Buyers Closing Attorney
 

I guess it’s not required, but I’m wondering if it’s wise to have an attorney when purchasing a home here. We are buying from an owner and using their title company. Any advice including Attorney recommendations appreciated. We will be closing the end of May. Thanks

In my opinion, it would be a waste of money. The title company has attorneys who are responsible to produce a clear title.

If you want to hire an attorney, I would recommend Mclin Burnsed.

I would go with the title company for security. Do not think your own attorney is needed. But make sure your background check has been done and OTOW has approved you as a resident. This is different from an owner. Call customer 352 236 6869 service and ask if there is anything special to do and about getting a stick for your car to get in. Down load the entry app myenvera and ask for help getting registered. Review this site for general info On Top of the World Info – Resident Information. After settlement look up Homestead Exemptions on the county website. You can do this on line. You can not qualify until Jan but don' t miss this as it will reduce your taxes in the future. Back to the legal side decide how you want to take title the property. Probably by entries with right of survivorship. Notify the seller how you want the title. This maybe in the purchase agreement. You also have options such as a trust or lady bird deed. May want to discuss these last two with an attorney if you want to do those.

You're making an investment likely over $300,000 and considering trusting the transaction to a Clerk in a Title Office ... hired by the other party?

Get a lawyer.

Slightly off topic, but I would suggest that you ask the seller or the seller's agent if they have three mailbox keys. If not, you have no way to know if a stranger has an extra key. In my opinion, if you don't get three mailbox keys, the seller should pay for a new mailbox lock and keys. The Post Office will charge $35 to install a new lock.

If you think you need an attorney to buy a house, the correct time to hire one is before you sign the sales contract. The closing is mostly a formality.

Very true

In Massachusetts, the buyer and the seller have their own attorneys at closing. That’s why I’m asking. Follow up question. Can I purchase title insurance here in Florida? That would protect me in case of “mistakes” made by title company or their attorneys.

Absolutely, but it will be expensive. I paid $1,100 for a $200K house. That was a buyer's policy on a cash sale.

If you get a mortgage, you won't have a choice, but the policy will only protect the mortgage company. You will pay more for a buyer's policy.

No trying to be a jerk, but based on that question, you absolutely, positively need a lawyer to advise you.

& I do real estate development in MA and have had 100's of closing. I wouldn't do one without an attorney, anywhere in the world and I know what I'm doing.

We purchased title insurance when we purchased here. Never know who will show up with a claim.

Perhaps the Village Indians will decide they own the land.

I don't think On Top of the World has much input into who buys homes in The Villages.

I’m from Massachusetts as well and bought a “snowbird” home here last year. I bought direct from owner and got my own lawyer. It was worth the peace of mind and yes, there was a small snag securing the title insurance that my lawyer took care of. In my opinion, its well worth it!

Amen.

An Attorney? Why?
 

In the state that I livedin prior to moving to The Villages, the buyer and seller were required to have an attorney. When I purchased in The Villages, I hired a real estate attorney to review all the information and documents. You are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars purchasing a home -- I would definitely hire an attorney to protect your interests. Bogin, Munns and Munns has an excellent real estate attorney -- he reviewed the documents and requested some changes.

If buying and selling a piece of real estate was that simple and uncomplicated, closing would be done at Drive Up Windows, like McDonald's sells burgers. It's more complicated than that.

If someone is questioning if they have the option to purchase Title Insurance, they are unfamiliar with the intricacies of buying property and could use some good advice from a professional (attorney), rather than social media posts from folks who likely don't know any more than the original poster.

Nary an hour goes by, without a post being made on social media, about Deed Restrictions, Architectural Review, White Crosses, sticking lights under the eaves of a home or especially, how a Bond works.

If more people used attorneys when buying homes in TV, they'd be far fewer social media posts and lot more folks who understand just what they bought, when they handed over their money.

I thought a Real Estate Attorney position was to review paperwork for the interest of their client looking for legal issues or clauses from seller or buyer. Mainly title insurance and mortgage documentation (especially land contract or out of country) to insure no current liens or contingencies from a past or current lawsuits.

I had no idea a Real Estate Attorney would line by line read and give a full explanation of how to file ARC Reviews, (single sheet fill in the blanks wait for Yes or No Response)

Read and summarize Deed Restrictions, (White Cross not allowed, with exceptions for pot or under Eve)

Under Eve lighting Allowed, (Not requiring ARC Review to be filed).

I guess an Attorney could be prompted to explain ARC, Deed Restrictions, for a few thousand dollars, seems like it would be padding the billing.

However one might contact an Attorney, (Real estate probably an overkill) to start a Class Action for “Under Eve Lighting” that at present doesn’t require ARC or infringing on Deed Restrictions.

I personally, always use an attorney when purchasing a home even if it's not a requirement.

What exactly would an attorney do with regards to a closing of a property? Do you think the seller or mortgage company would make changes to their standard contracts if asked by a buyer's attorney? In a state that does not typically use attorneys for real estate closings where would you find an attorney with enough knowledge and experience in that area?

It happens every day.

This specific transaction is between 2 non-professionals. 2 people, with only anecdotal experience at buying and selling a home, should not be left to their own devices. Common sense should prevail.

Then again, there are folks out there who believe they can learn all they need to know from the Internet or AI.

Would you rely on YouTube videos, to show you how to do Brain Surgery? Why would you rely on the Internet, to make sure your $500,000 is safe and spent wisely?

When my wife's father died in 2011, we used Bogin, Munns, and Munns to help settle his estate and they were very good. They gave us an estimated cost for their legal work but they ended up charging us less. We were very pleased with their work.

At closing got 2 mail box keys, found out it was 2 different keys, only one works, Now they what me to pay for new lock to get 2 keys.

When we sold our house in Virginia in 2016, the buyers had an attorney to manage the closing. We had our realtor and that was all.

They gave us a check for $500K and the next day we got on the auto-train with our two cars and headed for Sanford and then drove to The Villages.

So you are suggesting that all your views and thoughts shouldn’t be taken seriously? Aren’t you part of the internet you are speaking of, just an opinion, that could be right or wrong.

As far as Utube step by step neurology, there are some pretty good sites watching through the scope.
But one needs to buy million dollar of equipment, before starting. You can’t perform without assistance, on yourself, but in some procedures patients can be awake to help guide surgeons on techniques working or not working. So kind of self surgery guidance.

Personally not a fan of Neuro, the saw, the chunk of skull, brain swelling, then wait and see. Always preferred trauma, ya know running a black perf bowel, trying to solve where is the hole. Or the heart you stopped functioning while you added suture so fine can’t be seen without loops.

The age of a drill, straw, and couple of forks went away in the 1800s. Some might accredit that to Utube.:)

Not possible.

I suggested a novice, should hire a professional.

Same as someone might suggest, should a YouTube watcher offer to do their brain surgery.

& as for the post about "selling without an attorney"? Apples & oranges comparison. Just because one deal worked out, doesn't mean they all do. Which is why there are 1.3 Million active Lawyers in the USA

The same folks who think they can do it themselves, would you probably have a whole other opinion of using a lawyer, if they got sued or accused of a crime.

The last time I checked, the Post Office will install a new lock and provide three keys for $35. They will not make duplicate keys. If you didn't get three keys at the closing, you got cheated. The real estate industry should get their act together, and require their sellers to either provide the correct number of keys or pay for a new lock and a set of keys. If you don't get three keys, you have no way to know if a stranger has a key to your mailbox.

Buying and Selling a House is NOT complicated.
 

The OP was not questioning if they have the right to purchase title insurance, and buying/selling a property is usually not complicated. The closing between a buyer and seller is pretty much cut and dry. The fact that the seller has a title company doing the closing is never an issue because the title company takes no sides, and they all do the same work. The seller's Realtor/agent probably told them who to use anyway.

Having been in real estate since 1984, my comment is not a social media post, and I stand by my (#15) comment above. The only other thing I could add is if the OP purchased with a Realtor or agent, they could also ask that person any questions. Your "nary an hour goes by" paragraph has nothing to do with the OP closing on a property.

The OP's question:

Title Insurance is Automatic at Closing.
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bonanza:
The OP was not questioning if they have the right to purchase title insurance . . .

The OP's question:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Berferful View Post
"Can I purchase title insurance here in Florida?"

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Brian -- This is beyond semantics . . . As I previously said, the OP asked if they could purchase title insurance. The cut and dry answer is that is what they get when they close.
They did not question anything about title insurance.