In New York (and many other states) it’s not required for you to have an attorney to purchase or sell a house. However, it is recommended. In most cases, the other party will have legal counsel protecting their interests, and it will be beneficial if you do as well.

If you have any questions about the sale or purchase, you can direct them to your attorney. They can also help you avoid purchasing a property that may cause you future issues or legal hassles.

It’s easy to believe that a property that you want to purchase is perfect and that there are no issues; however, having the clear title report in hand, provides peace of mind this is the case. It ensures there are no liens against the prior owners or other documents that may restrict your ability to use the property or how you use the property.

Also, with a preliminary title report, you have the chance to review impediments that may keep a title from passing to you without issue.

This provides you with a summary of a piece of real property’s legal history. It’s used by the title insurance companies as the foundation for issuing title insurance. It’s also used by attorneys who examine the title as a basis for what they conclude about the property’s ownership. It’s an invaluable document and one that you should have before moving forward when purchasing any type of property in New York.

Liens are any type of legal claim related to real property that provides security for the repayment of some type of debt or another financial obligation. If the debt isn’t repaid, then the lender or whoever holds the lien can foreclose the claim and force a public sale to ensure the debt is paid.