You Don't Need an Attorney for Your Real Estate Closing

Depending on the state you live in, you are not required to use an attorney to close on your home. While it can feel like a daunting task, it can certainly be accomplished on your own accord if you have the time and the patience. If you do not feel comfortable taking on the task, then you should hire a real estate attorney to handle the matter for you.

The very first thing you should do is to make a checklist. You need to be as professional as possible and you must be able to handle your tasks. The other party's attorney is not going to do it for you. Start with searching for your local county clerk's office website. This website contains all the forms and applicable filing fees. Since each state is different, they will each require different forms to be filed pertaining to your particular closing. Read the instructions for each form to properly fill them out. Call the clerk's office if you have any questions relating to the forms or their filing procedure. Remember that they cannot offer any legal advice, but can expand on any questions you may have regarding their forms.

You should purchase a state-specific Deed, Real Estate Contract, Judgment Affidavit, Survey Affidavit and HUD Closing Statement forms. Type these forms exactly as they have been drawn up into your computer to save for future closings. That way you can easily change names and any necessary information to tailor it to your closing.
Contact all the abstract companies to inquire about their pricing on updating an abstract of title which is also known as a search. Pick the company that is the most economical and that can do it in a reasonable amount of time. Build a relationship with the company if you plan to do many more closings in the future. Many companies will offer a price break to a repeat customer.

Make a habit of calling the other party's attorney every few days to find out what the status of the closing is. If you are not in constant contact, then expect your closing to take a full 60 days. No offense to all the attorneys who have many full plates and too many clients, but a closing does not have to take that long. If all the documents are completed and submitted lickety-split, then it can close in less than 30 days. Don't leave it up to attorneys and their secretaries to get a specific file or tax receipt from other government departments. They frequently have things mailed to them instead of going down to the department to gain access to them instantly. If an attorney is waiting on something, offer to get it yourself. Your closing will only be completed quickly, if you take the initiative to get things done.

You should also think about purchasing any literature or books that touch on doing your own real estate closings. There is a wealth of information at your fingertips to help you along the way.