Real Estate Law in Alabama

Real estate law in Bay Minette regulates almost everything involved in the sale and use of land.

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

Therefore, it's a good idea to learn some of the basics of Bay Minette's real estate laws.

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 Bay Minette

Financing: The majority of people in Bay Minette can't afford to make a major real estate purchase by paying the full purchase price up front. Most persons and small businesses, therefore, use a mortgage to make real estate purchases. A mortgage is a loan authorized for the purpose of buying a piece of property, with the bank obtaining a security interest in that property until the loan and interest are paid off.

Zoning: Zoning regulations control what types of structures are allowed on various parcels, based on their location in a municipality. For instance, some areas in a city might be zoned only for residential use. Another area might permit industrial use. These rules are meant to keep property values up, and promote harmony among neighbors by preventing conflicts.

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

Implied Warranties: In Bay Minette, every residential rental agreement carries with it a warranty of habitability, in which the landlord implicitly promises that the unit is fit for human habitation. This applies whether or not such a warranty is mentioned in the lease agreement, and it still applies even if the landlord tries to disclaim any such warranty. There are many circumstances that might make an unit uninhabitable. A few examples are a lack of electricity, no running water, or no heating.

Can a Bay Minette 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 a Bay Minette real estate attorney ASAP.