What is the primary role of an attorney in a North Carolina real estate closing?

The primary role of an attorney in a North Carolina real estate closing is to facilitate the closing process and ensure legal compliance. This encompasses a variety of responsibilities, including preparing and reviewing closing documents, ensuring that all necessary legal procedures and requirements are met, and addressing any legal issues that may arise during the transaction. An attorney helps protect their client's interests by ensuring that the transfer of property is conducted according to the law, which includes verifying the title and ensuring that there are no legal impediments to the closing.

While negotiating the sale price is an important aspect of the real estate transaction, it typically involves real estate agents rather than attorneys, who are more focused on the legal aspects of the closing. Marketing is also outside the purview of an attorney's responsibilities, as that falls to real estate agents and brokers. Similarly, conducting property inspections is generally done by home inspectors and not attorneys, who focus instead on the legal documentation and processes that support the transaction. Thus, the attorney's role is crucial in making sure the closing is legally sound and that all parties are adhering to North Carolina real estate laws.