections, your lender fees and other things are all factored into the amount of closing costs. Your closing attorney can help you understand the specific costs involved.
Both buyers and sellers of real estate pay closing costs in Florida. Who pays for what item in real estate closing costs can vary based on where (in which county) the home or other property is located, and also by the terms negotiated in sales and purchase agreements. Our skilled real estate closing attorneys in Jacksonville will work to negotiate terms that are beneficial to your interests and carefully review closing documents to ensure they correctly reflect the terms to which you agreed.
When it comes to who hires the closing attorney, it’s wise for both buyers and sellers to hire their own real estate lawyers to advise them at closings. As a closing attorney for the buyer, the attorney represents the interests of the buyer only, not other parties involved. The same goes for closing attorneys hired by sellers—they look out for the interests of property sellers.
Closing attorneys may also be hired as settlement agents handling the overall transaction, rather than specifically representing the buyer or seller. So who hires the settlement agent? In Florida, sellers typically pay for the title companies for closings, so if a neutral attorney is hired as the settlement agent instead of a title company, they would generally be hired and paid by the seller, although like many other terms in a real estate transaction, this is negotiable.
Can real estate closings be done remotely? The answer to this question is usually a “no.” While cash deals can be closed remotely using a virtual notary, In Florida transactions involving a mortgage lender, the signing must be performed in the personal presence of a notary, rather than remotely via phone or video. However, our Jacksonville real estate closing attorney wants to make the process as hassle-free for you as possible. Our attorneys are happy to come to your location. We can meet anywhere in the Jacksonville area that is convenient for you, or you can come to our office. Just let us know what is best for you.
Buying a home or other property is a huge financial investment. Having an attorney you can turn to for advice and to resolve possible issues that could disrupt your purchase plans can protect your investment. If you’re selling, your real estate closing attorney can ensure that nothing was missed and no mistakes were made so that your obligations regarding the property end at the closing, and you aren’t held legally responsible for any problems down the road.
Whether you are buying or selling, the real estate closing lawyers at Adam Law Group will provide effective representation and sound legal advice. We assist people in residential and commercial real estate transactions that range from simple and straightforward to highly complex.
Call Adam Law Group in Jacksonville to schedule a free consultation by calling (904) 329-7249 today.
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