Locate Indiana Real Estate Lawyers

In Indiana, real estate law is a very broad area of law governing anything that has to do with the ownership of land and buildings.

Real estate law can apply to many various facets of a personal and professional life. It can apply to anything from the purchase of a vacant lot, to renting prime downtown office space.

Indiana real estate law can be very complicated, because it's really a collection of a lot of different areas of law. These areas of law include property rights, contracts, land use, and many others.

Having a good general knowledge of Indiana real estate law can make a lot of transactions, such as purchasing a house or renting an apartment, much easier.

Common Real Estate Issues in Indiana

Financing: Most people in Indiana probably can't afford to buy a house or a piece of land up front. Thus, most individuals and business use some form of financing to purchase real estate, normally a mortgage. A mortgage is a loan used to buy a piece of real estate, with the purchased real estate simultaneously securing the loan.

Disclosure: When a house or other building is being sold, it's possible that there will be some physical defects in the structure. Potential buyers generally have a right to know about these defects, which means that sellers have to disclose them. Generally, if the defect is one that the seller knows about, and the buyer probably couldn't discover it through a normal inspection, the seller has to disclose it. Really, though, it's a good idea for sellers to disclose every defect they know about, whether or not they believe disclosure is technically required as to a specific defect.

Warranty of Habitability: This applies in residential leases. Landlords are under a legal duty, whether it's clearly stated in the lease agreement or not, to ensure that the rented property is fit for human habitation. The requirements for habitability often include electricity, heating, running water, a working phone line, and protection from the elements. Of course, that list is not exhaustive.

Zoning Laws: Before you begin any construction project, you need to make sure that it will not violate any zoning laws in Indiana. This is because zoning laws decide what can and can't be done on a given piece of property. They can be pretty complex, but, in general, they are designed to ensure that people who use land in different ways can co-exist as harmoniously as possible. To that end, they work to keep industrial and residential uses separate, among other things.

Do I Need a Indiana Real Estate Lawyer?

These issues, and the others that can affect real estate transactions, can be pretty difficult. Therefore, it's a good idea to contact an Indiana real estate lawyer to advise you on the laws affecting your real estate transaction, or any other projects you may be planning.

Interesting Facts About Indiana

Indiana is situated in the Midwestern region of the U.S., near the Great Lakes. Indiana is noted for its highly developed sports teams, with representation in the NFL, NBA, and automobile racing. Its economy is largely supported by manufacturing, with the Calumet district being the largest steel producing region in the U.S.

Indiana's capital is the city of Indianapolis, which is the second largest state capital in the nation. The capitol building, Indiana Statehouse, is located there. The statehouse is home to the Indiana Supreme Court, the governor's office, and the state's legislature, the Indiana General Assembly. In the early days of Indiana's statehood, the General Assembly passed a series of laws encouraging industrial growth and protecting the rights of workers. These laws helped to secure Indiana's place as one of the nation's top industrial producers.

Indiana was one of the first states to adopt the "exclusionary rule", which prevents illegally obtained evidence from being used in court. The rule was first established in Callendar v. State, a 1917 case. In addition to the Supreme Court of Indiana, there are many other levels of courts, including the Superior Courts, Circuit Courts, and City and Town Courts.

Attorneys in Indiana work together with the judiciary to provide legal relief for citizens of the state. Lawyers in Indiana typically file cases at the Superior Court or Circuit Court level, depending on the type of claim involved. Indiana lawyers are frequently involved in protecting the rights and interests of Indiana residents.