Buying a home can be one of the most exciting and rewarding events in your life, but if you’re not careful, it can also be one of the most disastrous and costly. When you go to buy your first home, whether you’re doing it on your own or with your partner, you will likely hear an unending number of horror stories and unsolicited cautionary tales: “Don’t buy here,” “That’s too high of a price,” “Walk away now,” etc. The reality is, however, that you can avoid some big issues if you rely on an experienced real estate attorney and keep the following things in mind:

Falling in Love Is Natural but Dangerous
“So what if there are dangerous amounts of radon? It’s got granite countertops and stainless-steel appliances! And did you see the crown moulding?” Sound familiar? First-time homebuyers very often fall in love with the first property they see, and they are crushed when they find out about the amount of work that has to go into making the property habitable.

Give-and-Take Is Part of the Process
Buying and selling a home is, at its core, a business transaction, from beginning to end. In an effort to hasten the process and walk away with as much money as possible, sellers will often do as little as possible without being pushed. This is why inspections are such a critical part of the process.

The Right Attorney Makes All the Difference
It often takes a quality and experienced real estate attorney to keep the sellers honest and make sure they’re doing what they’re supposed to do. Your lawyer can also be effective in getting your money back for you should things go south and both parties walk away from the transaction.

So before embarking on that search for your starter home, enlist a qualified lawyer to join your search party.

Don’t let your first home purchase become a headache. If you need a real estate attorney to handle a residential transaction in New Jersey, Joel R. Spivack Esq. is ready to help. Please schedule your initial consultation by calling our Cherry Hill office today.