If you are planning a home purchase, you need to think about the process as a whole. It is not as simple as looking at a few homes until you find one you like. It is a major transaction that will often require the assistance of a variety of real estate professionals, including an attorney. In fact, some types of purchases will absolutely need to have a legal presence to protect all parties to the sale. If you are unsure whether or not you truly need a residential real estate attorney, consider the following:

When You Are Not a Negotiator

If you are not great at negotiating, an attorney can be a great benefit to you. There are many variables to a home purchase that will need to be negotiated, such as different disclosures, contract issues, and the actual price of the house. When you are negotiating, you will need to be aware of all of your rights as to what you are allowed to ask the seller for when it comes to the sale. You will also need to be fully aware of the legality of any deals you may make with the seller. If you have not had any experience negotiating, especially with a home sale, an attorney will be very useful.

When You Are Buying a Foreclosure Property

If you are interested in buying a foreclosure home, a real estate attorney is going to be essential. The home buying process is much different when a foreclosure is involved. The benefit to buying a foreclosure property is the lower price, but with that often comes more hoops you will have to jump through. If you are new to buying a house, an attorney can be really be beneficial to ensuring you have all of the necessary paperwork that comes along with a foreclosure purchase. Inspections can also be an issue with a foreclosure, and an attorney will guide you through that process as well.

When There Are Seller Issues That Can Halt the Sale

You will also need to consider anything on the seller's end that can cause problems for the sale. One of the most common seller issues is a problem with their mortgage. If they fail to disclose any liens on their mortgage during the sale, it can cause the entire process to fall through. Your lawyer will check for any of those issues for you.

A residential real estate attorney provides many useful benefits to the homebuyer throughout the entire process, not just at closing. If you are a first time buyer, consider letting an attorney walk with you through the process. For more information, contact local professionals like Steve Butcher Sr.