Legal Question in Real Estate Law in New York

Re: buying land

How do you know she owns the land? How many liens are on the land?

hire a lawyer.

Re: buying land

The most important issue for you to resolve is whether or not your Seller has clear title to the property and no judgments, liens, mortgages or other encumbrances which would impede your getting clear title.

At the very least have the title searched and buy title insurance.

This is not legal advice and no attorney client relationship exists between us. It is general information only in response to a general question.

Re: buying land

While it is normally a conflict of interest for one attorney to represent both parties to the sale, most state's conflict laws allow the parties to waive, by written document spelling out the conflict and reasons for waiving it. See if your attorney would consider doing this. As an alternative, see if the title company would have a representative at the closing to review the documents. They usually do this for a nominal fee. I would, in the latter case, recommend that the seller sign some written document indicating she was aware of the right to have an attorney to represent her and has waived that right and has done all that is required of her own volition and acknowledging she was under no undue influence to sign papers, etc. Again, your attorney or the title company could prepare that document.