Full Answer
States like New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina require an attorney to handle real estate closings. In other states, a title company can close the transaction but cannot give legal advice on the contract.
An attorney reviews the purchase agreement, negotiates contract terms, examines title, addresses survey or boundary issues, drafts amendments, and represents you at the closing table. The cost is usually a small fraction of the purchase price.
If you are buying a home — particularly a first home, a new construction, a short sale, a foreclosure, or a property with title questions — a real estate attorney's fee is among the best investments you can make in the transaction.
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