Real Estate Law in West Virginia

The real estate industry in Elkins is controlled by a wide variety of laws, and these laws can affect the process and outcome of basically any transaction or deal involving the sale, lease, or use of land.

The law controlling real estate in Elkins can get pretty complicated, especially when things such as mortgages, disputes about construction defects, and conflicts over title are involved.

Thus, it's always good to have at least some knowledge of Elkins's real estate law.

Having at least some knowledge of real estate law will be to your advantage in basically any real estate transaction. Knowing the law can give you a bargaining advantage and prevent you from being saddled with obligations that you don't have to assume.

Common Real Estate Law Issues in Elkins

Financing: Not too many individuals or small businesses in Elkins can purchase real estate with the cash on hand, simply because land is expensive, and few people have hundreds of thousands (or even millions) of dollars in the bank. In buying real estate, a mortgage is an outstanding solution for most people. Of course, you still have to pay the full price of the real estate you're buying, but a mortgage allows you to do this in installments, over a period of years.

Zoning: Zoning laws dictate what types of buildings can go on given pieces of property. These laws are typically designed to ensure that residential areas are as clean and as quiet as possible, thereby preserving property values. They accomplish this by ensuring that other uses that might be inappropriate in a residential area, such as heavy industry, are in different parts of town. This also ensures that industries will be able to go about their business without constant complaints from their neighbors.

Duty of Disclosure: Sellers of homes are bound by a legal duty to disclose defects in the home to prospective buyers, before they purchase the house. Any defect which the seller knows (or reasonably should know) about, and which cannot be discovered by the buyer through an normal inspection, must be disclosed to the buyer.

Implied Warranties: Every lease of a residential unit in Elkins carries with it an implicit promise by the owner that the unit will meet some basic minimum requirements for human habitability. There are many factors that go into deciding if an unit is "habitable," but there are a few essentials, and they include running water, heat, electricity, and adequate shelter from the elements.

Can a Elkins Real Estate Lawyer Help?

Because the issues discussed above can get complicated for laypersons, if you have a real estate issue, such as an eviction, or a construction dispute, you should not hesitate to contact an Elkins real estate attorney ASAP.