REASONS TO HAVE HOWARD JAFFE, ESQUIRE AS YOUR ADVOCATE IN YOUR RESIDENTIAL TRANSACTION

May 22nd, 2009

Buying a home is the most significant financial commitment most people will make, so much is at stake, that I believe an attorney should be involved in the process from the beginning. Buyers and Sellers are likely to confront a number of complex issues that can be resolved only by an experienced real estate attorney

The usual participants in the real estate process often include a real estate sales person or two, a lender, an appraiser, an inspector and a title insurance company, and possibly a builder and contractor. This generates significant competing interests, as such it is vital to have an attorney before you proceed into what will likely be a highly complicated transaction. It becomes imperative to have the advice of an attorney to protect your interests independent with an undivided duty of loyalty to you. The following are some significant functions provided by me to smooth the home buying and selling process:

NEGOTIATE THE SPECIFIC TERMS OF THE CONTRACT. This is the most critical stage of the negotiating process, because once a contract is signed, Buyers and Sellers are bound by its terms. I explain the terms of the contract and suggest changes to protect your interests.

ENSURE THAT THE OWNER HAS CLEAR TITLE TO THE HOUSE. I guide you to obtain a title search and evaluate the status of the title. If liens or other defects are discovered, I will work with the title company to remediate them through appropriate action.

EVALUATE FINANCING OPTIONS. I can assist a consumer in analyzing the relative merits of various types of financing and the nuances of the various products.

MAKES SURE EVERYONE PLAYS BY THE RULES. As your attorney I attempt to avoid future problems of home ownership by ascertaining that all existing laws have been followed.

SERVE AS AN ADVOCATE AT THE CLOSING. The settlement (closing), which was in the past a straightforward transaction involving a few documents, have, because of the sub prime mortgage failures, become extraordinarily complex involving the generation and execution of as many as several dozen documents. Many of these documents have a substantial impact on the rights and responsibilities of the consumer. A lawyer’s expertise is needed at virtually every stage of the home-buying process, but is particularly crucial at the closing. I can explain each document , review the uniform settlement statement (HUD-1)and tell you exactly where the money is going, as well as negotiate any last minute situations or requests. I ensure that all parties comply with the terms of the listing agreement and real estate sales contract and look for “junk fees” that lenders or other providers attempt to impose. My loyalty is to my clients which can often mean thousands of dollars in savings to you.

This entry was posted on Friday, May 22nd, 2009 at 3:34 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.