Buying a residence in New York is hard.
Will you buy a single-family home or a condo? How about a co-op? Which New York borough or city is best for you? Or maybe the suburbs will be a better long-term fit?
Your real estate agent can help you work through a number of those issues, but there’s one more member you need on your team: an attorney who has experience in real estate transactions.
Your home undoubtedly is your biggest investment, and you don’t want to leave anything to chance. The other side in the transaction likely will have an attorney to represent their interests. Why shouldn’t you?
New York law requires all real estate contracts to be written by either the buyer or their attorney. If you aren’t skilled in contract writing, you’ll need someone to represent your interests. If you’re borrowing the money to complete the purchase, the lender probably will require you to use an attorney.
Your lawyer could do even more than represent you at the closing of the transaction. Before you finalize the contract to purchase a condo or co-op, for instance, your attorney could review the minutes of the board’s meeting to find clues about problems facing the building, such as ongoing maintenance issues that could wind up costing you more money. Your attorney also will look at financial statements and bylaws pertaining to the building.
You have invested a lot of time and effort in your New York property search. Once you’ve found the place you will call home for the next several years, don’t take any risks with something going wrong with the transaction. A New York attorney can assist you.
