“Home.” When you hear that word, what do you think of? Family, friends, your favorite sofa? Most likely, the word conjures up comfortable images of the house you currently inhabit. Home is the building where you store some of your favorite memories and where you look forward to the future. Home is a place of safety, love and belonging. Most of all, home is your own—home is security.
Of course, the best way to ensure that your home is secure is by buying your own house. A home is probably the biggest purchase you will make in your lifetime. A lot of reward comes at the end of buying a home for the first time. However, a lot of things can also go wrong before you are holding those keys in your hand.
Before you dive head-first into the hunt for your perfect first home, there are a few things you need to do to ensure that you’re ready to buy a home:
As you can see, there is a lot to consider when buying a home. It can often be confusing, trying to ensure that you are thoroughly familiar with every step in the process of buying a home and with every sheet of paperwork. No wonder some people prefer to rent!However, you don’t have to go through the act of buying a home all alone. No matter if it is your first time or your fourth house, this doesn’t have to be stressful. One of the safest actions you can take during this home buying process is to hire a lawyer.
Legal help is especially important for non-traditional purchases — if you're considering buying a timeshare property, the contract terms and exit restrictions make legal review even more critical.
“Lawyer.” What does that word make you think of? If you immediately imagine legal trouble, courtrooms, subpoenas, and lots of attorney fees, think again. A lawyer can help you with most, if not all, of the steps required to buy a home. Here are just a few ways a lawyer is able to assist you as you prepare, hunt for and purchase your new house:
There is a catch though. Brokers, real estate agents and sellers will not provide an attorney for you. It is up to you to find a law firm that will work on your side. You can protect your rights by hiring the services of a lawyer as you go through the steps of buying a home. Though the help of an attorney is certainly worth the cost, the high hourly rates typically associated with lawyers might make you think twice about doling out that much money – especially on top of major purchases such as buying a home. What can you do instead?
LegalShield was founded on the values of home, family and security. LegalShield Provider Law Firms are dedicated to serving our members in many areas of law. When you become a LegalShield Member, a provider law firm will provide a knowledgeable attorney to help you through the legal ins and outs that go with buying a home. If you need to back out of a real estate contract for some reason, check out this U.S. News & World Report article that features helpful advice from a LegalShield provider lawyer.
Remember all those steps that a lawyer can help you navigate when buying a home? Well, a LegalShield attorney can assist with the process, but for a fraction of the cost you would end up paying a lawyer for their hourly rate. An attorney from a LegalShield Provider Law Firm contributes advice, consultation and document preparation.
You can consult a LegalShield lawyer on personal legal matters as you begin the process of finding and applying for mortgages and loans. A LegalShield attorney can prepare official statements and conduct professional phone calls on your behalf. And as for all that paperwork that you have to sign when buying a home? A LegalShield lawyer can review your documents and make sure you know what you are agreeing to before you sign that dotted line.
Don’t go through the hassle of buying a home all by yourself. If you want to make your life easier, LegalShield real estate attorneys could help.
Written and maintained by the LegalShield content team, covering legal and identity protection topics for individuals, families, and small businesses.
We’ll provide more information about the trustors vs. trustees comparison, what to consider when filling these roles, and how they work together in Revocable and Irrevocable Trusts.
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There’s no rule that says a lawyer has to set up your Trust for it to be valid. However, Trusts are complex and doing it yourself without a lawyer's help comes with risks.
A Certificate of Trust proves your Trust is real and names who can act for it, while your beneficiaries and assets stay private. It lets your Trustee handle Trust business, like opening accounts or transferring property.
A limited power of attorney often comes in handy when you need help for a short time or for a single purpose. This legal document can help in situations like when you’re traveling, serving in the military, caring for an aging parent, or sending a child to study abroad.
We’ll cover some of the most common scams, the red flags that give them away, how to protect yourself, and what to do if you’ve already been caught out.
An executor is responsible for ensuring your final wishes get carried out, so it’s important that you choose someone who is responsible and can bear the emotional burden.
An employer identification number is a nine-digit number the IRS uses to identify a taxpayer. The estate needs its own, and getting one is usually simpler than it sounds. Learn more about estate EINs.
The distinction between an heir and a beneficiary is particularly important because they may receive estate assets in different ways.
