Overview
A large portion of the firm's real estate work is representing clients in the purchase, sale or refinance of residential and commercial properties — including construction loans, investment property transactions, foreclosure and tax sales, short sales and bank-owned property transactions.
The firm also searches title, resolves and removes defects or clouds on title, and files quiet title actions where necessary, working alongside real estate agents, banks and mortgage lenders through to closing.
For settlement services, HBRB works with Complete Closings LLC, an affiliated closing company.
What this covers
- Residential and commercial purchases and sales
- Deed preparation and transfer, including interfamily transfers
- Agreements of sale
- Title searches, title defects, and quiet title actions
- Refinances and construction loans
- Foreclosure sales, tax sales, short sales and bank-owned transactions
- Subdivisions, boundary lines and easements
- Commercial leasing and landlord-tenant matters
Worth knowing in Pennsylvania
Transfer tax is 2% in most places — and who pays is negotiable.
Pennsylvania charges 1% to the Commonwealth, and local government typically adds another 1%, usually split between the municipality and the school district. Nothing in the law assigns it to buyer or seller; the agreement of sale does.
Some family transfers are exempt.
Transfers between spouses, and between parent and child, are generally exempt from realty transfer tax — but the exemption has to be claimed correctly on the statement of value filed with the deed.
Recording is what protects you.
A deed is effective between the parties when delivered, but it is recording it with the county Recorder of Deeds that puts the world on notice and protects the interest against later claims.
General information about Pennsylvania law, current as of publication. It is not legal advice, and every matter turns on its own facts — call the firm to talk about yours.
Attorneys in this area
Montgomery V. BellReal Estate. A large portion of Monte's practice is dedicated to residential and commercial purchases, sales and refinances, and he has extensive experience searching title, removing clouds on title, and filing quiet title actions where necessary.
Katherine A. Haberl-ThomasReal Estate, alongside family law, estates and oil & gas.
Christopher M. BuellReal Estate, alongside corporate and natural resource work.
Erin N. Rice PetrilloReal Estate, alongside corporate, business and natural resource work.
Paul A. Bell, IIReal Estate, alongside estate administration, estate planning and business law.
Have a real estate law matter? We'd be glad to help.
Call the firm to talk it through, or see the full range of what Haberl, Buell, Rice & Bell handles.