Do You Need a Lawyer for Your Real Estate Closing?

You do if you answer NO to any of the following questions:

• Do you trust the other parties involved not to take advantage of you?

• Do you understand the Contract provisions?

• Do you understand your inspection rights?

• Can you negotiate your repair credits?

• Do you have a fiduciary relationship with your representative?

Meet our Legal partners 


 

Based on the solid reputation we have developed with Metro Atlanta’s highest-producing agents, lenders, and builders, Parkway Law Group is your trusted legal partner for all of your closing needs.

Lenders & Real Estate Agents, email us at title@parkwaytitle.com to submit title orders, new contracts, and F511s for signature, or to request wiring instructions.

 

Partners 

Christopher (Chris) B. Little

Managing Partner

Chris Little, the Managing Partner, was born in Washington D.C., raised in Charleston, SC, and currently resides in Braselton, GA.  He attended undergrad at Furman University with a B.A. in History in 1996 and The University of South Carolina School of Law where he obtained his Juris Doctorate (J.D.) in 2000.  He is married to Jennifer Little, and they have 2 children, Grant Thomas and Caroline Elizabeth.

Christopher Blake

Senior Managing Attorney, Alpharetta/Cobb

Chris graduated from Florida State University in 2007 with a B.S. in Real Estate and a minor in Finance. He attended Atlanta John Marshall Law School in 2011 where he obtained his Juris Doctorate (J.D.). He has experience in residential and commercial real estate law, corporate and business law, contract drafting, and commercial and residential real estate closings.

 

Wyshonia (Shonia) Shaw
Chief Operating Officer

Shonia, Chief Operating Officer, graduated from South University with a B.S. in Criminal Justice. He attended Birmingham School of Law where he obtained his Juris Doctorate (J.D.). He has 18+ years of executive-level management and Court administration experience. He also has over 20 years of experience in foreclosure & bankruptcy law, residential and commercial real estate law, and commercial and residential real estate closings. Shonia lives in the great city of Atlanta, he is the proud father of one son, and he enjoys playing piano and fishing as his hobbies.

Amanda Gordon

Director of Strategic Operations

Amanda, Director of Strategic Operations, graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor's degree in Sociology and a New Media Certificate. She's held a real estate license since 2016 and is the Director of Parkway's Real Estate School. Formerly the Director of Operations for a prominent real estate team, her career has largely focused on ensuring fantastic client experience across multiple industries. She uses that knowledge to advocate for Parkway's clients which aid in process development and improvement. Amanda's role also includes efforts in business growth, marketing, and technical solutions. She lives in Winder, is a proud Aunt of 2 beautiful nieces, and loves spending as much time as possible boating on Lake Lanier.

Miguel Barboza

Senior Managing Attorney, Gwinnett

Miguel is a "Double Dawg", earning his Undergraduate Degree in Financial Planning and then returning to the UGA School of Law for his Juris Doctorate. Miguel comes to us with experience in both residential and commercial closings and is completely fluent in both English and Spanish. He has had previous success with managing and operating a real estate closing office, has a vast network of clientele, and is proficient in title review and clearance.

Miguel works with special groups where he is able to reach out to the Hispanic community and give them valuable tools and knowledge for potential careers in the real estate industry. He is the Professional Development Director of the Hispanic Law Student Association and is a member of the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals.

Alexia Niketas

Managing Attorney, South Carolina & Default Division 

Alexia graduated from the University of Georgia in 1992 with a Bachelor's in Music. She then went on to obtain a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) from the University of South Carolina Law School in 2000.  She has nearly two decades of experience in the areas of property law, including real estate and consumer bankruptcy, consumer protection, and other general practice areas.

Kerri Littlejohn

Managing Attorney, Stockbridge

Kerri received her Bachelor’s Degree from Middle Tennessee State University. She earned her Juris Doctorate (J.D.) from Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School in 2006. In addition to real estate, she has experience in commercial and civil litigation, creditor’s rights, bankruptcy, appellate legal drafting, and other general practice areas.

Michael Brown

Managing Attorney, Atlanta

Michael was born and raised in Charleston, SC and currently resides in Decatur, GA. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Sciences from the University of South Carolina in 2015 and earned his Juris Doctorate (J.D) from Vermont Law School in 2019. During his time at Vermont Law School, he served as a Production Editor for the Vermont Journal of Environmental Law. He has experience in residential real estate and property law, business law, environmental law, and contract drafting.

It is essential to understand the legal ins and outs that will properly protect you when you buy or sell a home. There are several issues that will certainly cost you if you are not properly informed. It is not uncommon for misinformation to cost local home sellers thousands of dollars in the sale of their homes. Don't let this happen to you.
 

How to Avoid Costly Legal Mistakes

"When such a major investment is transferred from one party to another, even the subtle legal details need to be taken care of. If not they can turn into major problems if handled incorrectly."

 

When you're buying or selling a home, there are many important legal issues, large and small, that you should be aware of. To begin with, residential real estate is not an uncomplicated process. When such a major investment is transferred from one party to another, even the subtle legal details need to be taken care of. If not they can turn into major problems if not handled correctly. It is essential to be as informed as possible in order to properly protect yourself in the process of buying or selling a home. There are several issues that will certainly cost you if you are not properly informed. In this report, we identify 3 of the most common of these issues. Because there are many legal issues to consider, your first step is to consider choosing reputable and experienced professionals to represent your interests. When selecting your real estate agent, ensure that you find someone who has extensive experience with the process. They should also refer you to a local real estate lawyer†who can ensure your interests are protected.

 

3 Legal Issues That Could Cost You Thousands

Following are 3 common examples of legal clauses that can work to your disadvantage if not worded correctly:

 

1. Survey Clause

Home buyers have the right to add a survey clause to the real estate contract on the home they wish to purchase. When this home is yours, you should be aware of the implications of this clause. Your current survey may no longer be up-to-date if you have had a swimming pool built, or an addition added since the survey was drawn up. If your survey is not up-to-date by these standards, the buyer may request an updated survey. The home seller may be required to bear the cost to have a new survey prepared. The cost for this process typically runs anywhere from $700 to $1,000. This is $700-$1,000 less than you will net for your home. An experienced real estate agent should provide you with a survey and it is up to the buyer†to decide if the survey is acceptable. Your agent†should be able to advise yourself appropriately when dealing with this issue, but if you or your agent are unsure, you have the right to consult your lawyer before you sign the offer. Don't be afraid to take this important step, as thousands of dollars could be riding on the decisions you make at this point.

 

2. Home Inspection Clause

Some real estate transactions have fallen through because of the wording of the inspection clause. This clause previously stated that the buyer has the right to rescind their offer if they were dissatisfied with the outcome of a home inspection. In some cases, this was used unfairly against the seller when a minor repair issue would give the buyer†a legal loophole to their change of heart. Meanwhile, the seller lost both time and money because of this technicality. First, they may have declined other offers (offers which may now be lost forever) in favor of the one which has now fallen through and missed the opportunity for other offers which might have come through during the current negotiations. Secondly, their home may have been unfairly labeled as a "problem house" which could cost them in terms of the dollar amount of subsequent offers. And thirdly, they then found themselves back on the market, incurring the inconvenience and additional carrying costs of having to market their property for a longer period of time. This clause should read that the seller has the option to fix any items that the home inspection flags. This wording protects both the buyer†and the seller. The buyer†is assured that the home they are buying meets objective structural standards, and the seller is protected against the whim of a buyer†who changes his/her mind. Not all contracts will be written in this way. Make sure you are working with a lawyer experienced in real estate matters to ensure your interests are protected.

 

3. Swimming Pool Clause

If the home you are buying or selling has a swimming pool, there should be a specific legal clause that addresses this costly item. Some contracts are written to provide a warranty to the pool to survive closing. The broadness of this wording protects buyers but is not necessarily in the best interest of sellers who might instead request that the clause be worded to indicate that, at the time of closing, they believe the pool to be in good working condition. The existence of a pool in any home negotiation is certainly reason enough to ensure that you seek advice from a real estate professional and obtain legal counsel so that your interests are represented properly. By being aware of these and other legal issues, and by seeking advice from an experienced real estate professional and obtaining legal counsel, you can protect yourself against unnecessary costs and potential hardship.