Real Estate Fundamentals

Conservation attorney Steve Swartz and conservation director Dan Roix, Columbia Land Trust (accredited), will cover basic real estate concepts, legal elements of real estate transactions and the acquisition process from property identification through title searches and related due diligence to closing.

Land conservation projects are, at their core, sophisticated real estate transactions, which often involve intense and lengthy exchanges between landowner/donors and land trust staff. Specifically intended for non-attorneys, this two-part webinar is ideal for new staff or those wishing a refresher.

Acquisitions of real estate, whether purchase or donation, contain common elements; however, there are a few key differences.

Due diligence is a term of art that most lawyers and real estate professionals use as easily as restaurant wait staff reciting the day’s specials. This document defines the term and provides context and examples of risks of not conducting due diligence.

Closing a real estate purchase transaction should occur smoothly if a land trust completes all of its due diligence steps in a timely and thorough fashion, which will reduce the chance of unpleasant surprises.

This full-color brochure is ideal for handing out to landowners and presents an overview of ways to conserve land.

This is a sample project planning form from the accredited Catawba Lands Conservancy.