Insight

Do You Need A Real Estate Lawyer?

Do You Need A Real Estate Lawyer?

Roy D. Oppenheim

Roy D. Oppenheim

December 2, 2019 02:10 PM

Real Estate Attorneys serving Fort Lauderdale, Broward County, Miami-Dade & Florida State.


Video: Do You Need A Real Estate Lawyer?

FAQ’s With Roy Oppenheim

Question people ask is do you need a real estate attorney? I presume this is going to be in the context of residential, because on the commercial context, you have no business buying or selling real estate without a lawyer. And in fact, I’ve rarely seen someone do that. So it’s obviously whoever is asking this question probably hasn’t bought real estate before and they’re somewhat new to the game, and they want to know do they really need a real estate attorney.

Why You Need A Real Estate Lawyer

My advice would be that yeah, it’s highly recommended. And you’re saying, ” Well, you’re saying that because you’re an attorney.” No, I’m saying that because I’ve seen, over the course of 30-some odd years what happens when someone doesn’t have lawyers involved in the transaction and how deals can go bad. I mean just as one example, I know people who were trying to buy real estate at foreclosure auctions, and they didn’t have an attorney and they thought they were buying a first mortgage.

Meaning that they thought that they were buying the real estate on the first mortgage, but instead they bought a lien on a second mortgage, and so they end up with the property for maybe six months and then they get a knock on the door and they get served with papers from the first mortgage, and then they lose the entire piece of real estate because they have no idea what they’re doing.

Now, that’s an extreme and that’s happened probably about a half dozen times to clients of mine who walk in after the fact, they aren’t clients of mine obviously before because that typically wouldn’t happen if I am representing. But that’s an extreme of why you would need a real estate attorney. But there are many other situations where if you’re buying real estate, and again, if the seller doesn’t want to sell after they’ve signed the contract. What do you do? Do just say, “Okay, that’s okay with me,” or do you then put, you know legal pressure on them or even end up suing them if necessary?

I’ve seen situations where realtors haven’t acted professionally and where you need lawyers to make sure that the realtors are acting professionally. So it’s always good to have a real estate lawyer by your side when you buying real estate. After all, it’s one of the biggest transactions that you’re going to do in your life and you should have a professional there for you. I mean typically, you know, when you have a toothache you don’t end up, you know, trying to pull the tooth by tying a string to the door and pulling the tooth.

You may do that if you’re a little kid and if it’s a baby tooth, but normally as an adult, we do not do that. And it’s the same thing here. We should not be doing something that we don’t typically do every day. And so you need to have the professional advice of an attorney when you buy real estate.

Oppenheim Law | Real Estate Attorneys Fort Lauderdale
2500 Weston Rd #404
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33331
954-384-6114

Originally posted at Oppenheim Law: https://www.oppenheimlaw.com/news-resources/videos/need-real-estate-lawyer/

Related Articles

House Trap


by Heidi E. Storz

Special districts are often being used as profit centers that leave residents to foot the bill. These homeowners deserve protection from unscrupulous developers who attempt to fleece them and avoid accountability.

Special Districts Changing Property Ownership

Trending Articles

2025 Best Lawyers Awards Announced: Honoring Outstanding Legal Professionals Across the U.S.


by Jennifer Verta

Introducing the 31st edition of The Best Lawyers in America and the fifth edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America.

Digital map of the United States illuminated by numerous bright lights

Unveiling the 2025 Best Lawyers Awards Canada: Celebrating Legal Excellence


by Jennifer Verta

Presenting the 19th edition of The Best Lawyers in Canada and the 4th edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in Canada.

Digital map of Canadathis on illuminated by numerous bright lights

Legal Distinction on Display: 15th Edition of The Best Lawyers in France™


by Best Lawyers

The industry’s best lawyers and firms working in France are revealed in the newly released, comprehensive the 15th Edition of The Best Lawyers in France™.

French flag in front of country's outline

Announcing the 13th Edition of Best Lawyers Rankings in the United Kingdom


by Best Lawyers

Best Lawyers is proud to announce the newest edition of legal rankings in the United Kingdom, marking the 13th consecutive edition of awards in the country.

British flag in front of country's outline

Announcing the 16th Edition of the Best Lawyers in Germany Rankings


by Best Lawyers

Best Lawyers announces the 16th edition of The Best Lawyers in Germany™, featuring a unique set of rankings that highlights Germany's top legal talent.

German flag in front of country's outline

Prop 36 California 2024: California’s Path to Stricter Sentencing and Criminal Justice Reform


by Jennifer Verta

Explore how Prop 36 could shape California's sentencing laws and justice reform.

Illustrated Hands Breaking Chains Against a Bright Red Background

Celebrating Excellence in Law: 11th Edition of Best Lawyers in Italy™


by Best Lawyers

Best Lawyers announces the 11th edition of The Best Lawyers in Italy™, which features an elite list of awards showcasing Italy's current legal talent.

Italian flag in front of country's outline

Combating Nuclear Verdicts: Empirically Supported Strategies to Deflate the Effects of Anchoring Bias


by Sloan L. Abernathy

Sometimes a verdict can be the difference between amicability and nuclear level developments. But what is anchoring bias and how can strategy combat this?

Lawyer speaking in courtroom with crowd and judge in the foreground

Things to Do Before a Car Accident Happens to You


by Ellie Shaffer

In a car accident, certain things are beyond the point of no return, while some are well within an individual's control. Here's how to stay legally prepared.

Car dashcam recording street ahead

The Push and Pitfalls of New York’s Attempt to Expand Wrongful Death Recovery


by Elizabeth M. Midgley and V. Christopher Potenza

The New York State Legislature recently went about updating certain wrongful death provisions and how they can be carried out in the future. Here's the latest.

Red tape blocking off a section of street

Tampa Appeals Court ‘Sends Clear Message,” Ensuring School Tax Referendum Stays on Ballot


by Gregory Sirico

Hillsborough County's tax referendum is back on the 2024 ballot, promising $177 million for schools and empowering residents to decide the future of education.

Graduation cap in air surrounded by pencils and money

Find the Best Lawyers for Your Needs


by Jennifer Verta

Discover how Best Lawyers simplifies the attorney search process.

A focused woman with dark hair wearing a green top and beige blazer, working on a tablet in a dimly

Key Developments and Trends in U.S. Commercial Litigation


by Justin Smulison

Whether it's multibillion-dollar water cleanliness verdicts or college athletes vying for the right to compensation, the state of litigation remains strong.

Basketball sits in front of stacks of money

Is Premises Liability the Same as Negligence?


by Jeremy Wilson and Taylor Rodney Marks

In today's age, we are always on the move, often inhabiting spaces we don't own. But what happens when someone else's property injures you or someone you know?

A pair of silhouetted legs falling down a hole with yellow background

Woman on a Mission


by Rebecca Blackwell

Baker Botts partner and intellectual property chair Christa Brown-Sanford discusses how she juggles work, personal life, being a mentor and leadership duties.

Woman in green dress crossing her arms and posing for headshot

Best Lawyers Celebrates Women in the Law: Ninth Edition


by Alliccia Odeyemi

Released in both print and digital form, Best Lawyers Ninth Edition of Women in the Law features stories of inspiring leadership and timely legal issues.

Lawyer in green dress stands with hands on table and cityscape in background