By: Jacqueline Moneta JD and Jayson Schwarz LLM
When you are looking to buy a new property, it can be frustrating to hear your lawyer reply “you need to speak to another lawyer about that issue; it falls outside my practice area.” There is no real effort to champion your cause and get the answers you need. The reason for this retort is that far too often lawyers take a narrow approach to your matter and the particular lawyer may have specialised to the point where he or she cannot see the forest for the trees. He or she gets bogged down in the immediate purchase transaction and forgets to look at how this transaction fits into your life. Finding the right real estate lawyer, who will look at your situation holistically, at the start of a transaction, will serve you for years to come.
GUIDING YOUR GROWTH
As an example, at Schwarz Law LLP our motto is Guiding Your Growth, a responsibility we take seriously. Our goal is to provide our clients with the best possible representation. Backed by years of experience, our lawyers are dedicated to providing guidance for growth; whether personal, professional or as part of your business team. We take the position that your lawyer should be like your family doctor, acting as your point of contact for all things legal, quarterbacking your success.
HOW DOES THIS AFFECT BUYERS?
So, what does this mean for a real estate buyer? It means that your lawyer should ask questions and listen thoughtfully to your answers. Your lawyer should look at the purchase of a new property through the lens of your individual goals and needs: is this an investment property; is this the purchase of a principal residence; are you a first-time home buyer, or are you investing with partners? While these questions certainly impact how your deal will be closed, they can also have more complex business, commercial, or even estate issues.
As a buyer of a new property, making sure you work with a real estate lawyer who can help you incorporate a new business to protect yourself as a real estate investor, or set up an estate plan for your family, or just guide you through the purchase process, will ensure that you understand how it all works and you and your investment are protected today, and well into the future. The purchase of a home or a commercial real estate investment can be the largest investment most people will make in their lives. It is important to work with a lawyer who understands your goals and can protect that investment for years to come.
Perhaps the most difficult part of writing these articles relates not the actual writing, but thinking of a topic to address. So help us!!! Mail, deliver or fax letters to the magazine or to us, use the web site (www.schwarzlaw.ca), email ([email protected]) and give us your questions, concerns, critiques and quandaries. We will try to deal with them in print or electronic form.
