Do You Need an Attorney to Buy a House in Mississippi?

Buying a home is one of the most stressful, yet rewarding experiences of your life. It tests just about every emotion in the book and will cause more than one headache, but the end result is always worth the while. 

With that said, it’s very important that you have a strong support system working alongside you. 

A real estate agent, mortgage lenders, appraisers, inspectors, advisors – these people are here to help, and you’re encouraged to take full advantage of what they have to offer during the home-buying process. 

But that brings us to the million dollar question…

Do you need an attorney to buy a house in Mississippi? 

While some states do require a real estate lawyer to be present or involved in the closing process (such as Georgia and South Carolina), Mississippi isn’t one of them – so the answer to that question is ‘no.’

But don’t let that fool you – real estate lawyers are always an incredible asset to have. 

Benefits of Hiring a Real Estate Attorney

You’re probably asking yourself, “What does a real estate attorney do that’s so important?” 

Real estate attorneys understand real estate law better than anyone. Their primary role in the home-buying and home-selling process is ensuring the deal is completely legally and smoothly for all parties involved. 

You know what they say – when in doubt, call your attorney.

Without real estate attorneys doing what they do best, fraudulent purchases would happen a lot more frequently. And when fraudulent purchases happen, people – such as yourself – get in serious trouble.

Let’s take a look at some of the most impressive ways a real estate professional attorney can benefit you: 

1. Negotiate the Terms of the Sale

A real estate attorney can help you negotiate the terms of the purchase to ensure you’re not getting taken advantage of – and to make sure you’re getting everything out of the deal that you were hoping for.

Contingencies, repairs, renovations, closing costs, legal fees, occupancy date – these can all be negotiated. 

Not only that, but real estate attorneys can help resolve disputes between both the buyer and seller, as well as any landlords and tenants, or other parties involved in real estate transactions – which can include litigation if necessary.

2. Conduct Title Searches

Two of the most important steps in the home-buying process are 1) confirming that the seller legally owns the property, and 2) verifying whether or not there are any claims, liens, or encumbrances on the property.

A real estate attorney can help you do both with a title search. 

If the home has a rough history, your attorney can help coordinate what needs to be done to resolve the issue. They’ll also report to a title company and help you get title insurance – something most lenders will require from you.

3. Draft & Review Legal Documents

From the moment you show interest in buying a home until the day you purchase a home, you’re going to be flooded with a wide range of paperwork, documents, contracts, and other legal statements or filings. 

Your real estate attorney can draft all of these documents from scratch. 

More than just draft them, real estate attorneys are experts at reviewing documents being sent from other parties involved in the real estate transaction – all in an effort to ensure the sale goes as expected in every way. 

4. Navigate the Closing Process

Of all the things a real estate attorney will do for you, this might be one of the most important. Real estate closings are where everything is finalized – so any mistake, typo, or error can jeopardize the transaction.

With a real estate attorney by your side, buyers can move forward with confidence and pride. 

The closing process generally involves the distribution of documents, preparing the closing statement, paying closing costs, and distributing the remaining funds – most of which will come from the lender. 

5. File Paperwork & Record the Sale

Once all documents are signed and funds are distributed, the deed is recorded with the local government to officially transfer ownership to the buyer. This is the final step before receiving the keys to the home. 

And just like that, you’re a homeowner!

In 2023, there were over 86 million owner-occupied homes in the United States, according to Statista, but the real question is how many of you plan on joining the ranks in 2024 and beyond? You could be next!

Can Sellers Hire a Real Estate Attorney?  

One of the biggest misconceptions about real estate attorneys is that they’re only helpful to the person buying the home – but that’s not true. They actually work with just about anyone involved in the process.

That includes the person selling the home and the company doing the lending. 

In fact, it’s very common for several attorneys to be involved in the closing process – especially if the buyer, seller, and lender each hire their own attorney, which is far more common than you’d think. 

When that happens, each attorney does whatever’s in the best interest of their client – meaning they each have a unique perspective on the transaction. This is where opinions might collide, but that’s normal. 

Selling Your Home? We Want to Buy It!

Are you having a hard time selling your home? Do you want to avoid real estate agents and attorneys as much as possible? Are you interested in receiving a free, no-obligation cash offer for your home as-is? 

If you answered ‘yes’ to any of those questions, then we’re about to become your new best friend. 

Here at Sell Your House Fast Mississippi, our primary goal is making the home-selling process as easy, smooth, and seamless as possible for those who don’t have the time or patience for traditional methods. 

If that sounds like you, then don’t hesitate to contact us today. 

To get started, all we ask is that you provide us with some basic details on your Mississippi house (such as the square footage) and schedule a time for us to look at the home – either in-person or remotely. 

Once you do that, we’ll put together a cash offer for you in no time!