Real Estate

Texas is one of the few states where you’re not legally required to hire a real estate attorney — title companies are permitted to handle closings. That said, a title company’s job is to close the deal, not to protect your interests if something goes wrong. Most of our Houston clients bring us in for the same reason they hire a home inspector: a second set of expert eyes on the paperwork before they sign.

We review your purchase contract before you sign, negotiate contingencies, check the title commitment for clouds or easements, examine survey discrepancies, and sit at the closing table with you to flag anything that doesn’t match what was agreed. For buyers in Houston, Katy, or Sugar Land, that catches issues like undisclosed liens or boundary disputes early — when fixing them is still cheap.

Residential and commercial transactions at our Houston office are billed hourly because scope varies, and we sometimes require a retainer for these matters. We’re happy to give you a written estimate during the initial consultation — call our office to discuss your specific transaction.

A title company is fine for a clean, straightforward transaction — they’ll handle the paperwork and issue title insurance. Where they fall short: they don’t negotiate on your behalf, they don’t advise you on whether a contract term is fair, and they can’t represent you if a dispute breaks out. We often work alongside title companies, not instead of them.

Before. Once you’ve signed a binding contract, your leverage to renegotiate terms drops to near zero. The best time to bring us in is the moment you’re seriously considering a property — we’ll review the contract draft, flag risky clauses, and advise on offer strategy before you commit. If you’ve already signed, we’ll still help, but the options narrow.

Commercial leases are very different from residential — rarely standardized, almost always negotiable, and the terms you accept will shape your business for years. Watch for personal guarantees, CAM (common area maintenance) escalations, exclusive-use clauses, assignment restrictions, and renewal options. We review leases for tenants and landlords across the Houston metro — from office space in the Energy Corridor and The Woodlands to retail in Sugar Land, Katy, and Pearland — and we negotiate the terms that matter before you’re locked in.

Residential closings involve standard TREC contracts, homestead protections, and consumer-facing disclosures — relatively predictable. Commercial transactions add layers: LLC and JV formation, complex lease structures, due diligence on environmental and zoning issues, and contract terms negotiated from scratch rather than filled into a template. Our practice covers both, which matters if your deal sits in the middle — a multi-unit residential or mixed-use property.