Any recommendations for an Oakland,California real estate lawyer?

Question

I plan to buy a condo or single family home in Oakland, California and want to hire a lawyer to review all the paperwork involved in the transaction (especially the paperwork regarding the mortgage). The lawyer will also be responsible verifying to me all the rules regarding rent control (and other matters regarding renting) if I choose to rent out the property after I purchase it.

I've heard most people buy Oakland real estate without the use of a lawyer, but I still wish to use one since I don't think I'll be comfortable signing the documents involved in the transaction unless a real estate lawyer deeply experienced with Oakland real estate has reviewed them and verified they mean what the broker(s) involved tell me they do.

Any recommendations toward an Oakland, California real estate lawyer would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Paul Merriwether · Answer

@Matt A. TRUST the process. This is NOT just a Bay Area issue. This is the entire state of California!!! We have approx 40 million people in the state. Far more real estate deals being than in NY state. Spend your time finding a home. Your real estate agent will handle your offer to the seller. The sellers agent will handle the sellers side. (That's two agents). A lender will handle the mortgage side ans the docs regarding the loan. All three parties will submit all that information to a title company. The title company will insure ALL documentations are proper, legal & correct. They will also insure your title to the property is clear of liens & encumbers. At closing you'll have a chance to go over the 50 plus pages :) of documentation. If you want a lawyer to approve every thing have them there at closing. Be prepared for a hefty BILL. It is your choice. As I mentioned before call a real estate lawyer anyone will do. Le them explain how it works in CA. It's just that simple. No referrals coming because we don't use lawyers!!! :) :) We ONLY use them when one of the parties I mentioned SCREW UP!!! And that does happen. Call a large brokerage and ask to speak to their in house lawyer.

Brian Garlington · Answer

Shhhh……. Other posters……. I’m guessing Matt is a (rookie) wholesaler…… that’s why he is taking this approach.Matt, I admire the hustle of trying to do what you are doing without a license. A suggestion my man is to team up with a wholesaler that is experienced with the nuances of Oakland and tell him or her that you will split the deal 50/50 with them if they will walk you through the process. It’s a win for you and a win for them and you will have a fellow wholesaler to network with.

Angelou Masters · Answer

Call Alan Horowitz at The Evictors in Oakland he will bring you up to speed. His prices are pretty fair but like the guy above said you will be the only person from this area to take that route but you have to do what makes you comfortable.510 839 2067

Jacky Hung · Answer

@Matt A. I think you need a loan agent to help you shop for a mortgage deal. Most of the common and standard terms in California residential mortgage are no point, no fee, no prepayment penalty, fixed 15-, 20- or 30-year term at certain interest rate with little gap in between APR vs. APY. You don't need a lawyer to deal with regular residential property transaction in California because it is handled by your real estate agent, loan agent and title company. You only need a lawyer when you get suit by the tenant or need to evict the tenant. That is the fun part being a landlord in California. Welcome to Cal!

Matt A. · Answer

Hi Brian and everyone, to be clear, I'm from New York City where lawyers are used for every real estate transaction. I'm still digesting the fact that lawyers are not used for real estate transactions in the Bay Area. Are lawyers even used to review mortgage documents from the bank in the Bay Area? If not, how does one know the bank has not slipped some sketchy/confusing terminology into the mortgage documents that will somehow let the bank take advantage of the buyer? Banks are not really known for their ethical practices:)

Paul Merriwether · Answer

The least QUALIFIED people to advise in the buying & selling process in Oakland & The Bay Area are ... REAL ESTATE ATTORNEYS!!! They never do it .. why would you think they know more than title companies & Brokerages that do it daily? Large real estate brokerages have attorney's for those instances their agents get in trouble. Yet they don't review the daily contracts. Google real estate attorney Oakland. No one can really recommend one since they don't do it as a normal procedure.

Paul Merriwether · Answer

Well ... you are probably the ONLY person in Oakland & the Bay Area to do that!!! Be prepared to pay $450+/hr. And you can bet he'll read very SLOWLY!!! :) :)