People who live on Staten Island tend to love the environment and the details that set it apart from the rest of New York City. It’s the quieter, somewhat forgotten borough where there are still some green areas that make it a good place for families. If you decide to become a Staten Island resident, there are a number of things you will need to know about the area and the house-buying process for the smoothest transaction. Attorney at Law Frank Savona advises new buyers “Never to sign a contract or enter into a mortgage agreement without talking to an experienced real estate lawyer in Staten Island who can advise you on what to avoid.
Real Estate Agent vs Real Estate Lawyer
Potential home buyers should never confuse the need for a good real estate agent with that for a real estate lawyer in Staten Island who understands the legal aspects of the house-buying process. Both of these professionals will play an important role. A real estate agent can help you find a house according to your specifications and give you information about neighborhoods, schools, and other details that will make a house choice a good one.
Once you have found the right home, a real estate lawyer will help you throughout the buying process. A contract may need to be prepared or reviewed according to the specifics of the house and the purchase. If you sign an existing contract without having it evaluated by a legal professional, there can be some nasty surprises in store. This is true even when a printed form is used. A lawyer who understands the language in the contract may recognize changes that need to be made which will protect your investment and expand your rights in case the house inspection is unsatisfactory.
The Legal Aspect of Home Ownership after the Fact
When a young couple buys a home, they may have the expectation that it will be the place where they raise their family and retire from their jobs. Sometimes things don’t go as expected and the steps you took while making the purchase of your home will determine what happens to the property.
If you die prematurely, you will need to have a will in place to designate how your property will be distributed. Without a will, your assets will go to your closest relatives or to a spouse if you are married and have joint ownership of the property. If there are children, the spouse will get the first $50,000 of the property that would have gone through a will, in addition to half of the remaining property, leaving the remainder to the children. If there are stepchildren that you have not adopted, the laws differ.
Although most people don’t want to think that their marriage will end in divorce, it is best to plan together for what you want the outcome to be if it does. A real estate lawyer in Staten Island can help you consider these and other related issues that should be settled at the time you buy a house.
