Real estate attorney fee for cancelled contract

**CliftonParkSeller** · 07-12-2010, 01:07 AM

Hi, We had our home in Clifton Park, NY under contract but the buyer backed out citing a failed inspection as the reason. Now, our real estate attorney has sent us an invoice asking to be paid for the following: [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Correspondence with clients; Review of Purchase & Sale Agreement; Traveling to and from subject property for appraisal and inspections; Correspondence with Purchaser

**Greg** · 07-13-2010, 07:40 AM

We use attorneys to close in NC and I don't know how it works in NJ but I can't imagine an attorney showing up at a house for a home inspection and appraisal.

It seems to me the time spent talking to the buyers should be billed to the buyers and the time spent talking to you and reviewing the contract for you should be billed to you but it really depends on the agreement you had with the attorney.

**agentsranking** · 09-22-2010, 09:32 AM

In Minnesota a seller has a choice to use a real estate agent a real estate attorney or FSBO. If you use a real estate agent you won't incur any costs unless the house sells. Real estate agents are paid a commission based on the selling price. If you're using a real estate attorney, your cost to sell might be less than using a real estate agent, (depending on their hourly rate) but you will pay even if the house doesn't sell. In your situation it seems logical that you have been billed for the services and time your real estate attorney provided.

**pandy1021** · 10-04-2011, 01:56 AM

Well, if you ha any other agreements with you attorney before the contract had started, maybe the attorney deserves to have it. In any case, it will depend on what you and your attorney will agree on the end. You can both talk first and settle on something else. There is always some effort on both part anyway.