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Recent News and Articles on the Keywords: real estate + real + estate  Related to the article below (Last Update: 8/4/2008)

Real estate commission fees: it's good to haggle San Diego Union Tribune, United States - By Candice Choi AP NEW YORK ? Don't be shy about haggling over what you pay your real estate agent. A study released Monday by Consumer Reports found 71 ... Survey: More real estate agents willing to cut commissions Bizjournals.com Real estate commissions are negotiable -- if you ask Inman.com (subscription) Consumer Reports Survey: Home Sellers Can Haggle on Broker ... MarketWatch all 66 news articles » Real Estate Roundup: Canadian tech firm leased office space in Salem Bizjournals.com, NC - Jeff Brooks of GVA Kidder Mathews represented Pacific Nutritional; Mark McFarland of Pacific Real Estate Partners represented Siffon Industrial LLC. ... Real estate wrap: A big bucks Bucks County industrial sale Bizjournals.com all 12 news articles »  GIB GE Real Estate Names Michael Rowan President of Americas' Equity MarketWatch - NORWALK, CT, Aug 04, 2008 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX) -- GE Real Estate, a leading global resource for commercial real estate capital, announced today that ... US property dream has turned into a nightmare Telegraph.co.uk all 9 news articles »  OTC:GBRC - OTC:CMTX BBC News Real estate agent turned tables on Rockefeller Boston Herald, United States - Gochar said the real estate firm she works for, Obsidian Realty, helped Rockefeller search for property on and off for several months. ... CBS Statement of Baltimore Realtor Julie Gochar Boston Globe Man will be extradited to Boston to face kidnapping charges Baltimore Sun Boston Channel.com - Boston Herald all 2,562 news articles » Accruent Confirms Increased Adoption of Real Estate and Facilities ... MarketWatch - Companies as diverse as 24 Hour Fitness, Dollar General, and Fresenius Medical Care are embracing integrated real estate and facilities management solutions ... Alliance Bankshares reports loss, blames real estate market Bizjournals.com, NC - ... we believe the second-quarter results reflect several bright spots as we continue to deal with this very unusual and challenging real estate recession . ... Alliance Bankshares Reports 2 nd Quarter 2008 Results Business Wire (press release) Alliance Bankshares slips to loss in Q2 - Update RTT News all 6 news articles »  ABVA - LON:ALLB HCP Announces Second Quarter 2008 Results WELT ONLINE, Germany - FFO is a supplemental non-GAAP financial measure that the Company believes is helpful in evaluating the operating performance of real estate investment ... Healthcare Realty Trust Announces Second Quarter Results MarketWatch HCP, Inc. (HCP) Tops Q2 FFO by 1c, Guides Above for FY StreetInsider.com (subscription) all 20 news articles »  HCP - HR - THC Mercury Cos. caught in real estate slump Rocky Mountain News, CO - The title agent is Mercury, according to Inman News, a real estate Internet news service. A spokeswoman at American Title declined to comment and said she ... Lincoln Alderman disagrees with real estate tax complaints Bloomington Pantagraph,  USA - Busby said he hears every year from constituents who believe real estate taxes in the city are too expensive. In other business, the council tabled action ... Record High Farm Real Estate & Pasture Values CattleNetwork.com, KS - Farm real estate values, a measurement of the value of all land and buildings on farms, averaged $2350 per acre on January 1, 2008, up 8.8 percent from 2007 ... US Farmland Values Reach Record on High Crop Prices (Update2) Bloomberg all 3 news articles »

Real estate agent, lawyer or both?

I'm in the market for a home (or a condo) and have already hired an agent. People are telling me I should use a real estate lawyer. Why would I need both?
-- L. Rubin

Article continues below and (thank you)

Dear L.,
In a typical home transaction, things proceed smoothly from contract to closing and you don't need an attorney, except in a handful of states where one's required to prepare purchase documents, perform title searches and close deals. In fact, real estate transactions have become so standardized that most parties use the same purchase contract and just fill in the blanks.

So, you don't need an attorney most times, but the big key word there is "most." If you're a first-time home buyer or just a very circumspect, play-it-safe kind of person, you might consider enlisting a real estate attorney to walk you through what is likely the biggest financial decision you'll ever make.

An attorney can clear up any easement issues, title defects or old municipal liens that may be attached to the property and make sure the sales contract addresses all of your concerns about seller disclosures and who is responsible for repairs. A thorough attorney can also help you cut through the legal jargon of the mortgage process, advise you on the inspections process, discuss the future tax exemptions and liabilities you'll have, and in many states, accompany you to closing. (Yes, so can a good agent.)

In condo developments, where there are numerous contractual restrictions, covenants to examine and condo-association bylaws to analyze, a real estate attorney can weed through the legal jargon to make sure your desired ownership freedoms are not constricted. If the association is involved in ongoing litigation, the attorney can weigh in on the potential impact of that litigation.

One scenario where I strongly recommend a real estate attorney is one where you've already opted to use the same agent as the seller. Such a dual-agent relationship is rarely a good idea for the buyer, by the way, except in a friendly sale involving family members or good friends. In something this big, you need someone who is wholly in your corner and can serve as your bona fide advocate. If you do hire a lawyer, hire a real estate specialist, not someone who just dabbles in the practice. Get references from friends or relatives or a local attorney referral service that has been approved by your state's bar association.

Of course, you never need an attorney until you do. But for the cautious and prudent, a real estate attorney can be good insurance, especially if complications arise. Best of luck.