Most people wouldn’t even dream of not consulting a real estate law professional when buying or selling a home or commercial building, yet it isn’t uncommon for the question to come up as to the necessity when it comes to undeveloped land. The answer to this question is a mix of “can you” do it without an attorney and “should you” do it without their real estate expertise to guide the process.

In some states, it is a requirement to have a real estate law professional present at closing, so in that case, you might have no choice. Even though a land deal doesn’t have some of the risks involved that a developed property might have, it doesn’t mean you aren’t running a risk if you choose to go it alone. There are also situations where even though you can do it on your own, you shouldn’t. Examples include buying land owned by a bank, wanting to confirm ownership or fix a title issue, realizing you need to back out of a contract, selling land as part of an estate, or selling land that has some potential legal issues.

The fees for a real estate law professional’s help are far less than the potential legal ramifications of a sale gone wrong. Imagine building a home or commercial building on a property only to learn of an ownership problem with the land later. It is best to learn there are no issues with the land before you do any construction. By having a lawyer draft the legal documents and provide any needed legal advice regarding real estate, you’ll be in a far better position as a buyer or seller of land.