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Commercial & Residential Purchase Agreements
Drafting and negotiating custom buy-sell agreements, Letters of Intent, FSBO private sales, land contracts, earnest-money escrows, and financing or zoning contingencies.
Attorney-Led Representation for Real Estate Purchases & Sales.
Protecting buyers, sellers, investors, and business owners from Letter of Intent and purchase agreement negotiation through title clearance, tax structuring, and closing execution.
Commercial & Residential Closings ยท Lead Counsel: Reese Serra (P74482), Matt Wozniak, JD / CPA, Brian D. Harrison
Practice FocusReal Estate Purchases & Sales
Lead AttorneysReese Serra (P74482) & Matt Wozniak, JD / CPA & Brian D. Harrison
Controlling LawMCL 565.1 Conveyances & MCL 211.27a Tax
Headquarters125 E. 3rd St, Suite 100, Rochester, MI
Why engage a Michigan real estate attorney before signing a purchase agreement?
Once a buyer or seller signs a standard broker form or commercial purchase agreement, default remedies, earnest-money forfeiture clauses, inspection windows, title objection rights, and deed warranties become binding contract law. Reviewing or drafting the agreement with real estate counsel before execution protects your deposit, uncovers recorded easements or tax uncapping exposure early, and places title inside the proper LLC or trust at closing.
Core legal counsel for real estate purchases & sales.
Drafting precision, JD/CPA tax coordination, corporate entity alignment, and courtroom enforcement from our downtown Rochester team.
Explore Commercial Real Estate →
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Title, Survey, Environmental & Tax Diligence
Auditing title commitments, ALTA surveys, easements, restrictive covenants, Phase I environmental baselines, and Michigan MCL 211.27a property tax uncapping rules.
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SPE LLCs, Deeds & Closing Representation
Forming single-purpose acquisition LLCs, preparing warranty, covenant, quitclaim, and Ladybird deeds, verifying settlement prorations, and representing you through closing.
Controlling Michigan statutes & rules.
Every instrument, conveyance, and fiduciary appointment is drafted strictly to current Michigan statutory standards and federal tax authorities.
Michigan Statutory Authority 01
Michigan Statute of Frauds & Conveyances (MCL 566.106; MCL 565.151): Enforcing written contract essentials and statutory title covenants carried by warranty vs. quitclaim deeds.
Michigan Statutory Authority 02
Michigan Seller Disclosure Act (MCL 565.951 et seq.): Governing mandatory residential seller disclosures, buyer termination windows, and post-closing misrepresentation claims.
Michigan Statutory Authority 03
Michigan General Property Tax Act Uncapping Rules (MCL 211.27a): Advising on taxable-value uncapping, Property Transfer Affidavits, Principal Residence Exemptions, and exempt transfers.
Michigan Statutory Authority 04
Internal Revenue Code Section 1031 Like-Kind Exchanges: Coordinating qualified intermediaries, 45-day identification notices, and 180-day replacement closings with JD/CPA oversight.
Principal counsel at the table.
Work directly with senior Michigan attorneys who unite private-client estate architecture, CPA tax fluency, commercial real estate closings, and trial advocacy.
Founding Attorney & Managing Member ยท Bar P74482Reese SerraSenior Litigation & Trial CounselBrian D. HarrisonAttorney & Certified Public Accountant (JD / CPA)Matt Wozniak
Acquiring Investment or Commercial Property in an LLC?
Isolate premises liability inside a dedicated Michigan Single-Purpose Entity (SPE) LLC and keep your personal residence off county and LARA records with our Suite 100 Rochester Registered Office.
Frequently asked questions: Real Estate Purchases & Sales
Clear answers to the statutory, tax, and practical questions Michigan families and business owners ask most often.
Can The Private Firm draft agreements for direct private or For-Sale-By-Owner (FSBO) transactions?
Yes. When buyers and sellers agree on price for a residence, commercial building, or vacant land without brokers, we prepare the purchase agreement, statutory disclosures, title escrow instructions, and closing deeds.
What is the difference between a Warranty Deed, Covenant Deed, and Quitclaim Deed in Michigan?
A statutory warranty deed guarantees clean title across the entire chain of ownership; a covenant deed warrants only against defects created by the seller; and a quitclaim deed conveys whatever interest exists with zero title warranties.
Will transferring property into my LLC or revocable trust uncap Michigan property taxes?
Transfers into a revocable living trust generally qualify for uncapping exemptions under MCL 211.27a when properly reported, whereas transfers into or out of certain LLCs or >50% ownership shifts can trigger full taxable-value uncapping unless structured within statutory exemptions.
What remedies exist if a counterparty refuses to close on a signed Michigan purchase agreement?
Because every parcel of real estate is legally unique, Michigan courts can enforce specific performance compelling conveyance of title, or award earnest-money and contract damages. Our trial attorneys handle real estate breach, deposit, and quiet-title actions across Metro Detroit.