Cranford Real Estate Attorney

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Real Estate Legal Guidance in English, Mandarin, and Cantonese

Welcome to Chan Law LLC: Your Trusted Multilingual New Jersey Real Estate Legal Services

Navigating the complexities of real estate transactions can be challenging, but with Chan Law, you're in experienced hands. Based in downtown Cranford, New Jersey, our seasoned real estate law firm specializes in delivering comprehensive legal support for all your real estate needs.

Whether you're a first-time homebuyer, a seasoned investor, or managing a complex commercial transaction, our dedicated team is here to guide you every step of the way. In addition to English, our team also speaks Cantonese and conversational Mandarin.

At Chan Law, we pride ourselves on providing tailored legal solutions that address your unique needs. Discover how our unparalleled expertise and client-focused approach can make your real estate journey smoother.

Why Choose Us?

Broad Real Estate Expertise: From short sales and FSBO properties to REO properties and intricate commercial deals, including multi-family units, wholesale transactions, and LLC buyouts, our experience covers it all.

Broad Real Estate Experience

Our recurring investors often bring us unique situations and intricate commercial deals involving short sales, bank owned properties, wholesale transactions, 1031 exchanges, and LLC buyouts. Our clients have bought and sold warehouses, restaurants, mixed use properties, and even a laundromat!

Personalized Guidance

We offer personalized, step-by-step guidance to make your first home purchase seamless and stress-free. From our initial intake call, to walking through inspections, to signing the final documents at the closing table, our team provides personalized guidance throughout the entire process.

Residential Property Excused

Since our inception in 2014, Chan Law has handled 1000+ real estate transactions ranging from single family homes (SFH) and multi-family properties to FSBO’s, townhouses, and condos subject to Homeowner Associations, including age-restricted 55+ communities.

Local Knowledge

With our extensive network and knowledge of local neighborhoods, we can find an agent, inspector, lender, or title company that fits your needs.

Available and Responsive:

Our clients value our commitment to quick and efficient communication by phone, email or text, ensuring you stay informed and confident throughout the process.

Transaction Management

We coordinate with your agent, lender, and title company to handle the details and paperwork to ensure timely communication.

Let's Find Your Perfect Home

Let us make your first home buying experience as enjoyable and stress-free as possible. Contact us today to start your journey towards finding your dream home!

Get to Know Us

Welcome to Chan Law, where we focus on guiding first-time homebuyers through one of life’s most exciting and significant milestones. We understand that purchasing your first home is both thrilling and challenging, and our mission is to make this journey as smooth and stress-free as possible.

Let us help you make your first home purchase a seamless experience, so you can start building new memories with confidence.

Practice Areas

We specialize in a wide range of real estate services to meet your needs. Whether you’re buying your first home, selling a property, or seeking guidance on real estate investments, our experienced team is here to help. Explore our key practice areas below:

REAL ESTATE

Residential Purchase / Sale
Commercial Purchase / Sale
First-Time Home Buyers
Real Estate Investments
Lease Negotiation
Buy / Sale Agreements for Business Entities and Assets

ESTATE PLANNING

Will Preparation
Power of Attorney
Living Will / Medical Proxy
Trust Fund Formation

Have a legal concern that's not on the list? Talk to our attorney to see if we can help.

Other Practice Areas

Real Estate FAQs

Buying your first home involves a lot of legal details.

This FAQ section covers the basics, answering common questions about important documents, closing costs, and what to do if issues arise.

We’re here to help you understand the legal side of the process and make your home-buying experience as smooth as possible.

What should I know before buying my first home in New Jersey?

Before buying a home, it's crucial to understand the local real estate market, including average home prices and neighborhood specifics. An experienced real estate agent who is familiar with your target market can provide invaluable input that isn’t readily available online, such as upcoming property developments, municipality-specific trends, and having personal connections and referrals to local inspectors, contractors, and other vendors. Additionally, be aware that New Jersey's property taxes tend to be higher than in many other states, which becomes much more of a concern when purchasing new construction or recently renovated properties. Speak to an experienced mortgage broker to get a pre-approval and a better understanding of your purchasing power before making any offers.
What are the benefits of getting pre-approved for a mortgage?

Getting pre-approved for a mortgage gives you a clear idea of how much you can borrow, which helps you narrow down your home search to properties within your budget. It also shows sellers that you are a serious buyer, which can strengthen your offer and increase your chances of securing the home you want.
What is attorney review?

In New Jersey, a Buyer or Seller may choose to have an attorney review and disapprove of the standard form realtor real estate contract within three days after the signing before the contract becomes legally binding. This disapproval is functionally a “termination” of the contract and is fairly standard. In practice, it is common for both attorneys to disapprove of the contract and suggest beneficial changes for their respective clients for reinstatement of the contract.
How much should I put down as a down payment?

In New Jersey, the standard down payment is typically 20% of the home’s purchase price with up to 10% paid after attorney review and the balance due at closing. However, many mortgage lenders and loan programs permit lower down payment options, such as 3% to 5%, at the cost of paying private mortgage insurance (PMI). PMI is a special type of insurance that protects the lender if a borrower stops making payments on your loan, after which the PMI issuer will often seek repayment from the borrower.
What is a home inspection, and why is it important?

A home inspection involves a thorough evaluation of the property's condition by a licensed inspector. It is essential to identify potential issues such as structural problems, electrical or plumbing issues, and other defects that could affect the value or safety of the home. A home inspection can help you make an informed decision and negotiate repairs or adjustments with the seller. In addition to the general home inspection, Buyers may typically want to inspect for wood destroying insects, radon, mold, underground storage tanks, lead paint, and the sewer lines. If applicable, you may wish to inspect the chimneys and septic tank as well.
What is homeowners insurance, and do I need it?

Homeowners insurance protects you financially in case of damage to your property, theft, or liability claims. Most mortgage lenders require buyers to have homeowners insurance as a condition of the loan.
What is title insurance, and do I need it?

Title insurance protects you and your lender from financial loss due to defects in the property’s title, such as errors in public records, undisclosed liens, or even overlooked unconveyed interests from prior title holders. A title search is conducted by a title company prior to the issuance of the title policy to verify that the property’s title is clear of any liens, encumbrances, or disputes. Your lender will require a lender’s title insurance policy to protect their investment and it is standard practice to obtain an owner’s title insurance policy for your protection as well.
What are closing costs, and how much should I expect to pay?

Closing costs are fees associated with finalizing the home purchase, which typically include lender fees (loan origination fees, points, and appraisal fees), title fees (title searches, settlement charges, and title insurance costs), recording fees, attorney fees, and pro-rations for property taxes, water, and sewer charges. In New Jersey, closing costs generally range from 2% to 5% of the purchase price of the home. At closing, you’ll pay for the closing costs in addition to the remaining balance of the down payment.
What should I expect during the closing process?

Prior to the closing, you will perform a final walkthrough of the property to ensure that the Seller has fully moved out and that the property is in substantially the same condition at closing as during your inspection. You’ll need to bring two forms of photo ID for each person who is going to be on the deed and/or is on the loan, along with a certified check or wire confirmation for the closing costs and remaining balance of the down payment. During closing, you will review and sign the promissory note, the mortgage, and other lender required documents. Once all paperwork is completed, the lender will give their final approval of the documents, provide funding authorization, and you will receive the keys to your new home.

If you have any more questions or need personalized assistance, don’t hesitate to contact our office. We're here to help you every step of the way on your journey to homeownership!

FAQs

What Our Clients Say

We take pride in delivering exceptional service and making a positive impact on our clients’ real estate journeys. But don’t just take our word for it—here’s what some of our satisfied clients have to say:

"Kyle speaks very professionally and very clearly laid out all of my options which helped me make the best decision for me and my family. Highly recommended."

David J.

IT SPECIALIST

View our ratings in Google.

Meet Your Lawyer

Atty. Kyle Chan

Kyle is the Managing Member of Chan Law LLC where he assists clients in Real Estate (Residential and Commercial) and Estate Planning for families. Whether he is working with a first-time home buyer looking for a "starter home" or an investor looking to flip a property, Kyle provides the same high quality service and accessibility.

Kyle began his career in 2011 at a general practice firm in New York that specialized in Immigration before founding Chan Law in 2015. He served on the Board of Directors for the Central New Jersey Chapter of the Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA) from 2016 to the 2022 and had the honor of serving as the chapter President for two terms (2020-2021).

Kyle is licensed to practice in both New York and New Jersey. In addition, Kyle speaks fluent Cantonese and conversational Mandarin.

EDUCATION
J.D., The George Washington University Law School, 2011

B.S., The College of New Jersey, 2008