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No joke
Just top-notch legal services.
by George Stephens Have you heard the one about the lawyers who work tirelessly to help you with all kinds of legal information and solutions, and you don’t have to pay them a cent? No, I’m not referring to the deal where if you can’t afford an attorney one will be appointed for you, and this isn’t the latest lawyer joke, either. I’m referring to what all of us as Texas REALTORS® receive from our outstanding legal staff.
Okay, to get technical about it, we do pay $87 in dues–which also entitles you to forms software, this magazine, discounts on a bunch of products and services, and a strong voice in government–but if you take advantage of even one of the legal resources available, you’ve more than gotten your money’s worth for the year. I’ll give you a few examples.
How much would you have to pay to have a lawyer on retainer whom you could call whenever you needed information on real estate law? With the Texas Association of REALTORS® Legal Hotline, you don’t pay a thing–not even long-distance phone charges. Recently, this service was expanded to enable access for everyone a broker designates in his office.
What if you needed a new form for a specific type of transaction–how much do you think an attorney would charge you to draft it? The association’s lawyers have created 86 contracts and forms for various residential, commercial, and farm-and-ranch applications. And do you think you could hire a service to translate all these and the TREC contracts into Spanish for 87 bucks? If you can, I’d be wary of their accuracy.
All members have free access to the REALTOR® Reference Manual, Legal Article Book, and Internet Policy Manual on TexasRealtors.com. (Hard copies of these titles and the Agency Policy Manual can be purchased.)
Also online, you can view a compilation of frequently asked questions. And you receive a steady stream of legal information in Texas REALTOR® magazine and the member e-mail newsletter, Texas REALTOR® Focus.
The Texas Association of REALTORS® legal fund is another amazing legal benefit. Financial assistance is available for those involved in precedent-setting legal actions that meet certain criteria. Even when you’re not a party to that action (a good thing), you benefit from the association’s involvement. Our attorneys also file amicus briefs to protect REALTORS®’ interests.
Looking for a good lawyer joke? Look elsewhere. All we have here are serious solutions that seriously reduce your risks. And that’s no joke.
Photo by Jerry Jones/JonesImages.com.
home current issue top 10 resources
Buyers & sellers,
visit www.texasrealestate.com.
REALTORS®, visit www.texasrealtors.com.
