Not all attorneys are created equal. In real estate, having the right legal partner isn’t optional — it’s essential to protecting your deals, your profits, and your sanity.
1. Cheap or Free Legal Advice Will Cost You
If you’re not using an attorney for every transaction, you’re putting yourself at risk. And if you think the cheapest option is “good enough,” you’re gambling with your business.
2. The Right Attorney for the Right Job
Successful investors often keep multiple attorneys on retainer — one for funding, one for development, one for tenant issues, one for wholesaling, etc.
3. When to Call Your Attorney
- Choosing how to take title (LLC, trust, personal, etc.)
- Reviewing title and ordering title insurance
- Ensuring clean, marketable title (free of liens, claims, or clouds)
- Preparing and reviewing closing documents
- Drafting and recording mortgage docs correctly
- Handling escrow, earnest money, and payoffs
- Representing you at closings
4. The Risks of Cutting Corners
Failing to record a mortgage correctly (or at all) can put both your capital and your investors’ money in jeopardy. Title mistakes can prevent resale or refinancing. Bad contract language can cost you thousands.
Final Word: Attorneys are a core part of your investing team. Treat them as such, budget for them, and choose carefully. The wrong one can sink your deal. The right one can save it.