Rochford Resources Blog

The real estate sales process can be confusing for those without the abundant experience of a real estate attorney. There are a lot of terms that don’t come up in day-to-day life like escrow, lien, and easement. Documents of great importance seem to be required for every step along the way. Those entering the process might think it to be fairly straightforward—find a property you like, make an offer and get it accepted, then move in.

However, that is not often the case. There are plenty of circumstances that can arise that add a few more steps to the process. And throughout this process, everyone has their eyes on the final step— closing.

Commercial real estate can be a great investment. You buy a building, lease it to a company, and get a rent check in the mail each month. 

So how do you determine whether a particular piece of real estate is a good investment? There are several main factors: location, return on investment (ROI), appearance, and a clear title.

But first, what exactly is commercial real estate?

Buying a house is a lot more work than buying dinner, but after almost a month, it’s practically yours.

At least that’s how it feels. In reality, there’s a lot that can still go wrong, even down to the last minute of closing.

Real estate can be a great investment, but it’s not without risk. Houses burn down. Floods do damage. Tenants refuse to pay. How can you protect your investment?

Perhaps you’ve decided to invest in residential real estate—a home, apartment, or duplex that you’re going to rent out instead of living in. While no one can guarantee success, here are five tips to secure your investment and prevent financial loss.

Buying a commercial property? Real estate transactions are complicated, and they come with a lot of fees during closing.

For the buyer, closing costs are generally between 3 and 5% of the cost of the property. Here are some of the different commercial real estate closing costs for buyers and sellers.

You’re getting ready to make what may be the biggest financial investment of your life—selling your luxury home.

In Tennessee, a luxury home is any home valued at more than $500,000, and selling one can be a lot of work.

Real estate agent Robin Ann Aggers, who has 16 years of experience and is a member of the National Association of REALTORS, offers the following tips.

It feels like there’s insurance for everything these days. Title Insurance may seem like just another piece of legal minutia, but it’s actually a crucial part of buying property that can protect you from massive loss.

Sometimes clients looking to cut costs on their next real estate closing have asked about the possibility of a "cash for deed." What does that mean, what are the risks, and how can this strategy save you money on your upcoming closing?  We will try to answer these questions for you.

Here’s a question we were recently asked: “My brother — who is incarcerated — and I co-own 133 acres of land in Tennessee. I want to sell but he doesn’t. There’s no way to fairly divide the property because of the dimensions of the land, much of which is in a flood plain. What can I do? And how are the legal fees paid?”

Birth and death certificates are vital documents that we don't think too much about until we are acquiring the rights of property ownership or trying to prove identity. As crucial as these documents are, they aren't without error. Instances have presented themselves where some of the information was incorrect. False information on a birth certificate could delay access to healthcare or education. Inaccurate information on a death certificate impedes the dividing of assets bequeathed by the deceased — importantly the financial and real estate holdings. Fortunately, major and minor amendments can be made with the support of an experienced attorney.