Reena Gulati Blog

When buying real estate in New York, it is important to consider whether or not you need title insurance. Title insurance is a form of insurance that protects the buyer and lender from any losses that may arise from defects in the title of the property. In New York, title insurance is not required by law, but it is highly recommended.

For most people, their house is their biggest financial asset, so avoiding costly mistakes is critical. The same is true of buying other real estate since it usually involves a substantial amount of money. No matter if it is your first time or the sixth in buying real estate, problems can arise. However, you can minimize the risks by having the right team of professionals, including your real estate broker, inspector/engineer, attorney, and/or lender to help guide you through the process and ensure a smooth closing.

Often I get inquiries from potential clients who are in the process of employing a contractor to renovate their homes, asking if they should have a formal contract with the contractor. In a couple of instances the clients' projects were worth several hundred thousand dollars and they had no written contract with the contractor. However, the homeowners didn't feel comfortable turning over tens of thousands of dollars to the contractor at the very beginning of the project without an agreement and hence they called us.