Title Agency
& Real Estate

Our firm provides services necessary to complete a real estate acquisition and handle a variety of other real estate issues. 

Having an attorney on your side to critically examine a purchase agreement or a closing statement, for example, can protect your interests and prevent problems down the road.   Too often a buyer or seller, or even a realtor, will neglect to seek legal counsel, only to use our services later to address the problems and consequences that arise.

HERE ARE JUST SOME OF THE WAYS OUR FIRM CAN ASSIST YOU

Title Searches and Title Insurance

Before purchasing a property, it is critical to know the legal status of the property you are purchasing.  Often, real estate has more legal baggage than meets the eye.  For example, it is possible that a prior transfer was completed without all the correct legal requirements, or it possible that a prior interest was not properly transferred, or there may be unrealized liens against the property exist.  These scenarios leave a new owner in a position where the validity of ownership may be questioned in court.  A real estate title search or creation of title insurance can avoid this element of surprise.  Our firm sorts out these types of issues on a regular basis.  And if you are purchasing a highly-valued or a commercial property, a mortgage provider may require title insurance before the transaction can be completed.  Keister & Baker, LLC can provide this title insurance.

Specialty Leases

Our firm has the experience in examining specialty leases affecting agriculture and explaining the terms and consequences in plain language.  For example, committing your property to a wind turbine project or a pipeline for up to sixty years is a serious decision and should not be entered into without counsel.  Our firm can help you protect yourself, as well as the next generation.

1031 Exchanges

Our firm has experience navigating the complexities of real estate exchanges.  “Like-kind exchanges” are beneficial because they can minimize and even eliminate the capital gains tax in situations where farms are “traded” rather than sold.