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At our firm we work with integrity, passion and professionalism.

As Washington real estate attorneys, we assist people who are buying or selling real property.  

We also handle disputes and other matters including:

* Boundary Disputes     * Cohabitation and Joint Ownership

* Easements                 * Landlord-Tenant

* Title Problems            * Contractor Issues 

* Foreclosures       * Guardianships

* Short Sales       * Wills & Probate

* Loan Modifications     * LLC Formation

SPDJ Law, Inc., PS

Main Office: 

1119 Pacific Avenue, Suite 1308
Tacoma, WA 98402.

Telephone: 253.238.0868
Fax: 253.238.0867
Email: <-- JavaScript Required -->

Follow us on Twitter:  spdj_lawyer

https://twitter.com/spdj_lawyer  

 

 

Facing Foreclosure? Considering a Short Sale?

We offer consultations to explain your options and then can assist with obtaining loan modifications or with ongoing communication with your lender.  

Depending on your circumstances, different options are likely available--but don't delay in scheduling a consultation, especially if a foreclosure is already pending!

Short sales often negatively affect the homeowner in ways they don't realize until it's too late. The details of your situation and pending sale are necessary to evaluate your options and how the sale would affect you, versus what yoursituation would be if you didn't sell short and let the property go to foreclosure. 

There are Distressed Property Laws in Washington, where some people helping or offering to help a distressed homeowner have fiduciary duties to the homeowner. If they hurt the homeowner, the homeowner might have a claim for up to triple their damages plus attorneys fees and costs under the Consumer Protection Act. A homeowner can't waive their rights under these laws. (RCW Ch. 61.34)

Depending on the extent of loan forgiveness and whether you're selling an investment property orprimary residence, you might have a post-sale tax obligation.  Whereas depending on the loan(s) that you owe the bank, by letting the house go to foreclosure,you might not have any further obligation.

Your credit and borrowing ability might be affected as much as if the property went to foreclosure. The laws are changing all the time on this topic. There is new Obama legislation designed to protect people's credit in a short sale, but it may not matter if you were behind on payments or if banks can continue to treat a short sale as a foreclosure and not lend to you again for 4 years conventional or 2 years VA/FHA.

Everyone thinking about selling under a short sale should have their situation and all the details of any potential short sale reviewed by a real estate attorney and an accountant--especially before working with someone to sell short or before handing their property over to a company that lets them walk away. Those companies might not advise all of the potential negative consequences of this type of situation.

 

Topics for Buyers and Sellers. 

Maybe you would like to save on commission and list your property for sale by owner (FSBO) without hiring a real estate agent.   But what if an agent brings a Buyer to you?  

What if you are FSBO and agreed to a price, but no documents are signed.  What if you unknowingly left $50,000.00 on the table?  Or more than $100,000.00?  How do you know?

If you are buying property from or in contact with a seller who is facing foreclosure, are you a "distressed home consultant" under the June 2008 Washington law?    

Did your agent recommend you seek an attorney's assistance to address a title or boundary issue or to draft a special addendum?   

These are just some of the types of issues that we can assist with.  If something does go wrong, and a lawsuit is filed, you could be involved in expensive litigation for two years or more.  Hiring counsel before there's a problem helps you come out ahead and can save later financial hardship.

Buying or selling real estate?

Keep your BIGGEST INVESTMENT from becoming your BIGGEST HEADACHE.     

It’s advisable to hire legal representation in every transaction.  With an attorney's assistance when buying and selling real estate, the benefits can include:

- avoiding costly disputes with the other party or problems with the property. 

- learning what "lies beneath" the title report and CC&R's (Conditions, Covenants & Restrictions).

- protecting your interests and rights before closing. 

With your goals in mind, we can advise you throughout a sale or a purchase--beyond what your real estate or escrow agents are allowed to advise.  An attorney can revise or draft a contract, explain title reports and CC&R'S, draft addenda or escrow instructions, protect your rights, or help negotiate a settlement.    

Take a moment to review the ways in which we can assist you for a flat fee. This allows you to easily limit and budget for legal advice.   

The benefits of legal representation... 

We frequently represent: 

- Homeowners 

- Buyers

- Sellers

- Investors  

The average cost of a home can vary from a quarter-million to a half-million or more across Washington State.  Still, and too frequently, neither party obtains the advice of an attorney. There are significant legal effects of the numerous documents involved in a quarter-million or half-million dollar transaction.  

Often, issues arise post-closing that could have been avoided.  After closing, it's almost always more expensive and sometimes simply too late to resolve or pursue claims.    

As attorneys, our duties in a transaction are to our client.  We regularly advise clients of their rights, best interests and options, with our focus on a satisfactory end result.  As an added benefit, we offer a flat-fee payment option that you can take advantage of to have legal representation from start to finish in a transaction.

We frequently consult with real estate agents, escrow, title companies, accountants, exchangers, homeowners associations, and even financial advisors to help our clients.  If you are a buyer, seller, someone just starting to look at homes, or someone thinking about selling, we urge you to consider hiring legal representation.  

Our office is conveniently located in downtown Tacoma, on the 13th floor of the Heritage Bank Building, which is on the same block as Starbucks. 

In addition to transactions, we help our clients resolve property disputes such as boundary or title or easement issues, assist with landlord/tenant matters, and prepare residential or commercial leases.  We can also prepare property agreements for joint ownership,  cohabitation agreements, or help resolve issues that may arise when joint owners wish to divide their interests.   

Please explore our site for more information, and feel free to contact us.

We look forward to assisting you in all your real estate matters.