Real Estate Law in Virginia

The real estate industry in Williamsburg 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.

Real estate law in Williamsburg can be fairly complex, especially when it comes to things like mortgages and the resolution of disputes over construction defects.

Therefore, it's a smart idea to obtain at least a very basic knowledge of how real estate law in Williamsburg works.

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 Williamsburg

Financing: Most individuals are unable to make major real estate purchases in Williamsburg with cash, because few people have that kind of money on hand. Thus, to buy real estate, most entities use a mortgage. This is a loan used to buy a piece of property. When the loan is issued, and the property purchased, the lender holds a security interest in the property until the loan is paid off, with interest.

Zoning: Zoning laws establish rules saying what kinds of buildings are allowed in various areas of a city or town. These rules serve a variety of purposes. For example, they usually protect residents by making it illegal for industrial facilities to be built in residential areas. This also protects industries, allowing them to do their business without being bothered by constant complaints and lawsuits from their residential neighbors.

Duty to Disclose: When buying a home in Williamsburg, you are safeguarded by the law. The seller has a legal obligation to disclose to the buyer any defects of which the seller is aware, which the buyer couldn't detect through a superficial inspection. If you are selling a home, it's probably best to disclose every defect you know about, to guarantee that you aren't faced with a lawsuit from the buyer sometime in the future.

Implied Warranties: In Williamsburg, 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 Williamsburg 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 Williamsburg real estate attorney ASAP.