When should I hire a real estate attorney in the home-buying process?

Hiring a real estate attorney should happen as soon as an offer is accepted, since South Carolina requires an attorney to handle the closing itself, and many buyers bring one in even earlier to review the contract before signing. The attorney checks title, resolves any liens, and prepares closing documents while the loan and inspection contingencies are still being worked through. Brian Beatty typically lines up a closing attorney at the same time financing is arranged, so both pieces move together instead of one waiting on the other.