Real Estate Closings Attorneys in Jacksonville

If you are getting ready to close on a new home or business office, contact our team at Edwards and Edwards P.A. Our Jacksonville real estate attorneys (one of whom is a licensed real estate agent) are here to make sure every step of your closing goes through perfectly.

With 50+ years of legal experience, we can provide all the following and more:

• Contract negotiations – advancing your best interests in residential and commercial closings
• Buyer/seller representation – providing counsel and advocacy backed by extensive knowledge of all sides of a real estate transaction
• Closing and title services – resolving title issues, defects, and liens in-house, and conducting offsite closings as needed
• Foreclosure and short sale assistance – obtaining the best outcome for those currently facing foreclosure or participating in a short sale as a buyer or seller
• Client-focused accommodations – providing services outside normal business hours and offering fair, competitive pricing

From completing the paperwork to conducting the final inspections, our legal team works hard to provide you with the information you need, steer you away from potential pitfalls, and help you make the best possible legal and financial decisions.

If you are preparing for a commercial or residential real estate closing, contact us online or call (904) 478-9255 today! We look forward to working with you.

The Real Estate Closing Process

The purchase or sale of a home is often one of the largest transactions an individual or family will make in their lifetime. Regardless of the whether the property is the first home for a family or an investment property, a substantial amount of money is being moved around. As such, it is important that the closing process is handled by a competent team that works hard to take all the appropriate steps to protect your investment.

All real estate transactions require a “closing,” which is a transaction that transfers ownership from the seller to the buyer on an agreed upon date. However, most of the work involved in a closing is done before the actual transaction.

Here are some of the most critical steps that lead to the closing:

• The closing attorney/title agent must perform a title search to determine whether the title is marketable and therefore insurable.
• A lien search is performed to determine if there are any existing liens against the property that must be cleared prior to transferring ownership.
• A survey determines whether there are any issues with the boundary lines or encroachments.
• Estoppel letters and requests are sent to Homeowner’s Associations and Mortgage lenders to 1) determine if there are any outstanding HOA assessments and 2) determine the payoff amount(s) for any existing mortgage(s).
• The attorney drafts a settlement statement (or closing disclosure, known as a “CD”) that reflects all costs and fees associated with the subject property.

After all the parties have fulfilled their responsibilities per the Purchase and Sale Agreement (PASA), the parties may proceed to closing. The buyer brings the requisite money to be distributed to the seller after all other liabilities and encumbrances have been satisfied.

After the deed has been signed and checks have been cut, we will need to record all necessary documents in the appropriate county Land Records Department: the deed, mortgage, satisfactions, and affidavits. Additionally, we must draft and issue a Title Insurance Policy to the new owner (and the lender, if the purchase was financed).

Due to the vast amount of work and complex series of steps involved in any closing, retaining the services of a competent and efficient team of attorneys is critical to your success. If you would like to close your transaction with confidence and peace of mind, allow Edwards & Edwards, P.A. to support you during this process.