Many aspects of the real estate business are closely associated with the law. In fact, only the world of finance may be more closely controlled by law. Almost any professional activity of a broker, salesperson, appraiser, or invester involves certain legal restrictions.Thus, people in these positions and many others in real estate have a genuine need to know about the law and legal system; the more extensive their knowledge, the more effective their job performance will be.
The professionals at Knoxville Discount Realty deal not only with lawyers but also recording clerks, building inspectors, tax officials, planning board members, and personnel from state and federal housing agencies, all of these people have specialized functions in the legal system. Understanding what they do and some of the responsibilities of their jobs increases our ability as a real estate professional to work effectively with them. Many private sector individuals with whom we come into contact also have specialized knowledge of the law; loan officers and appraisers are examples. Our professionals at Knoxville Discount Realty have similar knowledge and are able to work more effectively with other specialists and improve our professional image at the same time.
Legal knowledge is especially important to us as professionals engaged in the buying and selling of real estate. We are engaged in the real estate transaction at a critical point, as far as legal input is concerned. Clients and customers will often question us about legal matters or the advisability of consulting an attorney, although we will never give legal advise. Our knowledge of the law helps us develop an awareness of situations in which a lawyer should be consulted.
By law, real estate agents are only allowed to fill-in the blanks of preprinted forms that have been prepared by an attorney; they can’t draft legal agreements for others, including agreements to sell your home. Again, doing so may constitute the unathorized practice of law.
If you’re not comfortable with the paperwork for your sale, or if you want legal advice before signing a contract, or you want assistance negotiating with buyers or their agents, a flat fee real estate attorney is a great way to go.