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Personal referrals can be an excellent source for finding a real estate attorney. We recommend that you choose an attorney that specializes in real estate law. He/she will be important when you have signed a purchase contract. Your attorney will review the entire contract and will give you the opportunity to make certain changes, if necessary. These changes will need to be made during what is called the "Attorney Review Period".
This review period should be specified in the purchase contract and is usually 7-10 days. Once you and your attorney have agreed to all of the changes that you wish to make to the contract, your attorney will submit the revised contract to the sellers attorney. The seller's attorney will then either agree to the changes, modify the changes or say no to the changes. The attorneys will go back and forth until both parties agree to the terms of the contract. If both parties never agree on the terms, and the attorney review period expires, then the contract may be considered null and void.
An attorney will also attend your closing and help you go through the Lender's closing documents, review the Title Report and also help you through the Seller's closing documents. It is recommended that you get an attorney for a purchase contract and closing due to the complexity of the paperwork.
The fees that an attorney will charge for contract review and attending the closing will generally range from $250-$500.