How to pick a real estate attorney? (Red Bank, Lincroft: mortgage, attorneys)

[ca2ny]

Current status:
-- Single family home purchase in Monmouth County, NJ
-- Have a knowledgeable, well educated, well-versed-in-corporate-relocation type of cases.
-- Started the offer process, waiting for a counter offer

Now need to pick an attorney. I got 3 recommendations from the realtor, called all 3, and checked on the below:

1. How long have you practiced Real Estate law / involved with residential closing in NJ?
2. How long have you worked with my realtor?
3. Their fee amount (excluding pass-through costs like survey cost, title, etc.)
4. How would they handle a closing with one spouse not being available at closing?
5. Do they have a partner to cover them, in case they are traveling or get sick?

Now I am having trouble picking one, since all 3 seem about the same level, and can't really differentiate!

-- All 3 have 10 to 15 years exp;
-- All 3 have 2-4 year experience working with my realtor;
-- Their fees range from $825 to $1000, so I would say that' a pretty narrow range, and difference not significant (compared to all the costs of buying a home);
-- All gave same advice when one spouse can't be present at closing -- get a power of attorney created beforehand, and inform mortgage company beforehand;
-- All told me they have backup/partner if they travel or are sick.

All 3 were pleasant to talk on phone, polite, are accessible via email, etc.

So other than flipping a coin, what other criteria should I use? Did I is asking something critical? (My prior closing experiences are from California, where no attorneys are involved; work is de by title companies).

[Sergio M]

See which attorney is a REAL ESTATE ATTORNEY. Most dabble in a lot of different aspects of law.

[4NJseasons]

Some more questions/issues to ask/consider:
(1) How is their back office. Is there a knowledgeable and experienced person who handles general real estate questions/phone calls etc.
(2) Does the fees include document/Fedex fees. I once met an attorney who wanted to charge an additional $225 for photocopying.
(3) How tech savvy is their office, do they respond to emails. Can they scan documents and send them to you, if needed. Can they accept scanned documents.

[ca2ny]

Originally Posted by 4NJseasons

Some more questions/issues to ask/consider:
(1) How is their back office. Is there a knowledgeable and experienced person who handles general real estate questions/phone calls etc.
(2) Does the fees include document/Fedex fees. I once met an attorney who wanted to charge an additional $225 for photocopying.
(3) How tech savvy is their office, do they respond to emails. Can they scan documents and send them to you, if needed. Can they accept scanned documents.

Thank you, these are good suggestions. I checked on 2 & 3 yesterday, and answer to suggestion #1 above was mostly volunteered by the attorneys during the initial phone call (I have xx paralegals; I have yy partners).

Anyone have specific experience with any of the below attorneys?

• Barry Guberman, Lincroft, NJ
• Amy Burr, Red Bank, NJ
• Jeff Ferrier, Holmdel, NJ