Sept. 26, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Fleming warns buyers and sellers to beware
Board Certified Real Estate specialist
talks home buying post-Ike in Radio Interview
HOUSTON - Michael P. Fleming, founding partner of Michael P. Fleming & Associates, Attorneys at Law, warned those in the market to buy or sell a home to approach their closings with caution in the wake of Hurricane Ike.
"It's vital and in the best interest of both those buying a new home and those selling that they completely assess all damage that might have been done to the property by Hurricane Ike before they close on the deal," said Fleming, who is Board Certified as a Specialist in Residential Real Estate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
Fleming, who was recently interviewed on Houston news talk station 740 KTRH AM about the rights of home buyers and sellers in the wake of a disaster, said the vast majority of real estate contracts have clear and enforceable provisions for dealing with damage to a property before closing.
"Buyers and sellers should be careful,' Fleming said. "So many homes were damaged during Hurricane Ike and standard real estate contracts provide ways to deal with that type of situation. It's clearly within the best interest of the buyer to get another inspection to look for any damage, even the type of damage that's not clearly visible. It's also clearly in the seller's interest to participate in this process and work with their insurers and the buyers. They don't want to look like they're hiding anything. That could cause problems later."
Fleming, who has practiced law in Texas for 20 years, has successfully practiced before the U.S. Supreme Court. He served as the Harris County Attorney from 1997 until March 2001 after twice winning election to the post. Even though he still serves the community in a variety of leadership roles, Fleming went into private practice after leaving public office. He is one of the only attorneys in Texas that is Board Certified as a specialist in both Personal Injury Trial Law and Residential Real Estate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
For more information on Michael P. Fleming & Associates, visit www.flemingattorneys.com. Click here if you have a real estate issue in the Galveston area.
