[TJ CHICAGO]

This is my first Thread and I sure glad I found this site! My wife and I just purchase a house in the village of Hemingway. We are closing this month on the house and will not be able to attend the closing.
Do you recommend that I have a local attorney review all my closing documents? If yes, can you give a recommendation of a local real estate attorney that is not affiliated with the Village?
Also, the local insurance company ask me if I want flood insurance. Does anyone have flood insurance?

[Army Guy]

We closed back in June via email, phone and fax. TV will send all the papers to you to review prior, just ask. Don't see the need in having an Attorney. It all went so smooth, we were very impressed.

Army Guy

[SteveFromNY]

Is it a new house? If it is and you are working with TV, I think you are OK without a lawyer and doing it via mail. We did that with ours and it everything was fine.
If the house is a resale, I can't say. No experience in FL. In NY, we used atty's for home sales as a matter of course.

[JeanneBeannie]

Congratulations on your home in Hemingway TJ!! I also wondered if I needed an attorney, but I didnt at all. I purchased a pre-owned and the closing was quick and went along very smoothly. They are extremely professional here and have all their ducks in a row so to speak. Easiest closing I ever experienced. Good luck to you.

Jeanne

[EdV]

Also, if you are mortgaging the home, then you’ll be paying for an attorney as part of your closing costs. In that case it would be redundant to hire your own attorney. And since this is a home within a Deed Restricted community, you aren’t going to be dealing with potential survey/land disputes or possible right of way issues that tend to complicate private home sales.

[dfn8tly]

Hey TJChicago;

Are you from the city or outside? I grew up in DeKalb about 60 west of Chi. There are actually quite a few of us here in TV.

I've purchased several homes in several states. When I bought in TV I anticipated getting local representation since I would not be able to attend the closing. I was told it could all be done by mail and they were so right! I was amazed at how the real estate department has everything down to a science. I kept calling from up north and was continuously told not to worry. They said "we've done this a bunch of times before" and my realtor made it clear if I had any concerns to call her immediately.

Save the legal fees and buy yourself a nice house warming gift.

More than anything, enjoy your new home. You've earned it.

[TJ CHICAGO]

dfn8tly

We know where DeKalb is--my wife and I met at and graduated from NIU! We are out in the Western burbs--Wheaton. Thanks for your reply. Nice to hear about others' experiences.

I bought a pre-owned and the closing was the so fast and so easy I could not believe the science they have this down to. We did a walk through, closed, picked up ID's and etc. Opened bank accounts and was done with all in 3 hours including the drive.
We did not use an attorney, no one mentioned flood insurance.

Enjoy your new home.

[junebug7]

Hi TJ Chicago!

We are just a little bit further west of you down I-88 in Sugar Grove, IL. We closed on our TV house via email last year with no problems and no attorney. We are located in the Village of St. Charles. We are in our final year of teaching here in IL and will be retiring in June. Then we will be moving to TV full-time. Can't take any more of this cold IL weather. We will have to get together sometime.
Good luck with your closing. You are going to love TV.

Marilyn

[Pturner]

Hi TJ,

Congratulations! Are you buying through TV real estate office or through an independent agent? We just closed remotely a couple of weeks ago. Ours was a home not listed through TV. We did not hire an attorney. Our local real estate agent (not the seller's agent) represented us at closing and all went very well.

All the best in your new home in TV.

[sschuler1]

We are closing in Hemingway this Thursday, however we will be there at the closing. We did not hire an attorney, and did not feel the need to do so. We also did not buy flood insurance as we were told by our insurance agent that we are not in a flood area. We have talked to some of our prospective neighbors, and none of them said they bought flood insurance. Good luck with your closing, and welcome to The Villages.

[sorr1996]

Thanks everyone for all your input and this thread. We also sold our house, closing in a day or two, cruising and being homeless until end of December. Rented in TV for two months while we look at homes. Figured it would take us all of a couple of days and we will have one. Originally from NJ, now live in Utah, an in NJ did not do anything without an attorney. In Utah they don't even know what an attorney is!!!! Glad to hear it is not necessary to use one. We are sure we will be in one of the newer villages for if we buy used it will be only one or two years old. The new are very competitive unless there is a lot down in the used, landscaping, flooring, little things like that.
We are so excited and can not wait to get down there. This board is such a great help

[Army Guy]

sorri1996, Congrats!
Yes, I am originally from NJ before I left for college and the Army, my floks still live there, and I swear you can't cross the street there without tlaking with a Lawyer on your rights! It still amazes me each time just about their gas pump laws!!!
But wife and I were just like you we looked at all when purchasing, but leaner towards the newer areas due to the pricing. In most cases the pre-own can not beat the new price for what you are getting.

Army Guy