When dealing with commercial and business real estate, it’s important to understand titles and how they fit into the equation. Real estate transactions can be complicated to handle, especially when you try to do everything on your own. It’s helpful to work with a Jennings title services lawyer, so you can rest assured you understand every part of the process.
Our team at Gayle Law Firm has been serving clients throughout southwest Louisiana since 2009, giving us well over a decade of experience in real estate law. Based in Jennings, Louisiana, we’re confident we can help you navigate your real estate needs, so you can manage and optimize your assets.
Jefferson Davis Parish comprises five towns, including Jennings. Jennings itself is home to 9,679 people and boasts a diverse job economy. The top six industries in the town include agriculture, construction, health care services, manufacturing, oil field services, and shipbuilding. Additionally, the median property value in recent years was $140,800. When it comes to dealing with any type of real estate, it’s important to understand the role a title plays.
A title is a legal term referring to the ownership and right to use a piece of real property. It’s an essential part of buying and selling real estate. If a seller doesn’t have a clear title to the property they’re selling, the buyer could be at risk for dealing with unexpected issues down the road.
That’s why it’s wise to work with a Jennings title services lawyer when dealing with real estate. At Gayle Law Firm, we offer a variety of title services, including:
To top it off, your Jennings title services lawyer can handle closing coordination, mitigate risks, offer legal advice and guidance, prepare and review legal documents, and take care of any number of other tasks to keep you on track with your real estate needs.
It’s important to understand that title services lawyers, like all real estate attorneys, work with real property, not personal property. Real property includes commercial buildings, homes, and other structures, as well as the land they are on. Personal property, on the other hand, includes a person’s belongings, such as jewelry, furniture, and vehicles. Money and any investment accounts are also considered personal property.
Real estate lawyers can focus on residential real estate, commercial real estate, industrial real estate, or any combination of the three. Be sure to do your research and work with an attorney who has experience handling your type of real estate dispute.
One of the most common services our team at Gayle Law Firm offers is assisting with property title searches. This is a crucial step in any real estate transaction because it ensures you understand the full extent of the ownership of the property before you commit to it. The property title search process involves looking at public records to reveal any past claims, disputes, or liens.
The good news is you don’t have to do it on your own. A Jennings title services lawyer can take you through each step of the process to conduct a search. This includes:
A: If you’re navigating a real estate transaction, it can be helpful to work with a professional who understands the process. When you start doing research, you may find yourself weighing your options between closing with a title company versus with an attorney.
Working with a Jennings title services lawyer can be advantageous because they can often be more cost-effective while offering legal advice and guidance in addition to the title services. This is particularly true for complex transactions.
A: You’re not obligated to work with a Jennings title services lawyer when going through a real estate transaction. That said, it can be very helpful to have a legal professional on your side to help you navigate the process. By working with an attorney, you can have legal guidance and title services all in one. Otherwise, you’d likely have to close through a title company without any help.
A: It’s difficult to estimate how much it may cost to work with a legal professional to assist with a title because it ultimately depends on what kind of services you require for a real estate transaction. More complex cases can end up being more expensive, but these types of cases are when having a legal professional can be the most beneficial. You can typically get a quote for an attorney’s services before you commit to working with them.
A: A title search can uncover issues with a piece of real estate, which can affect whether or not it can be marketed or owned. It’s critical to know the title history before you buy any real property. Otherwise, you may get stuck being responsible for easements, existing loans, and rival past ownership claims.
Don’t go into a real estate situation blind. Let a skilled Jennings title services lawyer from Gayle Law Firm help answer any questions you have about a title, so you can rest assured you’re clear of any title defects and are ready to proceed with whatever deal is happening.
Attorney Thomas John Gayle has lived in Lake Charles almost all his life, and he’s spent a good amount of time giving back to local communities by providing comprehensive real estate law services. If you’re ready to discuss your case in more detail, get in touch with our team to set up an appointment today.