FULL SERVICE LEGAL SERVICES
ATTORNEY PROFILE
Greg B. Emmons, began his legal practice in 1978 learning trial experience for the County of Bucks. He then went into private practice becoming a partner at several regional law firms focusing on real estate, finance, business transactions and litigation. He also operated his own private practice with associates, paralegals
Greg B. Emmons, began his legal practice in 1978 learning trial experience for the County of Bucks. He then went into private practice becoming a partner at several regional law firms focusing on real estate, finance, business transactions and litigation. He also operated his own private practice with associates, paralegals and legal assistants assisting him to develop a well-respected legal practice. During this time, he authored several text books, instructed many college and continuing education courses and appeared as an expert witness as well as participated with bar association activities and local charitable events.
Mr. Emmons focuses his practice on real estate brokerage law and professional liability issues in addition to banking, general real estate, title insurance, business consultation, trusts and estates, mediation and litigation matters.
He can assist buyers with their real estate purchase when buyers elect not to engage a real estate agent or even if they can. His fee is always less than what a buyer would pay to an agent and his experience is far greater than any agent.
Mr. Emmons conducts training sessions, seminars and educational classes on real estate, title and brokerage law issues for professional groups, private companies and educational institutes. He has served as a presenter at state-approved continuing education programs sponsored by the Pennsylvania Bar Institute, the Pennsylvania Land Title Association, the Pennsylvania Title Examiners Association and numerous REALTOR® associations and education institutes. He previously served as an adjunct professor at Delaware Valley University in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, where he taught business law, real estate law and pre-licensing courses, as well as environmental law and land use planning. Mr. Emmons is the author of a two-volume legal treatise, with student edition entitled Pennsylvania Real Estate Brokerage Law and Practice, as published by George T. Bisel of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He has also co-authored educational textbooks for the Schlicher Kratz Real Estate Institute and the Tri-state Commercial Real Estate School.
Mr. Emmons received a Certifications as an SBA 7(a) Loan Closer from Coleman Training and for Dispute Settlement by the National Academy of Conciliators. He currently serves as a Mediator for both the Bucks County and Tri-County Associations of Realtors. He has been named as a real estate practitioner in Marquis Who’s Who of American Lawyers and recently designated by his peers as a selected Pennsylvania attorney to be qualified and known as a Super Lawyer. He serves as an expert witness in State and Federal Courts on real estate and business-related matters. He has served as a special master, mediator and receiver under both federal and state court appointments.
Mr. Emmons received his J.D. from Union University, Albany Law School in 1978 and his B.S. in 1975 from the University of Minnesota. His representative clients, in addition to his association counsel positions, include commercial and residential brokerage, management and appraisal companies as well as investment and land development companies. He serves sellers, buyers, landlords and tenants as well as those businesses that focus on the real estate, title, appraisal, inspection or finance businesses. He is an active member of the Bucks for Kids Board of Directors assisting foster parents and their foster children.
Bar Admissions: PA (1978) E.D. (1981) 3rd Cir. (2007) SCt. (1984)
AVOID BUYER AGENT FEES
WITH OUR ASSISTANCE YOU CAN PURCASE REAL ESTATE AT A LOWER COST THAN WITH AN AGENT AND WITH MORE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE. WHY NOT?
Do I need a Buyer’s Agent?
Buying a home is commonly an individual’s most significant purchase. A buyer will often turn to a real estate agent for guidance during the home buying process, particularly because
WITH OUR ASSISTANCE YOU CAN PURCASE REAL ESTATE AT A LOWER COST THAN WITH AN AGENT AND WITH MORE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE. WHY NOT?
Do I need a Buyer’s Agent?
Buying a home is commonly an individual’s most significant purchase. A buyer will often turn to a real estate agent for guidance during the home buying process, particularly because historically the seller pays the buyer’s agent’s 2.5%-3% commission.
But changes are coming that may put the buyer on the hook for that commission.
The National Association of Realtors’ (NAR) recent settlement of a lawsuit, where buyers brought antitrust claims against NAR and its Realtors, may change the way real estate agents and, in particular, the buyers’ agent are compensated.
No longer can the multiple listing service (MLS) listing of a house for sale indicate that the seller will pay the buyer’s agent commission nor how much the commission is. That will become a negotiating point between the agents, seller, and buyer.
This means that in a hot market where there are often multiple offers, a seller may choose the contract that does not require the seller to pay the buyer’s agent a commission. It possibly would save the seller 2.5%-3% of the selling price. In many local areas where $1 million-plus asking prices are commonplace, this could mean the buyer would have to come up with an additional $25,000 to $30,000 to cover the commission.
But that doesn’t mean a buyer should go it alone just to avoid the fee as an attorney can cost as low as $2,500.00 to $3,000.00 and in some cases much less.
An Attorney May Be a Better Option
But choose one with experience and who can promptly attend to your immediate needs while submitting your offer and negotiating terms so you keep yourself in the running for the home you have selected.
Greg B. Emmons, Esq. is just the attorney for you. He has over 35 years of experience in real estate sales, purchases, financing, title and closings and has been voted a Super Lawyer by his peers in Pennsylvania. Greg has also written several real estate instructional manuals and text books as well as taught hundreds of attorneys and real estate agents their required continuing education courses.
The NAR settlement is coming at a time in the housing market when savvy buyers may be asking whether they need all the services a real estate agent offers. Consider:
- In today’s market, the buyer has many tools available at their fingertips that were previously only available to real estate agents: Zillow, Trulia, Redfin, and other internet apps mean the buyer often doesn’t need a real estate agent to find available houses.
- Sometimes a buyer will know before an agent when a house comes on the market. If the buyer zeroes in on a home, they have a variety of research tools to determine comparable sales to guide them with their asking price.
- The buyer probably has met with a mortgage company or mortgage broker to figure out how to finance the purchase.
What are not at the buyer’s fingertips, but are arguably the most important pieces of the home buying process, are the purchase contract, and the title and settlement process. This is where an attorney may be a better choice than a real estate agent.
For a fraction of the cost of the real estate agent’s commission, Greg B. Emmons, Esq. can draft the purchase contract, negotiate the contract, review the title to the property and all the closing documents, and guide the buyer through settlement. Attorney Emmons can assist in pre-purchase issues, recommend inspectors, review municipal land use concerns and offer his years of home selling and buy experiences.
See his website for further information; www.gemmonslaw.com.
Call at 267-454-0987 or email at gbe@gemmonslaw.com mentioning this announcement.
