Buying Condos & TownhomesFor most of us, our home is our most valuable asset, our security for retirement. A good attorney helps ensure it meets our expectations. Condos and townhomes can be great homes but require special consideration. Chris can be most helpful if contacted before an offer is made, but no matter when he's engaged, count on him to make buying something you'll not regret. Click on the tabs below to learn more.
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Chris is most helpful if he's contacted before an offer is made because, once an offer is accepted by the seller, it becomes a binding contract, determining the respective rights and responsibilities of the parties for the duration of the transaction. Many buyers don't appreciate that buying a condo or townhouse raises special concerns that aren't covered by standard forms found online, or by a typical real estate agent's form, and a buyer surely doesn't want to accept whatever form the seller may provide, as it may be one-sided. Chris takes great pride in helping buyers prepare and negotiate a customized, buyer-sensible form of offer that is appropriately protective of their rights.
The feel and look of a condo or townhouse drives most purchases. But Chris worries about title, i.e., the bundle of legal rights that determines what the seller actually owns and whether you can use it as you want. A bad title can turn the joy of home ownership into a disaster. That's why experienced home buyers don't fall for "saving a buck" with a fixed-rate attorney who rushes reviews or farms them out to non-lawyers. They appreciate the best way to ensure value is hiring an experienced real estate attorney, like Chris, who personally and carefully checks title, and, if there are problems, gets the seller to fix or compensate for them, or, if they're really bad, gets you out of the deal. Click below to learn more.
Good title isn't enough if your condo or townhome doesn't comply with zoning and permits. As part of my service, I thoroughly review zoning and permits, and, if either is a problem, I'll either get the seller to fix it, or I'll get you out of the deal, skin attached. Click below to learn more, including about how defective zoning and permits can ruin the joy of home ownership if your attorney fails to find such problems.
A nuance of condo and townhome ownership is that it's subject to rules and restrictions governing the condo-townhouse development at large. These rules and regulations, found in agreements and, where agreements are silent, statutes, control what owners may do with their units, how common elements (e.g., roofs, yards, drives) are repaired and maintained, and who pays for that. They also specify how owners govern. Depending on objectives and preferences, these agreements, and how they're implemented, can be sensible or disastrous. I use my long experience with these agreements and statutes to ensure they're consistent with what works best for you, and, if they're not, I'll help you solve the problem or get out, before it's too late. Click below to learn how these rules and regulations can come to bite.
As part of my service, I provide an easy-to-read report about the state of title, zoning, permits, rules and regulations. I'll also be highly responsive whenever you have a question or problem, ensuring all appropriate documents, including the all-important deed, are executed, and helping you navigate the process. I'll also facilitate your purchase of title insurance. Click the button below to learn why that's a good idea.