Special offer
Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate, Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker (Fred Griffin Real Estate)

Spam prevention
Submit
Ambassador
3,349,554
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

I have a real estate attorney and risk management attorney on retainer. 

Jul 11, 2020 10:34 AM
Rainmaker
469,510
Dan & Laurie Pittsenbarger Team
Keller Williams Western Realty - Bellingham, WA
Lakeside & Coastal Single Family Homes

Our office has an attorney for real estate related issues. I do have a LegalShield account as well which does help with tickets or if a need a letter for something or simply legal advice. I've had it for awhile so it's only $9 or $10/mo.

Jul 11, 2020 09:55 AM
Ambassador
3,589,741
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Fred yes we did have an attorney on record for the company as well as E & O Insurance.  Never had to use either one except for a few questions to the attorney over the years.

Jul 11, 2020 08:46 AM
Ambassador
3,139,060
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!
Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 - St. George, UT
St. George Utah Area Residential Sales Agent

Our brokerage has E & O and I have the Legal Hotline phone number! I also have a good attorney friend who can help.

Jul 11, 2020 11:24 AM
Rainmaker
1,056,663
Candice A. Donofrio
Next Wave RE Investments LLC Bullhead City AZ Commercial RE Broker - Fort Mohave, AZ
928-201-4BHC (4242) call/text

I have Prepaid Legal for 25 years for 'ticket fixing, writing nastygrams etc.' not real estate.

I am in an attorney's system, a RE broker for 20 years before becoming an attorney. No retainer, haven't needed her yet, I would simply pay her hourly to consult or a retainer to represent me. 

Legal Hotline for 'stupid things' I need on the fly.

And yes, my E/O has an attorney as well. 

Jul 11, 2020 10:03 AM
Rainmaker
759,485
Peter Testa
Nationwide Homes - Danbury, CT
PETER TESTA

Like Better Call Saul? This would not cross my mind to do. 

Jul 11, 2020 09:35 AM
Rainmaker
613,494
Eve Alexander
Buyers Broker of Florida - Tampa, FL
Exclusively Representing ONLY Tampa Home Buyers

No.

I carry E and O insurance, which comes with a free attorney...never had to use it...yet.

Eve

Jul 11, 2020 08:40 AM
Rainmaker
1,553,599
Thomas J. Nelson, REALTOR ® e-Pro CRS RCS-D Vets
Big Block Realty 858.232.8722 - La Jolla, CA
CEO of Vision Drive Realty - Coastal San Diego

NO NEED!

We have FREE legal advice two ways.

1. C.A.R. provides a legal hot-line

2. Big Block Realty ownership partnership contains lawyers. One call or email to my office manager and I'm covered.

Jul 11, 2020 02:20 PM
Rainmaker
1,092,947
Diana Zaccaro Broker Associate
ZOOM Realty Group - Cocoa Beach, FL
"The Accidental Blogger" Cocoa Beach, Florida

Not on retainer but I have an excellent real estate attorney who handles my personal real estate matters when the need arises. Legal hotline is included in our dues for day to day questions about transactions or ethics.

Attorney retainer fees vary widely here depending on a number of things such as the attorney's experience level. Expect to pay more for a partner or specialist than for a general attorney or lower level of experience. The type and frequency of work is also considered in setting the retainer fee so there is no "typical" retainer. 

Unless you are a habitual offender (think DUI, traffic, criminal cases) or a full time real estate investor, you probably don't need to be on retainer. It would be a good idea though to have a consultation and get set up with a general attorney and real estate attorney so that when the need arises, they can either refer to a good specialist or handle the matter in a timely fashion.

 

Jul 11, 2020 12:12 PM
Rainmaker
956,472
Pete Xavier
Investments to Luxury - Pacific Palisades, CA
Outstanding Agent Referrals-Nationwide

In my past experiences some retainers where negotiable (you would have to take the initiative to negotiate). In other cases it would be an exact (or near) cost to do "XYZ" and I'll make sure the service inclusions and exclusions are spelled out in black and white...IMPORTANT! Currently searching for 2 types of attorneys now.

Also in my experience, retaining an attorney per "legal incident" is different than retaining an attorney for advice and consultation (if needed for specialized advice or consultation, as most of of us know some advice and an initial consultation is usually complimentary).

Much of my legal needs where for other businesses or personal reasons. Just used legal consultation only when representing others in real estate as an agent.

Jul 11, 2020 11:14 AM
Rainmaker
913,568
Jeff Pearl
RE/MAX Distinctive / LIC in VA - Lovettsville, VA
Full Service Full Time Realtor

No, but they know attorneys that they can call if needed.

Jul 11, 2020 11:10 AM
Rainmaker
1,323,529
John Juarez
The Medford Real Estate Team - Fremont, CA
ePRO, SRES, GRI, PMN

Our broker is an attorney. As such, he is a great person to bounce ideas and issues off of.

He is not so hubris filled that he thinks he knows everything. He seeks legal advice elsewhere when needed for specific real estate issues.

I don't pay the bill so I don't know the cost.

Our state association also offers help with questions regarding legal issues.

Jul 11, 2020 11:05 AM
Ambassador
6,418,949
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Not enough of an outlaw to keep any on retainer, however I do have dozen of them in my Rolodex.

 

Jul 11, 2020 09:48 AM
Ambassador
2,071,556
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

Our agency has a whole slew of blue suits lined up.

Jul 11, 2020 09:00 AM
Rainmaker
5,772,587
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Fred,

We did have access to a real estate attorney at a preferred rate.  We used him twice in 20 years...And a couple of times for our meetings to go over standard docs and rule changes.  As long as we had coffee and breakfast goodies, those talks were pro bono.  A

Jul 11, 2020 11:05 AM
Rainmaker
5,240,047
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Yes, when I managed for a large national firm we had legal beagles on the staff. As a sole practitioner, I represented myself and never had to make the call!

Jul 12, 2020 05:51 AM
Rainmaker
3,416,038
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

On retainer no, but on call, yes.

Jul 12, 2020 05:36 AM
Rainmaker
1,847,051
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

I have one yes but with no retainer. Can't give you an idea as to what they would be.

With the recent change in office mgmt I decided I needed better advice than what my office broker was spewing. 

 

Jul 11, 2020 11:50 AM
Rainmaker
1,598,452
Valeria Mola
SIB Realty - Miami, Sunny Isles Beach - Sunny Isles Beach, FL
305-607-0709 SIB Realty Condos for Sale and Rent

$2,500 min for real estate

$5,000 min for criminal 

No, no, I did not use any. :)

Jul 14, 2020 10:55 AM
Rainmaker
1,201,652
Doug Dawes
Keller Williams Evolution - 447 Boston Street, Suite #5, Topsfield, MA - Topsfield, MA
Your Personal Realtor®

No eye deer

Jul 12, 2020 01:25 PM
Ambassador
1,457,269
Susan Emo
Sotheby's International Realty Canada - Brokerage - Kingston, ON
Kingston and the 1000 Islands Area

Not something I'd know about as I've never had the need.  We Canadians always giggle during tv shows or movies when the actor says "Let me call MY attorney!"    That's not ever something you'd hear a Canadian say, lol  

PS  we don't have "attorneys" up here, we have lawyers.

Jul 12, 2020 09:48 AM
Rainmaker
7,864,182
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Nope.

Jul 12, 2020 05:53 AM
Rainmaker
5,113,121
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

I pay $295/year to Coldwell Banker in lieu of E&O insurance. It goes into the legal fund. If there's ever a lawsuit my office hires the "baddest" lawyers available to defend. 

Jul 13, 2020 11:36 AM
Back to Top
Ask a Question

Our real estate Q&A site is a place where real estate professionals can ask their peers questions so we can all learn and grow as a community.

Members of our community can ask, answer, like, and subscribe to questions. Visitors to our site can read the questions and answers that were marked as “public” by the author.

Recent Questions
View All Questions arrow_forward