What to Look for When Buying a House
Are you getting ready to purchase a new home? Congratulations! You probably already have an idea of the type of house you’d like, but before moving forward with the sale, it’s important to consider some key components. When buying a house, make sure to pay attention to:
- The age and condition of the roof, foundation, HVAC system, water heater, and plumbing (having to repair or replace any of these could be incredibly expensive)
- Whether you’ll need (or want) to make any cosmetic updates in the near future
- How far the property is from work, school, and other obligations (an especially long commute could make life more difficult)
- Whether the neighborhood is safe and quiet (you’ll want to research crime statistics and also think about whether it’s near a busy road or an airport)
- How much your mortgage payments will be (after all, you don’t want to put yourself in the position of not being able to pay your other bills)
If you have children (or if you’re planning to have any in the future), you should also consider what school district you’ll be in.
Don’t Forget to Find an Experienced Real Estate Attorney
While you should certainly focus on all the qualities listed above, it’s important to not overlook the importance of having a qualified real estate attorney handle your purchase. While Florida doesn’t require that attorneys oversee real estate sales, having an attorney on your side offers many benefits. Because Florida allows attorneys to serve as title underwriters, they can perform the same services as a title company—issuing title insurance, holding escrow, and preparing the documents required for title commitment—but they can also represent their clients in negotiations, offer legal advice, and draft additional documents (e.g., contract amendments, bills of sale for personal property, and occupancy agreements).
Luckily, if you’re in the Tampa Bay area, you can confidently turn to the skilled real estate attorneys at The Lyons Law Group, P.A. We’ve been serving this region since 2008, and with offices in New Port Richey, FL, and Spring Hill, FL, we’re perfectly situated to serve clients in Pasco County, Hernando County, and nearby communities. We offer a wide array of real estate closing services for both buyers and sellers—for example, we can:
- Negotiate the terms of your contract
- Handle communications with other parties
- Prepare your contract
- Review contracts prepared by third parties
- Arrange for in-person or electronic signature of your contract
- Supply you with estimated closing costs
- Prepare contract addendums and extensions as needed
- Oversee the entire closing process
- Resolve any title issues that might arise
- Review your title search, title commitment, and municipal lien search
- Review all closing documents prior to signature
- Coordinate and attend your closing
Contact The Lyons Law Group, P.A., today to schedule a free initial consultation with one of the knowledgeable real estate attorneys at our firm. We look forward to meeting with you and helping you take the next step toward buying your dream home.
