Different Real Estate Attorneys for each state?

[Greg Cook]

Hey guys,

When it comes to finding a Real Estate Attorney is it best practice to have one for each state you are investing in? 

[David Gotsill]

Hey @Greg Cook - That would probably depend on what you're doing in your real estate.   If you're targeting single family homes as buy-and-hold investments, then you probably do not need an attorney licensed in each state when you make acquisitions (couldn't hurt, though).  If you're doing something more, then it might make sense.  

A common approach would be to have one "go-to" guy or gal, who would be licensed in your main jurisdiction.  Then if you need something specific in another jurisdiction, that guy/gal would liaise with local counsel in the second jurisdiction.  For example, Colorado Attorney would reach out to Texas Attorney (when you buy in Texas) and say something like "can you just check this from a Texas law perspective?"  That way, Texas Attorney just looks at a narrow scope, and theoretically doesn't duplicate the work Colorado Attorney is doing for you.

This approach is used by investing companies large and small.