Real Estate Practice Center
Your choice of attorney to represent your interests during a real estate dispute could mean the difference between successful negotiations or expensive, ongoing litigation. Please contact our firm today to schedule a consultation with a real estate attorney who can provide a clear explanation of your legal rights and options.
Addressing Your Real Estate Concerns
There are many aspects of California real estate law, from provisions governing purchase agreements to land use regulations and beyond. At the Watkins Firm, our experienced real estate lawyers guide clients through all aspects of real estate transactions and vigorously represent them in litigation over real estate disputes.
This section contains some basic information about real estate law in the United States. To discuss what our knowledgeable California attorneys can do to address your real estate legal concerns, contact us at our offices in San Diego to set up a free, no-obligation consultation.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Real Estate Law
Q: What is real estate?
A: Real estate (also called real property) refers to land and things attached to land. For most consumers, real estate consists of their home and the lot surrounding it. Commercial real estate may include factories, equipment and other facilities. In addition to buildings and equipment, resources existing on or under the land, including minerals and gas, are part of real estate. Some of these components of real estate can be sold separately.
Q: What is a deed?
A: Deeds indicate, and are generally required to transfer, ownership of real estate. A deed contains the names of the old and new owners and a legal description of the property and is signed by the person transferring the property. The different kinds of deeds, such as the warranty deed, quit claim deed and grant deed, transfer different interests in property.
Real Estate Law - An Overview
Real estate law includes both federal and state issues, with the state-level rules varying widely from state to state. These state and federal laws encompass everything from ownership of land and buildings to related issues such as financing, leasing, construction, taxes and environmental laws. A competent and experienced real estate attorney, like those at Watkins Firm, A Professional Corporation in San Diego, California, can protect a party's interests in both routine and complex transactions and disputes.
Glossary of Real Estate Terms
Real estate law includes lots of jargon and legalese that can be intimidating or at least confusing, especially to first-time homebuyers. An attorney with experience in real estate law can help a buyer or seller understand the terms and concepts pervasive in real estate transactions. Read on to learn more about the terminology of this specialized area.
Deeds
A deed is an unassuming and usually short piece of paper that has a big legal impact. A deed transfers an ownership interest in real property, and no real estate transaction where ownership transfers is finished until the deed is delivered to the buyer. A deed must include the names of the buyer and seller and the property's legal description. The deed is signed by the person transferring the property and may make that person responsible to the buyer for other claims against or conditions on the property.
Home Inspections
Buying a home can be stressful and time consuming. Obtaining a home inspection can take some of the worry out of the process. An independent home inspector will give a buyer a complete picture of the condition of the property he or she is considering buying. Most houses are not perfect, and the inspector's detailed report gives the buyer an unbiased evaluation letting him or her know what needs work now and what will probably need work in the near future.
Real Estate Law Resource Links
U.S. Department of Housing
This general site for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development contains information on homes and communities.
National Association of Realtors®
This website of the National Association of Realtors® contains information about the real estate industry, including a section on real estate law and policy.
Yahoo! Real Estate
This site includes numerous real estate related resources, including links to information about buying, selling, financing and improving real property.
American Housing Survey
This resource contains a collection of data on U.S. housing from the Census Bureau.
National Housing Conference
Housing news and articles provided by the National Housing Conference, a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing affordable housing for every American.
