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OT lawyers: Real Estate work?

Posted on 7/20/14 at 1:13 pm
Posted by SECSolomonGrundy
Slaughter Swamp
Member since Jun 2012
15842 posts
Posted on 7/20/14 at 1:13 pm
I've been talking with a local bank and putting a lot of thought into gearing our firm towards more real estate work. I want to hear some opinions from other lawyers about the market's growth potential and profitability. The firm I'm with used to do a ton of real estate work around our area before the market bottomed out (and also one of our partners became disabled around the same time). I'm growing a bit tired of dealing with lowlifes and I'm always looking for a new revenue stream.

Thoughts and experiences would be appreciated. TIA
Posted by HurricaneDunc
Houston
Member since Nov 2008
10472 posts
Posted on 7/20/14 at 1:14 pm to
Real estate is cyclical.

quote:

The firm I'm with used to do a ton of real estate work around our area before the market bottomed out


That's the risk you run
Posted by blackmouth
God's Country
Member since May 2014
387 posts
Posted on 7/20/14 at 1:22 pm to
you think the bank has good paper? if you are closing atty on first sale/first mortgage on a piece of property you should be fine assuming you get good Title report back. However, today, many "Good" Titles are simply a lie. Google "MERS" scandal and mortgage fraud.. LA was hit pretty hard but not as bad as FL, TX, GA,CO, CA etc... it will still be 5-10 yrs bf we get back to pre 06 levels, if ever.
Posted by SECSolomonGrundy
Slaughter Swamp
Member since Jun 2012
15842 posts
Posted on 7/20/14 at 1:40 pm to
Yeah I have a lot of confidence in the bank. It's relatively new but most are and it's board is made up of many local individuals with strong real estate backgrounds. Supposedly my area is the fastest growing region of the state. But I don't have my head wrapped around the real estate market well enough to know the outlook.
Posted by DVA Tailgater
Bunkie
Member since Jan 2011
2923 posts
Posted on 7/20/14 at 1:41 pm to
All titles seem to have defects these days. Very few simple transactions.
Posted by blackmouth
God's Country
Member since May 2014
387 posts
Posted on 7/20/14 at 1:45 pm to
LINK /

this is the lawyer that blew the lid off the bank's chosen foreclosure mill law firms....filth. some of those lawyers should be shot.
Posted by stout
Smoking Crack with Hunter Biden
Member since Sep 2006
167089 posts
Posted on 7/20/14 at 1:47 pm to
You will have to compete with the 100s of title companies that strictly do closings and make their money by volume. They seem to have cut the market down to nothing. I have seen some only charge like $300 for a closing and title opinion.

Hopefully your paralegal, whom we know will be doing the work, isn't too expensive because it seems like it would be hard to compete against those title companies that do 20 closings a day.

I am old school and still prefer having an abstract in hand when I buy something so I will pay more for a closing though I know that rarely happens anymore.
Posted by SECSolomonGrundy
Slaughter Swamp
Member since Jun 2012
15842 posts
Posted on 7/20/14 at 1:58 pm to
Yeah our firm used to operate an abstract company on the side but there just isn't much work nowadays.

The title companies might take the wind out of my sails a bit. I don't want to do closings for ~$200.
Posted by SabiDojo
Open to any suggestions.
Member since Nov 2010
83927 posts
Posted on 7/20/14 at 2:18 pm to
I just stopped doing it entirely. But, I'm a solo practitioner. It just wasn't worth it.
Posted by Traffic Circle
Down the Rabbit Hole
Member since Nov 2013
4231 posts
Posted on 7/20/14 at 2:40 pm to
quote:

I just stopped doing it entirely. But, I'm a solo practitioner. It just wasn't worth it.

You just need to charge more. Like $2,500 per closing, plus costs. You are a lawyer for God's sake. Charge like a man and make them pay it.
Posted by hollywoodlsu
NOLA, BR, LAFFY, LC
Member since Apr 2006
260 posts
Posted on 7/20/14 at 2:44 pm to
<--Real estate attorney here

The good:
Compared to other areas of law, it is very rewarding handing keys to buyers and checks to sellers. Has more of a 9-5 feel and you rarely take too much stress home. Money can be good but all of this depends on how your firm compensates you. If you are personable, you should be able to succeed because much of what you will be doing is shmoozing loan officers and realtors. The Louisiana market is very strong right now. Excellent marketing skills will help you connect with the younger loan officers and realtors (most older ones have pretty strong relationships with the established title attorneys around town). Passing title insurance test is easy.

The bad:
Tough to reach OT baller status in real estate unless you are churning through a lot of title. There really isn't that infamous "18 wheeler wreck" that will set up your retirement. Sure a 10 million dollar deal can pull in a 30k title insurance policy, but those deals are tough to come by and your portion of that policy is not going to get you very far.
Lots of arse kissing to realtors and many in that profession are unbearable dipshits with unwarranted egos. Just like anything If you are new, breaking into the field will be tough but since your firm has a history of closings it may help.
In a competitive market anything less than 5 day turnaround time (to run title and prepare commitments) is going to be frowned upon so you need a kick arse abstractor(s) and a great closing secretary. If your closing secretary sucks no LO's are going to want to send you business. Also, don't put all eggs in one basket. You mention "a bank." You will need a relationship with many banks and many realtors ( and a few builders)

TLDR synopsis:
Rewarding area of law
Louisiana market is strong
Money is okay, but OT baller status will be tough
Better get a good closing secretary and abstractor
Don't be a social retard like many attorneys
Pucker up because you will kiss the arse of many undesireables

Posted by ihometiger
Member since Dec 2013
12475 posts
Posted on 7/20/14 at 2:48 pm to
The cost of compliance to do residential transactions will put 60% of the title attorneys in business now out of business. If you can afford $60k per year in compliance and make then you'll be okay.
Posted by Stexas
SWLA
Member since May 2013
5992 posts
Posted on 7/20/14 at 3:20 pm to
quote:

hollywoodlsu

Very solid advice/guidance here.
My bride did it for almost three years and was MISERABLE because she's kind of an introvert. The arse kissing doesn't stop if you are going to make any money, at least with the firm/title co. she worked for.
Posted by Traffic Circle
Down the Rabbit Hole
Member since Nov 2013
4231 posts
Posted on 7/20/14 at 3:25 pm to
quote:

My bride did it for almost three years and was MISERABLE because she's kind of an introvert. The arse kissing doesn't stop if you are going to make any money, at least with the firm/title co. she worked for.

Maybe she didn't screw the clients? If she did, maybe she would have got the work?
Posted by Stexas
SWLA
Member since May 2013
5992 posts
Posted on 7/20/14 at 3:27 pm to
How original... Never expected a douche response in here
This post was edited on 7/20/14 at 3:30 pm
Posted by Traffic Circle
Down the Rabbit Hole
Member since Nov 2013
4231 posts
Posted on 7/20/14 at 3:35 pm to
Honestly, do you think if she screwed the clients she would get the work? I think the answer is yes.

How many do you think are willing to do it? I say a lot.

I know it's your wife, so it's personal, and you are offended, but set that aside for a moment and you can see my point.
Posted by Stexas
SWLA
Member since May 2013
5992 posts
Posted on 7/20/14 at 3:58 pm to
I don't think you are too familiar with real estate closings. Most closings are couples, not some hard leg internet dweeb that posts on TD more than 2000 times in less than a year.

Nice try job in trying to rustle my jimmies however.
Posted by Quigley
Down Under
Member since Jul 2009
4007 posts
Posted on 7/20/14 at 4:07 pm to
quote:

hollywoodlsu


Summed it up perfectly.
Posted by Vegas Eddie
The Quad
Member since Dec 2013
5975 posts
Posted on 7/20/14 at 4:07 pm to
quote:

OT lawyers






Poor
Posted by SECSolomonGrundy
Slaughter Swamp
Member since Jun 2012
15842 posts
Posted on 7/20/14 at 4:46 pm to
Thanks guys.
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