When asked for what reasons people might consider hiring legal representation, most people's answers involved situations concerning their real estate dealings.

There are many real estate related issues that lead to the need for legal advice, everything from selling and buying to financing the transaction or refinancing a mortgage, from resolving issues with a tenant or perhaps locking horns with a landlord. And according to LegalMatch.com, three of the top reasons are related to real estate.

LegalMatch is a free, on-line matching service that helps anyone with a computer connect with attorneys and access their legal rights. LegalMatch was founded in 1999, and then survived the dot-com melt-down to become one of the top such services in the country. Thousands of people submit legal help requests each month through LegalMatch.

Sited most frequently by LegalMatch users as the time when they "at least consider hiring legal representation" is when they are buying or selling a property. And why not? Real estate deals certainly can be tricky.

Of course, not every sale requires a lawyer. But the more complicated the transaction, the more you might want a qualified attorney to at least look over any paper work that you are required (or asked) to sign. With so many do-it-yourself books on the topic, it's tempting to go it alone. But if something goes haywire, having an attorney in your corner can bring genuine peace of mind to what otherwise could be an anxious, if not costly, moment.

The second most frequent time that people consider hiring an attorney is when they refinance their homes. This one's somewhat surprising. After all, trading in one mortgage for another simply can't be as hair-raising an experience as obtaining that first mortgage, if only because you've done it at least once already. And most people do it the first time without a lawyer in tow.

But when you think about it, mortgages are long-term commitments, just like real estate transactions. So perhaps some people feel more comfortable with someone representing their interests sitting next to them at the closing table. After all, many of the world's most successful people suggest never signing anything unless a lawyer reads it first.

The fifth most frequent time folks consider hiring legal help is when they are involved in a dispute involving real estate. Situations with a landlord, tenant, neighbor, homeowners association or condo board usually involve interpretation of an existing contract, written or oral. And who among us laymen is able to do that?

In case you are wondering, the other reasons people consider asking for legal advice are, in descending order:

Creating or revising a will, estate plan or trust (which also often involves real estate); were given inadequate medical care; were cited for a moving traffic violation; having difficult with creditors, including, perhaps, their mortgage lender; had to deal with administering an estate or an inheritance; difficulty obtaining medical insurance; believed they were a victim of consumer fraud; thinking of filing bankruptcy; having difficulty collecting public benefits; having problems with a public utility, and were involved in a dispute over child custody or support.

Published: May 24, 2006

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When Lew Sichelman first started writing about housing in 1969, he was the youngest real estate writer in the country. Now, 37 years later, he's one of the oldest -- and most decorated. He has been rated the top housing columnist in the country by the National Association of Realtors as well as by his peers in the National Association of Real Estate Editors. Indeed, NAREE has recognized his work on numerous occasions. One year - due to his advancing age, he can't recall which one - he earned top honors in the annual NAREE Journalism Contest in three out of the four major writing categories. It was the first time one writer has won so many NAREE awards in a single year. Known for his ability to make even the most difficult topics understandable, Sichelman also has been honored by the National Association of Home Builders and the Mortgage Bankers Association. He began providing in-depth coverage of and consumer-oriented information about housing and housing finance at the Washington Daily News, where he was real estate editor. He held that same position for nine more years at the Washington Star, which purchased the News in 1972. The Star, a so-called "writer's newspaper" which also had the misfortune of being an evening paper, was put out of its misery in 1981, and Sichelman, who had begun self-syndicating his column in 1978, decided to become a full-time columnist. Today, his column, "The Housing Scene," is distributed by United Media to newspapers throughout the country. He also is on the staff of National Mortgage News, an independent newspaper which is considered the bible of the mortgage business. And he writes for numerous other publications, including MarketWatch.com, where he answers readers questions once a week, Sports Illustrated (don't ask), RealtyTimes.com, BigBuilder and others. Sichelman is married, the father of five and grandfather of eleven.