Real Estate Info
Real estate transactions are governed by various federal statutes, state statutes, and common laws that address a wide variety of legal issues related to acquiring, financing, developing, managing, constructing, leasing, and selling commercial and residential real estate property. Buying and selling real estate is generally more complicated than buying or selling other expensive goods, such as cars or boats. With real estate, many different people can have an interest in the same property, tax consequences are more complicated, and possession is not necessarily indicative of ownership. An experienced real estate attorney can help you sort through all of the difficult decisions and negotiations involved in real estate transactions.
At The Law Offices of Gregory T. Lattanzi, we provide legal services for residential and commercial real estate transactions. We offer a no-cost, no-obligation legal consultation, during which we will discuss your situation and provide some of the legal options available to you. Make informed decisions about buying or selling real estate; contact our office for more information.
Gregory Lattanzi is a knowledgeable real estate lawyer who offers "contract to closing" legal services to clients who are buying or selling residential real estate. He will guide you through the process, providing a "no surprises" experience. When you are ready to purchase or sell a home, contact Gregory Lattanzi.
Gregory Lattanzi knows that commercial real estate transactions can sometimes be challenging. He is an experienced real estate attorney who has been helping commercial clients for nearly 15 years. His goal is to complete successful, satisfactory commercial transactions for his clients. Before you sell or buy a commercial property, contact Gregory Lattanzi.
Real estate law includes both federal and state issues, with the state-level rules varying widely from state to state. These state and federal laws encompass everything from ownership of land and buildings to related issues such as financing, leasing, construction, taxes and environmental laws. A competent and experienced real estate attorney can protect a party's interests in both routine and complex transactions and disputes.
Real estate law includes lots of jargon and legalese that can be intimidating or at least confusing, especially to first-time homebuyers. An attorney with experience in real estate law can help a buyer or seller understand the terms and concepts pervasive in real estate transactions. Read on to learn more about the terminology of this specialized area.
A deed is an unassuming and usually short piece of paper that has a big legal impact. A deed transfers an ownership interest in real property, and no real estate transaction where ownership transfers is finished until the deed is delivered to the buyer. A deed must include the names of the buyer and seller and the property's legal description. The deed is signed by the person transferring the property and may make that person responsible to the buyer for other claims against or conditions on the property.
Buying a home can be stressful and time consuming. Obtaining a home inspection can take some of the worry out of the process. An independent home inspector will give a buyer a complete picture of the condition of the property he or she is considering buying. Most houses are not perfect, and the inspector's detailed report gives the buyer an unbiased evaluation letting him or her know what needs work now and what will probably need work in the near future.
A closing, or settlement, is the meeting during which ownership of the property is officially transferred from the seller to the buyer. The buyer and the seller, their attorneys, both real estate sales professionals, a representative of the lender, and the closing agent typically attend the closing. The closing involves settling any open issues, balancing and verifying an often complex closing statement, and signing all documents necessary to complete the transaction.
Home Buyers & Sellers
Preparing and Signing the Contract
Sometimes the attorney handles the contract phase of the transaction and sometimes realtors handle it. This depends on various factors, including the custom in locality where the property is located, the nature of the particular transaction, and the preferences of the parties to the transaction. We are available at any point to assist you, and because of our experience as outlined below, we benefit you at all points in the transaction. We are willing to provide a no-cost consultation and review which may help you decide how you want your particular transaction handled.
Disclosure, Due Diligence, and Survey
We can advise you how to handle disclosure issues if you are a seller, and how best to satisfy your due diligence requirements if you are a buyer. The earlier you speak to us in this regard the better. If these issues are not properly addressed at the point of contract, you may lose rights and protection. Survey and property line issues also need to be considered and discussed, although many times a survey is not needed. If you do not address survey issues at the point of contract, again, it may be too late to properly protect your interests. We are prepared to discuss these issues with you early on—in general terms, or specifically as to your particular property.
Contract Contingencies
Most residential contracts generally contain two contingencies: a mortgage contingency and a home inspection contingency. This means that the buyer and seller have entered into a binding contract, but only if the buyer can get a mortgage and only if the buyer is satisfied with the home inspection. Under the circumstances specified in the contract, these contingencies typically provide the buyer with the right to declare the contract null and void and to receive back its deposit funds. These contingencies are clearly consequential and are becoming more so in today’s market.
The buyer and seller can avoid disappointment, or unrealized expectations, if they are aware early on of the red flags and pitfalls. The buyer and seller must understand that the contingencies are written differently in the standard form contracts, depending on the contract used. Typically this is influenced by the custom where the property is located. Whether you are a buyer or a seller, provided that we are involved in time, we can advise you on these issues and, if appropriate, prepare contract language to protect your interests and meet your expectations.
Mortgage Lenders
Full Closing Services
We are a law firm providing full service mortgage closings. We close residential and commercial mortgage loans secured by real estate throughout the state of Connecticut.
If you are an out of state mortgage lender, and are accustomed to the services of a title company, escrow company, or a company handling settlements, this is exactly what we do. All title, escrow, and settlement services are provided, including title commitment, title insurance and title clearing, payoff demands, signing of loan documents, and disbursement of funds.
Attorney Lattanzi and his support staff have extensive, demonstrable experience representing direct lenders and national lenders.
We are a highly organized and service-oriented business and we will work hard to exceed your expectations.
We deliver most title searches within 2 business days from the request date. If a rush situation arises, we will always do our best to accommodate your needs. We will deliver the title commitment to you by email, fax, or mail—however you want. The title commitment will be delivered to you, properly endorsed, together with the closing protections letter, wiring instructions and fee sheet, all in one prompt and convenient transmission.