New Villager requesting assistance

[jerseygirl008]

I have read all of the posts I could find about having an attorney at the closing.
My closing is 5/27/08. I bought a resale from TV Realty. Have considered whether or not I need an attorney and have decided, I do. Mostly b/c I'm not familiar with alot of the terms and have never done this before. I feel uncomfortable sitting in a room with a bunch of people - with no-one to represent me. So. . . I am seeking advice, a name/phone number of a reputable Villages attorney to look over my papers and come to the closing with me.

HELP !!!! Anybody know (used) an attorney from the TV area that is top shelf? Can you share their name, phone number. Much appreciated.

[samhass]

Girl, I wish I knew of one. I bought two houses from TV with no atty. I never felt the need for one in either case.

[redwitch]

No help here for an attorney, either, sorry to say. If you can't find an attorney, I can probably help you out a little (strictly on friend basis). I've bought and sold a few homes and I used to do mortgages, so am very familiar with the terms, so I could at least explain the meanings to you.

Another alternative would be to pay a real estate agent (called a "buyer's" agent) to help you. Normally, you pay an agent a set fee to help you find a home, but I'm sure one would be willing to sit down with you and explain the terms, etc. They could not, of course, give you any legal advice.

[Sidney Lanier]

We bought a resale and did not have our own attorney, nor did the sellers. However, the law firm of McLin & Burnsed (sp?) are located right in Lake Sumter Landing and handled all the paperwork relating to the closing, right down to transferring keys and getting Villages ID cards issued. Very convenient, and though the seller was responsible for paying the cost, it seemed pretty reasonable. For what it's worth....

[Barefoot]

Have you asked TV Realty for a recommendation? When I was a real estate broker, I would always give my clients the names of a few lawyers that I knew were honest and inexpensive. Any knowledgeable real estate agent should be able to provide you with the names of several good local lawyers so you have a choice.

Jerseygirl, I wish I were living in TV, I'd offer to attend the closing with you. I bought a Villa through MLS and didn't use an attorney. I found all the legal documents very straightforward and easy to understand. I just faxed them to TV, didn't even attend the closing.

I can certainly understand that you don't want to be in a roomful of people with no-one to represent you.
If TV Realty can't give you any choices, please let me know and I'll get some recommendations for you.

[jerseygirl008]

Thanks everybody. After much more thought and discussion, I have determined that what I'm really the most uncomfortable with is getting slammed with "this fee and that fee" at the closing, and sitting in that room feeling . . . alone. Guess that sums it up.

ANYWAY, thanks to all of you, your recommendations and your sharing of your closing experiences has helped me decide. I will go to the closing alone, without a lawyer. I already feel like I have learned so much about all of this house buying lingo. I have learned that you can negotiate, ahead of time, (or try to anyway), if you feel the fees are duplicates (my secret worry). Not a secret anymore, huh??

That water I drank while visiting TV did more to me than I thought. I bought a house, and now I'm telling all my secrets. GEEEEEEZ.

Thanks again good friends.

[Barefoot]

JG, they faxed the closing papers to me so I had lots of time to review them in a quiet place without interruptions. If you are proceeding lawyerless, I would recommend you ask for the closing douments prior to the closing day.

Good luck, see you in Chat.

[jerseygirl008]

Barefoot: Good advice, thanks. I am expecting the papers any day. I think that will help (looking the papers - fees -over ahead of time). Wish I could get home earlier to chat. By the time I get home (12 midnight), all of you are zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzing. Once in a blue moon, a few are on. But I'm ready to chat away and they are usually about burned, chatted out. Thanks again. Hope to be in chat soon.