All Forum Posts by: Matt A.

Thanks Steve!

I've heard different opinions on this. I’m guessing it has to do with what year the building was built? What year if so?

I ask because I’m looking to buy an apartment in Oakland, CA to live in at first, but I’d like to rent it out eventually and ideally not have it be subject to rent control. I figure I’ll be able to rent it out at market rate for the first year the tenant is there, but I’d like to be able to raise the rent price to whatever the market will bear each year if the tenant wants to stay longer than a year.

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:)

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!

Where can I find a list of condos, buildings, and/or homes in Oakland, California that are currently in foreclosure?

Perhaps there is some official Oakland government website that lists them all?

I ask because I am interested in buying foreclosed real estate in Oakland, California. 

Thanks!

Thanks for the offer Caroline! I just private messaged you the addresses. Info on any or all will be greatly appreciated. Will definitely consider having you do the financing once I'm ready to put in some offers! 

Hi Caroline, to be clearer, I am looking for the name of the attorney who represented the buyer (or the seller) in an Oakland, California real estate transaction. Are there any government websites (or other sources) that display this info?
Or perhaps there is some sort of government website (or other source) that shows all the Oakland real estate transactions an attorney represented clients in?

The purpose of this is so I have official proof that whichever attorney I'm looking to hire has previously represented a client in an Oakland real estate transaction. Thanks!

Hello, I plan to buy a few condos in Oakland, California and am in search of a lawyer I can hire to do the transactions.

Is there a government website or something similar I can use to lookup the name of the attorney who represented the buyer in a specific Oakland real estate transaction? This is so I can have proof that whichever lawyer I choose to hire has successfully completed a real estate transaction for a buyer in Oakland California.

Thanks!