Attorney for house closing? (real estate, mortgage, buyer)

[NYCTransplant5]

We're purchasing a new build and expecting to close in mid-April. Where we live now (NY/NJ), everyone uses a realtor to find a buyer or to find a house to buy, but a real estate attorney for the actual transaction. That doesn't seem to be the case in Texas, however. Is everything done through the realtor? We're paying cash, and in past experience payment goes through an escrow account held by the seller's counsel, so I'm just curious about the experience down there.

And yes I will be asking our realtor about it, I'm just curious about anecdata as well.

[gwarnecke]

Not needed, but some people choose to involve an attorney if there's anything unusual/nonstandard about the transaction.

[MAROON79]

you will close at a Title Company, which handles all the documents.

[cheryjohns]

Originally Posted by MAROON79

you will close at a Title Company, which handles all the documents.

This. The particular title company is usually something negotiated between buyer and seller in re-sells - but a new build is usually through the title company that handles that builder (prices are lowered due to volume). The title company name and location are most likely included in your contract body. If not, your realtor or builder agent will tell you.

[NYCTransplant5]

Thanks for the responses. Our realtor said the same thing; we'll just use our attorney to actually wire the funds from an escrow account so we can set it up before we actually move and not have to worry about it.

We just went through a nightmare transaction up here selling my deceased mother in law's house and the buyer's title company and mortgage banker was beyond inept, so hopefully this will go much more smoothly. In that case our attorney earned every penny of his fee and then some.

[DSL_PWR]

I only use a Real Estate Attorney to handle my transactions. No agents ever.