[maistocars]

Originally Posted by Dusty_Star

This is for a resale, not a new house purchase. Do you think an attorney is not needed in that case? & an experienced buyer, but out of state. Thanks for your attention.

This question generally comes up from folks up North where an attorney is always used. In Texas, attorneys are never used. Title companies do the work and ensure clear title. Also, the real estate agent is representing you not the buyer UNLESS it is their listing for sale.

[DAVES]

Originally Posted by chris237

I also recommend checking with McLin Burnsed. I used them to sell one Villages’ property and purchase another (both FSBO) in 2022 and was very satisfied. They know the process and the costs were very reasonable.

We bought a NEW HOME 9 plus years ago. The atty at closing REPRESENTING THE BUILDER was McLin Burnsed. The paperwork for our previous home, years ago was FOUR PAGES.
The contract you now sign is like 36 pages. After each page the next page that you SIGN says you have read and UNDERSTAND the previous page. As posted previously we paid for an atty so they were representing us. Aside, at our closing I spoke to the representative from McLin Burnsed, she was annoyed that I told her I was bringing MY ATTY. I still recall her saying we allow only 15 minutes per closing. I am the wrong person to pull this baloney with. I would not sign anything I've not read. I demanded a copy of the document in advance
and had it with ME at closing. Questioned were asked not of the sellers atty but of the attorney I paid for and thus represented me. Some people stated they used Mclin Burnsed to represent them as a BUYER. I will bet they would not allow a seller's atty to pull the xxxxx
they tried to pull on me.
In every event someone is in control-IT SHOULD BE YOU.

[DAVES]

Originally Posted by maistocars

This question generally comes up from folks up North where an attorney is always used. In Texas, attorneys are never used. Title companies do the work and ensure clear title. Also, the real estate agent is representing you not the buyer UNLESS it is their listing for sale.

My understanding of real estate law if it is not in writing it does not mean anything. The title companies do the work. As far as I know, I AM NOT A LEGAL EXPERT, you do not even need to pay a title company unless you take out a mortgage, the loan company will insist on it.

Home buying and selling is strange for most of us. Few are used to buying something, anything for about half a million dollars. Everything is negotiable. Ethics? We can read what SHOULD BE. Violations are NOT easy to catch or to enforce. Typical, damages 2,000 but it will cost you 5,000 to collect.

[mlmarr]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

I would discuss it with McLin Burnsed. They will either represent you or suggest someone who will. Personally, I don't think you need an attorney, especially if you are an experienced buyer. But, don't make the mistake that many buyers do, that the real estate agent who drives you around and shows you houses is representing you. They are representing the seller, not you.

Especially a villagers salesman

[mlmarr]

Some MLS brokers/offices have a attonery on sight..

[Jhrath7@gmail.com]

What about selling a house if you want to do it on your own? Just asking….

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by Jhrath7@gmail.com

What about selling a house if you want to do it on your own? Just asking….

Most title companies will give you a FSBO package for free that includes a sales contract, and they will handle the closing for a reasonable fixed charge. When you find a buyer, you and the buyer sign the sales contract and take it to the title company and give them the earnest money to hold in escrow. The title company will do everything else. When you first start to show your house, you need to have a sales contract and a third party to accept and hold the earnest money.

[joelfmi]

Originally Posted by Nucky

A fool and his money will soon be departed but we’re lucky to be together in the first place. Lawyer up. It’s inexpensive and you definitely sleep better when you’re represented!
The majority of closing are done with no lawyer but for us it was that way for the first house. I never let loose liked representing me. I did it because some heavy hitters in The Villages completed their purchases and sales without incident. My first purchase had a drainage issue and the customer the neighbor was looking for someone new to tangled with. If I had a lawyer he would have known that there was a court case already and the guy I bought from prevailed. Instead I had to do the leg work to come up with that conclusion. The lawyers in Florida are wimpy compared to N.J. Good Luck. I found a lawyer down here with some spunk. MILLHORN & SHANAWANY 352-205-4707. This office is on 441 up near Walmart but I saw another office on 301. In any case they are worth it.

There have been problems with Drainage System before at the villages I recommend an attorney. That is why don't rush into any closing without the house being inspected by a professional home inspector.

[rogerk]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

Most buyers do not hire an attorney. The most important thing to get right is the sales contract. After that, the closing is pretty routine, and the closing company and all real estate agents are bound by Florida law to treat both the buyers and sellers in an ethical manner. If you do hire an attorney, I would be sure to get the attorney to agree to a fixed fee for his/her services. If you pay them by the hour, you may be very surprised by the final fees.

If you buy a pre-owned home from a FISBO you should hire an attorney before you sign a contract!

[Aces4]

Originally Posted by joelfmi

There have been problems with Drainage System before at the villages I recommend an attorney. That is why don't rush into any closing without the house being inspected by a professional home inspector.

A lawyer won’t check out a drainage system and a professional home inspector guarantees nothing if there is a problem after purchase.

I know that Frank and his sons are extremely diligent in their inspections but other than them, we personally don’t employ inspectors anymore. We do pay for hvac check and why have the roof checked out? I’ve heard new roofs are free in Florida. ;-)