 TITLE: Do You Need a Real Estate Attorney to Buy a House? CONTENT: State bar associations typically list attorneys by specialty and location and can be a helpful resource for finding a real estate attorney near you.\nMeet with several potential attorneys—a courtesy that should not involve any fees. Ask the following general questions, and if you're uncomfortable with the answers you get or the way those answers are delivered, keep looking until you find a lawyer you feel good about:\n*   How much do you charge, how are fees calculated, and how do you handle billing?\n*   What's the best way to communicate with you (phone call, text message or email)?\n*   How quickly can we expect a response if we call or message you with questions?\n*   How long have you been practicing real estate law?\n*   What's the best piece of general advice you'd offer a homebuyer who's your client?\nHiring a real estate attorney when you're buying a house is an added expense, but it can be well worth it if it uncovers issues that could mean even greater expenses and hassles in the future.\nOn the topic of preventing future issues, it's important to know what's going on with your credit if you plan on buying a home in the near future. You can check your credit reports from all three credit bureaus for free through AnnualCreditReport.com. Not only that, Experian allows you to view your Experian credit report as well as the FICO® Score☉ based on it for free. END