When I bought my first home, I almost skipped hiring a real estate attorney to save money. It would have been the most expensive mistake I never made. Here’s why.

Let me paint you a picture of my first-time homebuyer self: equal parts excited and terrified, armed with a mountain of Pinterest boards and a dangerously thin understanding of the actual process.

My to-do list was a chaotic mess of “get pre-approved,” “find inspector,” and “pick paint colors.” When my realtor mentioned I should consider hiring a real estate attorney, I balked.

Wasn’t that for fancy commercial deals or dramatic courtroom scenes? It felt like an unnecessary extra cost, another layer of complexity in an already complex dance. I figured the standard paperwork was, well, standard. What could go wrong?

Turns out, a lot. And hiring that attorney wasn’t an extra cost; it was my single best investment in the entire process. He wasn’t just a lawyer; he became my translator, my shield, and my strategic advisor.

Think of the mountain of documents you sign at closing. The purchase agreement, the deed, the title commitment, the lender’s closing disclosure, they’re written in a dialect of English I like to call “Legalese.” It’s dense, it’s confusing, and every clause has implications.

My realtor was fantastic at navigating the market, but my attorney was the expert on the contract itself. He sat with me and translated each dense paragraph into plain English. “This clause about ‘time is of the essence’ means if you’re one day late with your deposit, the seller can walk away and keep your earnest money.” That’s not just information; that’s power.

His most crucial role, however, was as the protector. The title search, which sounds like a boring formality, is where hidden nightmares live. Before he got involved, the title company found a few “minor” liens from a previous owner’s unpaid contractor.

My initial reaction was, “Well, that’s not my problem, is it?” My attorney’s reaction was to immediately halt the process. He explained that until those liens were formally discharged and released, they were attached to the *property*, not the person. If we closed, those debts could become my responsibility.

He didn’t just point it out; he negotiated with the title company and the seller’s attorney to ensure they were fully resolved before we signed a single closing paper. He saw a landmine I didn’t even know was there and guided me safely around it.

Then came the negotiations after the inspection. We found some significant electrical issues. My instinct was to just ask for a credit. My attorney helped me craft a precise, legally sound addendum that didn’t just ask for money, but specified that the repairs be completed by a licensed electrician prior to closing, with receipts provided for our review.

This legally obligated the seller to fix the problem correctly, rather than just slapping a band-aid on it or giving us cash that might not cover the full repair. He turned our request from a suggestion into a binding requirement.

For some buyers, the attorney’s role is even more critical. If you’re buying a unique property, like a condo with a complex set of bylaws, or a home within a homeowners’ association, your attorney will review those governing documents.

They’ll flag restrictive covenants that might forbid you from renting out the property later or from building that shed you wanted. They’re your advocate in unconventional situations, like purchasing a for-sale-by-owner property where there’s no agent-prepared contract to lean on.

I understand the temptation to view this as an optional step, especially in states where it’s not mandatory. You might think, “The title company has insurance, right?” But title insurance protects against past, unknown claims.

Your attorney protects you from the present-day pitfalls and ensures your interests are actively defended throughout the entire transaction.

In the end, my closing was smooth. There were no last-minute surprises, no panic, no confusion. I sat at that table and signed with confidence because a professional had already walked me through every line and vetted every document.

The fee I paid him felt insignificant compared to the financial and legal risks he helped me avoid.

So, my hard-earned advice? Budget for an attorney from the very beginning. Interview a few, find one who specializes in residential real estate and who communicates in a way you understand.

See them not as a cost, but as the ultimate insurance policy for the largest purchase of your life. My realtor found me the house of my dreams, but my real estate attorney made sure it was actually mine, free and clear. And that peace of mind? That was absolutely priceless.

References

Rocket Mortgage. (2024, September 11). *Real estate attorney: What they do and if you need one*. Retrieved from https://www.rocketmortgage.com/learn/real-estate-attorney

Own Up. (n.d.). *Attorney review in home buying: What buyers should know*. Retrieved from https://www.ownup.com/learn/mortgage-advisors/the-role-of-the-attorney-review-in-home-buying/

Bankrate. (2025, February 9). *What does a real estate attorney do?* Retrieved from https://www.bankrate.com/real-estate/real-estate-attorney/

Lerch Early. (2024, October 6). *Hiring an attorney may save you money when looking to buy a home*. Retrieved from https://www.lerchearly.com/news/hiring-an-attorney-may-save-you-money-when-looking-to-buy-a-home

Heartland Abstract. (2025, October 6). *6 reasons to hire a real estate lawyer*. Retrieved from https://heartlandabstract.com/blog/6-reasons-to-hire-a-real-estate-lawyer/