Should I Retain a Lawyer For My Home Project?

If you are particularly inexperienced in real estate, then you may want to secure legal aid to help you through the process of buying and constructing a new home.  Between loans, zoning law, and construction insurance, things get complicated.  There is a lot of paperwork and many laws and restrictions that, for the layperson, can be tiresome and time-consuming to learn and review.

• The consequences (financial and otherwise) to breaking zoning requirements or building codes can outweigh the cost of hiring a lawyer by a great deal.  The resulting fines will likely be more than the cost of hiring a lawyer, but the consequences may extend further to the point of halting construction or necessitating a demolition depending on the severity of the infraction.
  
  
• That being said, a little legwork on your part can help you avoid breaking rules and regulations and the cost of legal representation.  There are steps you can take which can make it very likely that you will be well within the borders of your local real estate law.
  
  
• There are myriad online services that can help you to find the federal, state, county, and municipal laws governing real estate that will apply to your lot and eventual home.  Contact your local county or city zoning commission, and they can give you the appropriate information on the zoning laws and ordinances governing the area you plan to build your home.
  
  
• Building codes are also something you need to be aware of and a the services of lawyer can help significantly.  If you aren’t willing or able to hire legal counsel, there are places you can go to find out what local building codes apply to your home.  Ask the local Planning Department for either a copy of the codes or an assessment of your plans.  Online sources also can be used to research local building codes.
  
  
• There are even sites which offer free legal advice pertaining specifically to real estate law.  Check online for sites that offer free legal counsel on buying and selling real estate, real estate law, construction, mortgage matters, and zoning restrictions.

If, indeed, you do want to hire legal counsel, the best way to start looking for a real estate lawyer is to start talking to friends and family about referrals.  If nobody you know has recently dealt with a real estate lawyer, contact your state’s Bar Association and they will be able to provide you with a list of local legal representation.  You might also look in the yellow pages.