Why It Helps When Your Realtor Has a Law Degree

by Joseph Bitton B.A., LL.B., Broker.

Note: This article originally appeared on blog.navut.com.

 

The best real estate experts come with a special skill set and a variety of great qualities that make them excel at what they do. For example, a representative who is guiding your search for a home should have an extensive knowledge of the neighborhood you want to move to, and a wide-ranging knowledge of the housing market. You’ll also want to be sure that this specialist is experienced, trustworthy, and operating with integrity and transparency. What you do not want is a realtor who will employ high pressure sales tactics to influence you to make a decision that may not be in your best interests and that you may later regret. 

These qualities are a given, but what about the attributes that separate the capable real estate specialists from the top-of-the-line experts? Agents come from diverse educational backgrounds, and the types of training and experience they have varies greatly. 

Have you ever thought about aligning yourself with a realtor who has a background in law?

We got in touch with Joseph Bitton, one of our top neighborhood specialists, to find out exactly why a law degree is so handy on the real estate scene. Joseph is a leading real estate expert who focuses on the Greater Toronto Area and has that all-important law degree under his tool belt. With 35 years of experience, he knows first-hand what it takes to obtain the best possible outcomes for his clients. Read on to find out why professionals like Joseph are uniquely positioned to give their clients the first-rate experience.

Vouching For You Is Second Nature

Investing in a new property or selling your current one is an important life event, so it’s not surprising that you want a competent professional beside you helping you navigate the scene. You don’t just want any specialist beside you, however, you’re undoubtedly looking for someone who has your best interests at heart. Well, lawyers have your concerns at the top of their job descriptions.

Joseph explains how lawyers are trained to represent their client’s interests, before anything else. A real estate specialist with this kind of background has learned in law school how to advocate for the absolute best outcomes for their clients in any given situation. Even more importantly, they have learned to do this with integrity and honesty. Joseph tells us how his training and experience working in the judicial system has made representing his clients feel second nature to him. Specialists like him know that a positive outcome for clients is far more valuable than any commission.

They Know Alot About Contracts

Ever tried to look through a property contract? These lengthy documents can be wordy to say the least, and are typically loaded with real estate jargon that can overcomplicate matters. A real estate specialist with a law background will not only have the expertise to de-code real estate terminology, but will also have the invaluable knowledge of contract law that enables them to accurately interpret the clauses, forms,  decipher the fine print and explain all of this to you in layman’s terms. 

Joseph relates to us how his knowledge of law continually helps him identify mistakes in contracts that could potentially lead to disasters. Not all professionals have this same understanding of law, and Joseph has come across countless contracts that have contained erroneous clauses. Of course, a great real estate specialist must be able to not only read a contract, but to write an effective contract as well. A representative with a law degree has an intuitive understanding of the proper wording required for specific clauses. This allows such an agent to draft appropriate clauses the moment they are needed, often right at the offer table.

Attention To Detail Is Their “Thing”

Lawyers eat, sleep, and breathe details. A real estate specialist with this type of background has been trained to scrutinize contracts, searching for the tiniest contingencies that others might overlook. They know what a difference one detail can make, and it’s their mission to ensure that no stone goes unturned. 

Joseph explains how important it is to pay attention to every single clause in a given offer, to ensure that not even a typo gets in the way of bringing his clients the best deal. His law degree has trained him to be alert to any problematic clauses that might be present in a contract, as well as any omissions that might occur. He explains how one simple word can cause drastic changes to the meaning of a contract, potentially harming the client. Working with a real estate expert who knows law, will help protect you from the implications of another professional’s mistake.

They Are Trained To See The Bigger Picture

While those with a law background are certainly good at spotting details, they are also excellent at seeing the big picture. Joseph explains how his law degree has helped him to understand the whole buying and selling process, while some agents tend to focus only on making the deal. This depth of vision and years of negotiating for clients puts him at an advantage with negotiations and gives him a “secret” edge ahead of other colleagues.

 

Lawyers are adept at bringing out the best that each party has to offer, and can therefore obtain the best possible results from a situation. By grasping the whole picture, real estate specialists who know law can envision just what the optimal outcome should be, and are ideally positioned to reach these goals for their clients. Pin

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