How to find a reasonable/knowledgeable Real Etate Attorney

Question

I just purchased my company name and business information through legalzoom.   Right now I'm currently looking for our first property but I first am looking for an attorney to have for the company. Everything is startup. Where should I look?   Who school I contact? What's a good price for one and what's a rip off?   My company is located in Temecula, CA.  Thank you!

Chris K. · Answer

@Michael Lipsey

Kind of depends on what you want. Note that most attorneys nowadays end up specializing beyond just a "real estate" attorney. There are still general practitioners but specialization is the clear trend. So the attorney that you use to handle zoning matters may not be the same person that handles your evictions.

Price depends on the market, underlying deal, and specific facts of the case. For example, the hourly rates for a metropolitan market are generally higher than the hourly rates in a more rural area. Some practice area is considered to be commodity work so you can't charge much (e.g. evictions) compared to more specialized areas (e.g. securities law).

Disclaimer: While I’m an attorney licensed to practice in PA, I’m not your attorney. What I wrote above does not create an attorney/client relationship between us. I wrote the above for informational purposes. Do not rely on it for legal advice. Always consult with your attorney before you rely on the above information.

Anjlia Holiday · Answer

Michael, do you currently have any contacts you have met at network events? Word of mouth from others is the best form of advertising.  BP does have a search feature, you can look people up in the Temecula area. @Lenee Thomas has worked many deals in the California market and might be able to refer a good one.

Bryan Zuetel · Answer

@Michael Lipsey, you obviously need a real estate attorney who is licensed in whatever state you're looking.  Beyond that, the attorney specialization will depend on the type of property and issue.  If you're looking at single family homes, you might not even need an attorney.  If you're using a Realtor for a simple transaction, the Realtor with form contracts might be sufficient.  If you're looking at large multifamily properties or office buildings or contaminated land or development, you will need an attorney with certain specializations.

Jeff Kehl · Answer

@Michael Lipsey if you don't have any properties yet, I'd say you don't need an attorney yet. I know many people will tell you to 'build your team'. But you really don't need one to buy a few properties.

But, a great attorney is worth their weight in gold. So I would second the recommendation to talk to some at real estate events, they may turn you on to great properties. Also look for referrals from real estate agents or brokers.

I use 3-4 attorneys for different things and all of them came along the way from me watching how they conducted business or referrals from other professionals. I never said 'I need to find a real estate attorney'' specifically.

Ronald Rohde · Answer

I would get referrals from investors you trust, have a clear scope of investment for your project first.

Price is dependent on your deal complexity/size. Cost depends on scope of PSA negotiation, lender document review, LURA, any zoning issues, but budget .01-.03 of total project cost for legal. You'll want local counsel to perform state check, but your attorney can be anywhere.

Michael Lipsey · Answer

I actually have not been to any events yet. That would be a good place to look, I agree. Thanks for that.

How to find a reasonable/knowledgeable Real Etate Attorney

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