Residential Real Estate Paralegal

Becker & Poliakoff, P.A.•Fort Lauderdale, FL

19h

About The Position

Becker was honored by U.S. News & World Report as one of the best law firms to work for in both the 2024 and 2025 inaugural lists, reflecting our strong commitment to employee well-being, professional development, and a supportive workplace culture. Come be a part of our award-winning team! Becker is a diverse, multi-practice, commercial law firm with offices in Florida, New York, New Jersey, Washington, D.C., and international affiliates. Since 1973, we’ve built a culture that is collaborative, creative, and passionate about growth. Our client-focused approach is rooted in exceeding expectations and building lasting relationships. DUTIES: Section 1 - GENERAL TITLE COMPANY DUTIES INCLUDE: 1. Must be able to handle a moderate volume of residential real estate closings (25-30) from contract to closing. Duties include: 2. Sending out welcome packages to both buyer / seller; 3. Ordering title, lien search, survey, estoppel letters; 4. Preparing preliminary CD and interacting with buyer’s lender to ensure compliance with TRID. Timeliness and immediateness of this task is KEY. This task must be done in conjunction with all other tasks, therefore organizational skills are mandatory. Do not apply unless your organizational skills are “type – A” 5. Phone and email interaction with buyer, seller, agents, lenders to ensure all parties are kept up to date on the status of their files. If there are any issues with title, lien search, estoppel or anything, candidate must be able to communication what the issue is to all parties and know who is responsible to addressing the issue. 6. Have complete competence in how to resolve title issues, lien search issues, estoppel issues, and compete all processing duties to allow the closing to occur timely. Understand how to calendar critical dates and proactively request extensions. If candidate cannot manage files to remain contractually compliant – need not apply. 7. Prepare for an organized closing which includes notifying all parties in advance of closing how much buyer needs to bring to closing, obtain agent wire instructions, obtain bank approval of closing statement, know what documents are required for funding the loan, organize the documents in a fashion that allows the funding number to be obtained while closing is still occurring, 8. Understand how to balance a closing statement and incorporate lender funding “net” or “gross”. Understand how to do this with various software, DoubleTime, RamQuest, 9. Understand the swiftest and most efficient way to fund a transaction at the closing table so that all parties are happy and the closing is successful. 10. Understand how to E-record and what all documents mean and the importance of timely recording and timely delivery to parties of respective documents. 11. Understand how to issue title policies in a timely fashion Section 2 - GENERAL REPRESENTATION DUTIES INCLUDE: In addition to the title company duties defined in section 1, candidate must be competent: 1. Document Preparation 1. Must draft and understand residential and commercial real estate transactions, including: Purchase and sales contracts Due diligence timeline establishment Preparation of critical date list Calendar of critical dates; Preparation of Seller’s Documents (including deed, bill of sale, affidavits, company resolutions); Purchaser documents (including promissory note, mortgage, closing documents); (iv) Loan Documents for Financial Institutions (including note, mortgage, assignment of leases, closing statements) 1. Review of title, review of surveys, preparation of title commitments and policies, estoppel letters, payoffs pre and post closing matters; order all appropriate lien searches and review same. 2. Must be able to prepare closing statements and loan packages. 1. Due Diligence Activities 1. Complete Due Diligence activities, ability to process files from contract to closing and post-closing. Must understand “Defined Terms” within a purchase and sales contract and have the ability to prepare, calendar and monitor contract critical dates. Ability to prepare a title commitment and satisfy Schedule B-I title conditions and review Schedule B-II title exceptions. Ability to interact with underwriter to remove title exceptions when necessary. Ability to work with loan closing specialists in preparing loan closing statements and completing other requirements needed for loan closing. 2. Law Knowledge 1. Must have a general knowledge of state and county customs and laws with respect to the real estate transactions 2. Must have understanding of different types of residential purchase / sale contracts such as FAR and FAR/BAR contracts. 3. Must have understanding of commercial purchase and sale contracts and be able to prepare a timeline for same and monitor contract as to said items. Must have an understanding of commercial leases. 1. Title Insurance and Surveys 2. Must have knowledge of title insurance regulations. 3. Must have ability to review and interpret title exceptions. 4. Must have ability to review B-I title conditions and B-II exceptions to title to satisfy conditions and to determine whether the B-II title exceptions encumber the property. Must have ability to prepare title commitment in our system. 5. Must have ability to review surveys and point out encroachments or violations. 6. Must have an expertise in ordering and review title in both residential and commercial transactions. Any and all other duties as may be required of the job.

Requirements

A real estate law paralegal shall possess an undergraduate degree and a minimum of three years’ experience working as a legal assistant, or shall possess a high school diploma plus formal and extensive training as a paralegal.
candidate for this position shall have at least five (5) years’ experience working in the real estate law section of a mid-size or large law firm.
Must have ability to process a volume of various types of real estate purchase and sale files and loan files simultaneously.
Multitasking abilities are required.
Strong organizational skills is a must.
Must have the ability to keep up to date reports on each file indicating status of file and what is pending.
Must have thorough knowledge of state and county customs and laws relating to real estate law, conveying property, title and surveying, condominium and homeowner’s association laws.
Must have strong computer skills and have the ability to use outlook calendar system and DoubleTime or Ramquest real estate software.
High school or college degree with extensive real estate job experience.

Responsibilities

Handle a moderate volume of residential real estate closings (25-30) from contract to closing.
Sending out welcome packages to both buyer / seller
Ordering title, lien search, survey, estoppel letters
Preparing preliminary CD and interacting with buyer’s lender to ensure compliance with TRID.
Phone and email interaction with buyer, seller, agents, lenders to ensure all parties are kept up to date on the status of their files.
Resolve title issues, lien search issues, estoppel issues, and compete all processing duties to allow the closing to occur timely.
Prepare for an organized closing which includes notifying all parties in advance of closing how much buyer needs to bring to closing, obtain agent wire instructions, obtain bank approval of closing statement, know what documents are required for funding the loan, organize the documents in a fashion that allows the funding number to be obtained while closing is still occurring
Balance a closing statement and incorporate lender funding “net” or “gross”.
Fund a transaction at the closing table so that all parties are happy and the closing is successful.
E-record and understand what all documents mean and the importance of timely recording and timely delivery to parties of respective documents.
Issue title policies in a timely fashion
Draft and understand residential and commercial real estate transactions
Review of title, review of surveys, preparation of title commitments and policies, estoppel letters, payoffs pre and post closing matters; order all appropriate lien searches and review same.
Prepare closing statements and loan packages.
Complete Due Diligence activities, ability to process files from contract to closing and post-closing.
Prepare a title commitment and satisfy Schedule B-I title conditions and review Schedule B-II title exceptions.
Interact with underwriter to remove title exceptions when necessary.
Work with loan closing specialists in preparing loan closing statements and completing other requirements needed for loan closing.
Review and interpret title exceptions.
Review B-I title conditions and B-II exceptions to title to satisfy conditions and to determine whether the B-II title exceptions encumber the property.
Prepare title commitment in our system.
Review surveys and point out encroachments or violations.
Order and review title in both residential and commercial transactions.