Buying a home is a major transaction, and you should hire an attorney that is familiar with real estate law to guide you through the process. This allows you to identify any title issues that could delay or prevent your purchase of the property. To understand the problems you’ll dodge with legal representation, below are a few common issues that a real estate title may have.

Why Should You Hire an Attorney When Buying a Home?

1. Undisclosed Liens

Although you might pay bills on time, this doesn’t always apply to the person who is selling the house. For example, if they have any unpaid mortgage bills or other financial obligations that they have not met, there could be a lien on the house. This means that a bank or another entity has placed a claim on the house for financial compensation.

If your prospective home has a lien, it could still apply even after you purchase the property. To avoid this, your attorney can stipulate in the real estate contract that the seller must use the money from the sale to pay debts and remove the lien from the property.

2. Boundary Disagreements

An attorney can also help you find a surveyor to determine where the property you want to buy ends and your neighbors’ land begins. Without this crucial step, you could end up in the middle of a boundary dispute that affects your rights to all or a portion of the property. The lawyer will also look to see if there are other boundary surveys that you should address, such as the use of a shared driveway or other area.

3. Forgotten Heirs

Many people include private homes in their estate plans. If a person’s will states that someone other than the seller of the home is the rightful inheritor of the house, this could impact the title transfer to your name or ownership after the purchase. Hiring an attorney will protect your rights to the home if a missing heir comes forward or contests a will.

If you want to protect your rights when buying a home, contact The Law Offices of Bromm, Lindahl, Freeman-Caddy & Lausterer. Based in Wahoo, NE, this law firm has a long history in the community that dates to 1893. The attorneys will review your purchase agreement, closing documents, and other contracts before you complete the transaction to identify any issues. Visit them online for more information about their practice areas. Call (402) 443-3225 to arrange a consultation.