Houston Real Estate Transaction Attorney | Transactions Attorney | Closing Attorney

A real estate transaction is the process whereby rights in a unit of property are transferred between two or more parties. These transactions can often be quite difficult due to the complexity of the property rights being transferred, the amount of money being exchanged, and government regulations.

Real estate is especially confusing in a city like Houston that has one of the largest surrounding suburban areas in the country. Even the purchase of one small piece or property can be nightmarish for the average consumer, creating a sense of both confusion and frustration. When you decide to purchase a piece of property in the Houston area, the advice of a qualified real estate attorney can save you from a world of trouble.

Houston real estate lawyers are often faced with issues of clouds on title, deceased owners, divorced owners, construction liens, tax liens, M&M liens, foreclosures, lis pendens, royalties and mineral rights disputes, easements above and below the surface, eminent domain disputes, as well as many other issues involving the sale of property and the protection of title passage. To purchase a piece of property in Houston, Texas without consulting a real estate attorney is not prudent.

When you finally decide to sign on the dotted line, it is important that you do so with some peace of mind. Without proper legal guidance, you could be doomed to worry about problems in your chain of title or some disruptive cloud on your title that you were unable to previously discover. Call a Houston real estate attorney today if you plan on being a party to a real estate transaction some time in the near future.

Areas of Practice Under Real Estate Law

Sale of Business Property Sales of Homes Property Management
Condominiums Partition Appraisal Disputes
Transactions Involving Multi-Unit Dwellings Real Estate investments Transactions Involving Multi-Family Homes
Implied Covenants Corporate Real Estate Transactions Future Estates
Cooperative Housing Transactions Involving Duplexes Transactions Involving Motor Homes


Business Lawyers in Houston can also help with Landlord-Tenant Disputes

Real property leases can be residential or commercial. The relationship between the landlord and tenant is called a tenancy, and the right to possession by the tenant is sometimes called a leasehold interest. A lease can be for a fixed period of time but, depending on the terms of the lease, it may be terminated sooner.

Given Houston's large population, there are a substantial number of individuals who rent their residence, their business, or both. The leases that govern landlord-tenant relationships can be extremely convoluted and confusing to the average person. When you find yourself dealing with a landlord-tenant issue, the advice of a competent Houston real estate attorney is often essential.

Typically, landlords owe duties to their tenants. For example, the implied covenant of quiet enjoyment dictates that the landlord will not interfere with the tenant's possessory rights to the lease. The landlord also has the duty to deliver the property to the tenant for use. This means that the landlord must make the property available to the tenant. If the landlord fails to meet his obligations, the tenant may have some remedies. For example, if a landlord fails to perform his duties, the tenant may be relieved of paying rent. Further, in an action for unpaid rent brought by a landlord against a tenant, a tenant can offer constructive eviction as an affirmative defense. A constructive eviction means that the tenant is no longer able to occupy the lease, but that the tenant was not physically evicted by the landlord.

The breach of these duties can be used as an affirmative defense by the tenant in an action for unpaid rent or eviction. Other duties that landlords owe tenants include the warrant of habitability which requires that the land lord keep the premises habitable and the duty to repair which requires the landlord to repair damage to the premises.

The Texas Property Code sets out rules and regulations for landlords and tenants for leases in Houston. For example, the interruption of utilities by the landlord is covered by the code. According to the code, a landlord or a landlord's agent may not interrupt or cause the interruption of utility service paid for directly to the utility company by a tenant unless the interruption results from bona fide repairs, construction, or an emergency.

Furthermore, the code prohibits retaliatory evictions. This means that a landlord cannot evict a tenant in retaliation for reporting health and safety code violations. A tenant can use retaliatory eviction as both an affirmative defense against an eviction and as a cause of action against a landlord.

Landlord tenant disputes are complicated. The business lawyers in Houston understand this area of law and can provide much needed insight to both landlords and tenants involved in lease disputes. If you are involved with a landlord-tenant dispute, a Houston commercial lawyer can help with all your business needs.

Houston Is Home to Many Sky Scrapers

Sky scrapers are the embodiment of real estate luxury. When an out-of-town visitor passes through a new city, the skyline is often one of the things that is easiest to remember. This is certainly the case for any visitor passing through Houston, given the massive and diverse skyline the city has to offer.

Downtown Houston has more than 40 million square feet of office space, including more than 29 million square feet of Class A office space. Further, Houston has over 350 sky scrapers where many Houston commercial lawyers played an integral role in their construction. Whether they are used for luxury condos or office space, sky scrapers are commonplace in Houston. Some of the more popular Houston sky scrapers include:

Houston Area Commercial Buildings

One Allen Center
500 Dallas Street
Houston, Texas
Heritage Plaza
1111 Bagby Street
Houston, Texas
JP Morgan Chase Tower
600 Travis Street
Houston, Texas
Wells Fargo Plaza
1000 Louisiana Street
Houston, Texas
Williams Tower
2800 Post Oak Boulevard
Houston, Texas
Bank of America Center
700 Louisiana Street
Houston, Texas
Enterprise Plaza
1100 Louisiana
Houston, Texas
Center Point Energy Plaza
1111 Louisiana St.
Houston, Texas
Fulbright Tower
1301 McKinney Avenue
Houston, Texas
One Shell Plaza
910 Louisiana Street
Houston, Texas

Houston area Commercial Law Firms will assit you with real estate transactions, whether you are buying a home or leasing office space in a sky scraper or office tower.

Harris County Real Estate Law Firms will advise you in real estate transactions whether they are for the family home or commercial office space.

A Houston Commercial Lawyer Can Help You with Buying or Selling a House

For the average Houstonian, closing the deal on the sale of a home is a reason to celebrate. To many people, the best part about selling or buying a home is finally ridding themselves of the stress that goes along with the entire process.

In Houston, real estate transactions are governed by a wide range of federal law and Texas law. Navigating an area like real estate law requires a knowledgeable and experience real estate lawyer. Any time there is a subdivision, conveyance, or a mortgaging of a piece of land, there is a real estate transaction. Houston Commercial Lawyers understand this area of law, and are experienced in all kinds of real estate transactions. If you are involved with a transaction or dispute involving real estate, a Houston Commercial Lawyer can help protect your rights.

Houston Is a Great Place to Live

In Houston, some of the more popular neighborhoods include:Houston is a great place to live. Before purchasing a home here and entering into a real estate contract, contact a qualified Houston Commercial Lawyer on this page for advice.

River Oaks West University Place Memorial Forest
Montrose Midtown Village Tanglewood
Lakes On Eldridge Gleannloch Farms Copper Lakes
New Territory Olde Oaks Oak Estates
Canyon Lakes At Stonegate Briargrove Park Avalon - Villages Of Avalon
Timbergrove Manor Cinco Ranch West Lakes Of Parkway
Champion Forest Royal Oaks Seven Meadows
Coles Crossing Gleannloch Farms Ridge Nottingham Country
Weslayan Plaza Katy Creek Ranch Southside Place
Firethorne Hunters Creek Bayou Wood

Houston Commercial Lawyers understand the laws governing purchase of real estate.

Real Estate Transactions are Complex

In Houston, selling a house is a complicated process. Usually, the seller will handle the logistics of advertising and sale. The buyer must handle the logistics of finding the property. Once the buyer finds a piece of property that he wants, he must make an offer to buy. Generally, the buyer will submit a written offer to purchase to the seller. In certain cases, the buyer includes an earnest money payment check which accompanies the offer, and which is generally not deposited until all parties are in agreement.

Multiple offers by different buyers may result in bidding, with best offer being awarded the sale. However, a single offer that is below the initial asking price may result in negotiation between the buyer and seller over the final price. Having a Harris county commercial lawyer is beneficial to ensuring that your interests are protected and you receive the best deal possible.

After the seller accepts a particular offer, a real estate contract must be ratified by the buyer and seller. If the buyer cannot afford the full purchase price, the buyer may get a mortgage for the remainder. Before entering into any mortgage agreement, you should contact a Houston real estate lawyer to review the agreement between you and the bank. If all is agreed upon, there is usually a short period of time to allow the buyer to thoroughly inspect the property.

Once an agreement is reached, there is a title search pending final settlement. This includes an appraisal by the buyer or seller to determine the value of the building and land to satisfy the lender. If any defects are discovered during the inspection, the buyer may ask that they be repaired, ask that the sale price be lowered, or choose not to purchase the property. The closing of the sale ends the escrow period and completes the transfer of ownership to the buyer. At this time, and all monies change hands and a number of closing costs are paid by the buyer or seller.

Houston & Harris County Real Estate Inspectors & Appraisers

Harris County Real Estate Law Firms will assist you when you are purchasing a home and enter into an agreement.

Appraisal Consultants
PO Box 631525
Houston, Texas 77263
(713) 464-2040
ASAP Real Estate Appraisers
9395 Richmond
Houston, Texas 77063
(713) 447-8146 
Residential Valuation Corporation
20747 Clay Road
Katy, Texas 77449
(281) 646-7000
Allied Home Inspection Services
Houston, TX 77064
(281) 440-7939
William O. Tarwater
Buyers Best Home Inspections, LLC
Houston, TX 77057
(281) 216-7121
Jack Roach, IV
Buyers Best
Houston, TX 77057
(713) 822-6260
Manni Dwyer
Katy, TX 77494
(281) 450-0070 
Champions Engineering & Inspections
Houston, TX 77014
(281) 537-5522

Seek the advice of one of the Houston Commercial Lawyers listed on this page.

A Houston Commercial Lawyer can help you in a Transaction or Dispute concerning Real Estate

Disputes can and do arise regarding the obligations of sellers and buyers in real estate transactions. Houston commercial lawyers are familiar in this area of law and can provide much needed Texas real estate legal advice to both buyers and sellers when dealing with this real estate transaction.

Houston Commercial Lawyers Can Help You With Your Business Needs.

Serving clients throughout Southeastern Texas, including Aldine, Baytown, Bellaire, Beaumont, Channelview, Cloverleaf, Conroe, Deer Park, Friendswood, Galena Park, Galveston, Hedwig Village, Highlands, Hilshire Village, Humble, Jacinto City, Katy, League City, Magnolia, Mission Bend, Missouri City, Pasadena, Pearland, Porter, Sealy, South Houston, Spring Valley, Stafford, The Meadows, The Woodlands, Waller, West University, and other communities in Fort Bend County, Harris County, and Montgomery County.

If you are a small business owner who operates a retail store, a Fortune 500 company, or a private party, you need a qualified Houston commercial lawyer in order protect your rights when you conduct a real estate transaction. The commercial lawyers listed on this page are qualified, experienced, professionals who understand this area of law and are available for a initial free consultation to discuss your real estate legal issues.