When Do You Need a Real Estate Attorney in Maryland?
- April 28, 2025
- Real Estate
When do you need a real estate lawyer? The first thing that comes to mind may be representation when you are buying or selling a home. This is certainly important, but it’s far from the only way that working with an attorney can benefit you. So when do you need a real estate attorney in Maryland? Here’s a closer look.
If you’re dealing with zoning issues, facing property line disputes, or buying or selling a property, a real estate lawyer may be helpful.
When Do You Need a Maryland Real Estate Attorney?
The Right Lawyer Can Be Your Advocate
The world of real estate is more expansive than many people realize. And no matter which part of the industry you’re involved with, there’s a good chance a real estate attorney can help. While this is not an exhaustive list, here are some of the key instances when you may need a real estate lawyer:
You’re Dealing With a Breach of Contract
Handling breaches of contract can be a hassle. A real estate attorney can negotiate breaches like these:
- Failure of a landlord to ensure a property is habitable
- Failure of a tenant to follow the rental agreement
- Failure of a seller to deliver a property’s title deed
- Failure of a buyer to pay as agreed.
There are many types of real estate breaches of contract, but there are also many ways to solve them. Your lawyer might help you attend mediation or might negotiate with the other party on your behalf. Many breaches can be resolved outside of court, but your lawyer can file a lawsuit if necessary.
You’re Buying a Home
For most people, buying a home is the single biggest financial commitment they will ever make. However, it’s far more than a single transaction. Most home purchases involve several separate contracts — including mortgage financing agreements and the sales contract for the home itself. Your lawyer can help you make sense of sales documents and advocate for changes to be made if needed. They can also advise you regarding title insurance, homeowners’ insurance, closing costs, and confirm the closing statement and documents are all correct.
A real estate lawyer is useful during more than just the initial sale. You may hope that all goes smoothly, but it’s possible to find previously undisclosed damage or run into other problems after the sale. These problems may seem nightmarish, but real estate attorneys handle them on a regular basis, and there’s a good chance an attorney can resolve the issue quickly.
You’re Selling a Home
Working with a real estate lawyer isn’t only important if you’re buying a home. As a seller, you may run into complex and unexpected issues like these:
- Liens on the property
- Problems with the title
- Easements
- Zoning restrictions.
Your lawyer can also help avoid potential problems by creating a sales contract. Many realtors use “boilerplate” contracts with the same standard language. When your contract is tailored to a specific sale, you’re far less likely to run into contract disputes and other problems down the line.
Think you may need a real estate attorney? Call Lusk Law, LLC at (443) 535-9715 to book your consultation today.
You’re Negotiating a Commercial Lease
Commercial leases are somewhat unique because they often involve extensive negotiation. It’s generally wise for residential landlords and tenants to ask attorneys to review lease contracts, but commercial lease contracts aren’t negotiated in the same way residential leases are.
Hiring a lawyer is especially important if this is your first time renting a commercial space. Some commercial landlords may try to take advantage of inexperienced commercial tenants. Likewise, an experienced business owner could easily take advantage of a first-time commercial landlord. No matter which side of the contract you’re on, having a real estate lawyer can help ensure that it is fair.
You’re Dealing With a Property Line Dispute
Sometimes, your neighbor may encroach on your property by building a fence, shed, or other structure that crosses the property line. Fortunately, some of these issues can be resolved with a friendly conversation. But some neighbors seem determined to claim part of your property as their own.
When this happens, you may need a real estate lawyer to help. Your attorney might be able to negotiate with the neighbor (or their attorney) to try to reach a mutually agreeable outcome. If all else fails, they may help you take the neighbor to court.
You Need to Evict Someone
Evictions are rarely simple. The process involves a significant amount of paperwork, and if the tenant fights the eviction, it also may lead to a lot of time in court. Even a seemingly small mistake on a form can lead to a delay — which in turn impacts your rental income.
When you have a real estate lawyer, you can entrust all eviction proceedings to your attorney. They can ensure that proper notice is given and that all paperwork is correctly filed.
You’re Buying a Short Sale or Foreclosed Property
It’s always a good idea to have a real estate lawyer when buying property. However, when you’re purchasing a short sale or foreclosed property, legal representation is doubly important. Short sales are far more complex than the average home sale, as you need to negotiate with the owner and the lender. Both the owner and lender are also in a hurry to sell the home, so you cannot trust either party to have your best interests in mind. Your lawyer can handle negotiations and work to negotiate a contract that is favorable to you.
Need a Maryland Real Estate Lawyer?
Advocates For Life’s Obstacles and Opportunities
Dealing with real estate disputes and similar issues can be overwhelming and disorienting. Our firm is committed to representing your best interests while helping you find a solution. We’re also proud to represent a variety of clients — we have helped homebuyers, sellers, landlords, and tenants navigate even the most challenging disputes.
If you need a Maryland real estate lawyer or think you might, don’t wait — call Lusk Law, LLC at (443) 535-9715 to book a consultation.