Real Estate Contract Lawyer in Houston, TX

A real estate attorney who handles transactions, not just disputes. Transactional lawyers draft, review, and negotiate contracts before a deal closes, while litigation lawyers handle lawsuits after something goes wrong. For a home sale, land deal, rent-to-own agreement, or contract assignment, you want someone who knows Texas real estate rules and works with title companies. Francisca focuses on transactions and planning, so the contract is built to prevent the dispute in the first place. If a dispute does arise, she refers you to trusted litigation counsel.

Yes. Texas lets you sell your home to anyone without an agent. You'll still need a written contract signed by both of you, the required disclosures, and a title company to close and record the deed. If the price is below market value, talk to your CPA about gift tax reporting. If you'll finance part of the price yourself, you'll also need a note and deed of trust. Francisca drafts private sale contracts and coordinates with deeds and owner financing when a seller carries the loan.

Yes, but it's heavily regulated. When a residential lease is paired with an option to buy for more than 180 days, Texas treats the deal as an executory contract. The seller must give specific disclosures, provide annual statements, record the contract, and follow strict rules about default and payments. Skipping these steps can expose the seller to penalties and give the buyer the right to cancel. Well-drafted rent-to-own contracts protect both sides, but they're not a do-it-yourself project. Francisca drafts these agreements for sellers and reviews them for buyers.

Wholesaling, where an investor puts a property under contract and assigns that contract to another buyer, can be legal in Texas when done correctly. The investor must disclose that they hold only an equitable interest in the contract, not the property. Texas also bars using contract assignments to act as an unlicensed real estate broker. The purchase contract must allow assignment, and the assignment terms should be clear. Francisca drafts assignment agreements and reviews investor contracts to keep deals compliant.

A right of first refusal gives someone the chance to match an offer before the owner sells to a third party. It's common between neighbors, family members, co-owners, and landlords and tenants. A good one spells out what triggers it, how notice is given, how long the holder has to decide, and whether it ends after one use. An option to purchase is different, because it lets the holder buy at a set price whether or not the owner wants to sell. Both should usually be recorded.

Some should. Recording a contract, or a short memorandum of it, in the county property records puts the public on notice of your rights. That matters most for options, rights of first refusal, and long-term deals like rent-to-own, where a later buyer or lender could otherwise claim they didn't know. Texas requires recording for certain executory contracts. A standard resale contract that will close in a few weeks usually doesn't need recording. Francisca tells you what to record and prepares the memorandum.

Yes. Texas doesn't require an attorney, and a signed written contract with a clear property description can be enforceable. The risk is in what a homemade contract leaves out: an adequate legal description, clear payment and closing terms, default remedies, and the notices your type of deal requires. Rent-to-own, owner financing, and assignment deals carry statutory traps that templates rarely handle. Many clients write the business terms themselves and have Francisca turn them into a Texas-ready contract. That usually costs less than a full draft from scratch.

Start with the property description, price, payment terms, and closing date. Then check who pays which costs, what happens if either side backs out, how earnest money is handled, and whether any deadlines run against you. Look for terms that let the other side assign the contract, delay closing, or change the price. Builder contracts often limit warranties and remedies. If anything is unclear, get it explained before you sign. Francisca reviews these contracts and drafts addendums to fix what's missing.

Yes, but Texas regulates contracts for deed on residential property as executory contracts. The seller keeps title until the buyer pays in full, and the law requires disclosures, annual accounting, recording, and specific steps before the seller can end the contract for default. Because of these rules, many Texas sellers who want to finance a sale use a deed with a note and deed of trust instead, so the buyer gets title at closing. Francisca can help you choose the right structure and prepare the owner financing documents.