Why It Makes Sense to Consult with Real Estate Lawyers in Phoenix Before You Buy a Home

Buying a home is one of the largest purchases that most people will make during their lifetime. These are complex transactions that involved plenty of due diligence and ample amounts of paperwork to complete, especially in the case of financed homes. While a real estate agent can certainly help you find a home and negotiate with a seller, along the way, you will also want to make sure your interests are kept at the forefront.

This where it may make sense to consult with experienced real estate lawyers in Phoenix before you sign any type of contract, even the sales contract. One reason is because real estate agents typically use a boilerplate sales contract that may not offer the best legal remedies to you as a buyer. Another reason is that some communities may have certain HOA restrictions, requirements and other possible cons that you may overlook without an attorney reading the fine print.

When you go to buy a home, the sales contract is typically one of the first important pieces of paper you will sign. The goal of these contracts is to protect all parties in the transaction by providing clear-cut legal remedies should arbitration be required. But without the right sales contract in place, you could be agreeing to things that you don’t understand. If things don’t go as planned, you may find out that you’re not as protected as you thought you were. What’s more, the language used in such contracts is often confusing—something that an attorney can help you better understand.

While home sales in Arizona don’t mandate that you have a lawyer, using one to help you understand the contracts and even negotiate on your behalf isn’t a bad idea. This is particularly true because your real estate agent isn’t qualified to offer you advice on the contracts or any type of legal advice as it relates to the purchase a of home. Additionally, the real estate agent won’t be able to review and help you negotiate modifications to a sales contract should it not be beneficial to your best interest, either. 

Without an attorney on your side, you really don’t know what you are signing and what it mandates. You also may overlook certain remedies that could protect you in the case of a deal gone wrong. For example, say you were looking to purchase a home and needed clarification on disclosures or wanted to know whether or not certain things you suspected should have been disclosed but weren’t, only a lawyer would be able to help you negotiate a new sales contract with suggested amendments or help you negotiate concessions offered by the seller to keep the deal alive.

These are but a few examples of the many types of legal questions that commonly arise during a real estate transaction in Arizona. Complicated transactions don’t need to lead to potential disaster, though. Instead, tread carefully, conduct your due diligence and make sure you get viable legal advice before you sign on to any agreement involving a real estate transaction.