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Des Moines Real Estate Attorneys

Our Des Moines real estate attorneys will guide you through the leasing process with ease by ensuring any obstacles between contract and closing are overcome.
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Smiling womanAttorney Kevin O'Flaherty

"Kevin was extremely professional, responsive and knowledgeable when I came to him for help. I would definitely recommend O'Flaherty Law!"

We believe your attorney should not speak in legalese

Finding an attorney who is a “real person” can be difficult. Many attorneys surround themselves almost exclusively with other attorneys and are accustomed to speaking in ivory tower legalese.  You should be able to connect with your attorney on a personal level, and he or she should speak to you in plain language that you can understand.  You will be working very closely with this person on issues that are very important to you. It is important that he or she be down-to-earth and someone that you connect with.

We believe your attorney should be accessible

The most common complaint that clients have of their attorneys is that the attorney is unreachable, does not communicate with them regularly, or does not promptly return your calls.  Your attorney should reach out to you about your case regularly and respond within 24 hours to calls and e-mails.  An open line of communication between you and your attorney is essential to building trust.

Learn how we service your area through our Remote Location Approach.

We believe your attorney should be realistic with you about costs and outcomes

Your attorney’s goal should not be to win at all costs.  Rather, it should be to achieve a favorable outcome for you as efficiently as possible.  It is important that your attorney set realistic expectations at the outset as to the costs you should expect, the concerns that the attorney has about the outcome of your case, and the length of time that you should expect your case to take.

Regardless of the nature of your case, we have an experienced attorney who will focus on your individual needs. Our team of attorneys works closely together, bringing each of their different fields of experience to bear in order to optimize our client care.

Client Testimonials

Christi M.

Kevin's firm handled setting up my will and trust recently. They took something that seemed intimidating and made it easy to understand. I've also referred a couple clients to Kevin - he's trustworthy, approachable and very fairly priced.

Marvin

"I've used Kevin and his firm's services since 2011. He gave undivided attention to my cases, advised me on different options and..."

Rachel B.

"Kevin was extremely professional, responsive and knowledgeable when I came to him for help. I would definitely recommend O'Flaherty Law!"

About Des Moines Real Estate Attorneys:

We Get the Job Done!  Our dedicated Des Moines real estate lawyers and staff will make your real estate deal our highest priority.  There are many moving pieces in even the simplest real estate transaction.  We take the time necessary to focus on your case, communicating and collaborating with all of the lenders, realtors, and attorneys involved to ensure that any potential obstacles between contract and closing are avoided or overcome.  Our mission is to make your life easy.  Our real estate attorneys will ensure that your real estate transaction closes smoothly and on time. 

We Go Above And Beyond For Our Clients!  Our friendly Des Moines real estate attorneys are accessible day and night.  We promptly return all of your calls and emails and will immediately affirmatively inform you, your realtor, and your lender of any developments in your transaction.  Many of the clients that we have "wowed" with our above-and-beyond service have taken time out of their busy schedules to leave us glowing reviews, which you can read here.   We are also the proud recipient of the Avvo Client's Choice Award for 2016.  We have built a reputation upon amazing client service, and we look forward to building a long-term relationship with you!

Establish a Lifelong Relationship!  The purchase or sale of your home may be the first of many legal needs that will occur over the course of your lifetime.  If you need help with estate planning, business representation, probate, bankruptcy, or nearly any other area of law, our experienced team of Des Moines attorneys are here to help.  Let us earn your trust and begin a lifelong relationship with your first real estate transaction, and you will never have to turn elsewhere for your family's legal needs. ​


Expertise Best Child Support Lawyers in Chicago 201710 Best 2016 Client Satisfaction American Institute of Family Law AttorneysAvvo Clients' Choice 2016 DivorceRising Stars Kevin P. O'Flaherty SuperLawyers.com10 Best Law Firms 2018 Client Satisfaction American Institute of Family Legal Counsel Attorneys Estate Planning Law40 under forty

What to Expect From a Legal Consultation

The purpose of a consultation is to determine whether our firm is a good fit for your legal needs. Although we often discuss expected results and costs, our attorneys do not give legal advice unless and until you choose to retain us.

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Location

Office Address

2716 Grand Ave., Ste. 2

Des Moines, IA 50312

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Hours of Operation

Monday
9:00am - 6:00pm
Tuesday
9:00am - 6:00pm
Wednesday
9:00am - 6:00pm
Thursday
9:00am - 6:00pm
Friday
9:00am - 6:00pm
Saturday
Closed
Sunday
Closed

Attorneys

Meet the Owner

I am personally committed to ensuring that each one of our clients receives the highest level of client service from our team.  Our mission is to provide excellent legal work in a cost-effective manner while maintaining open lines of communication between our clients and their attorneys.  Many of our clients are going through difficult times in their lives when they reach out to us.  They should feel comfortable leaning on the experience and knowledge of our attorneys as their counselors and advocates.  We are here to help!

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- Attorney Kevin O'Flaherty, Owner

Check Out Articles and Videos from our Des Moines Real Estate Attorneys

Iowa Real Estate Contracts Explained

In this video, our Des Moines contract attorneys will talk about seven clauses of particular importance when reviewing the contract.

  1. Description and Purchase Price: These items may be self-explanatory, but it’s important to note under “description” anything other than the address of the house. Also, you’ll want to make sure what is legally described in the title document matches up with the contract. Under purchase price, you will have the agreed-upon purchase price (this may be different from the original after negotiations) and the Iowa Real Estate Contracts Explained amount of earnest money that will be deposited upon agreement of the contract.
  1. Real Estate Taxes and Special Assessment: Normally, the sellers must pay the real estate taxes attributed to the property for the year it was sold in, prorated to the date of the closing. So if you sell your house in April, you’ll be paying less in real estate taxes then if you sold your house in August. However, be sure to check the contract as sometimes there is the option for the seller to pay no taxes on the house during the transaction and instead transfer that burden to the buyer.
  1. Time is of the Essence and Fixtures Clause: It’s important to note if “Time is of the Essence” is indicated on a contract because if certain deadlines are not met on the buyers or sellers end it could be considered a breach of contract and a reason for either party to back out without repercussions. The Fixtures clause indicates anything other than the walls, doors, winders, floor, etc that are not part of the overall structure, that would be included in the sale of the house. This may include items like window treatments, a pool table, a piece of furniture, etc.
  1. Condition of the Property: This clause may include a number of sub-clauses, all centered around the condition of the property. The primary “condition of property” clause explains that—unless specified otherwise—the property will be kept in its current state until possession by the buyers and that all items will be in good working condition at the time of possession.
  1. Remedies of the Parties: This clause usually contains stipulations explaining what happens in the case that the buyers or sellers fail to perform their contractual obligations in a timely manner and to what degree the opposite party can respond.
  1. Residential Property Discloser Statement: Iowa law requires the sellers to fill out a form disclosing the conditions of the various parts and systems of the house, such as HVAC, plumbing, previous water damage, etc to their best of their knowledge. This protects the buyers from coming into a house and suddenly finding something that the sellers most likely knew about, but didn’t disclose, and it wasn’t found on the inspection report.
  1. Optional Provisions: Most real estate contracts in Iowa contain a number of optional provisions, which only apply if initialed by both parties. These include items such as purchase contingent on the sale of another property, buying the property “as is,” the seller’s right to continue to show the property while under contract, etc.

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Iowa Foreclosure Explained

In this video, our Des Moines real estate attorneys explain how it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the foreclosure process in Iowa before making any important decisions. Federal law requires that a borrower be delinquent on their loan for at least 120 days before the foreclosure process is initiated. For example, if a borrower were to miss two mortgage payments, but then pay the costs of those two months, plus any other late fees, and continue to be up to date on their payments, the borrower would avoid foreclosure.


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How Do I Get My Landlord To Fix My Residence in Iowa

In this video, our Des Moines Real Estate attorneys describe what a tenant can do if your landlord doesn’t make necessary repairs to your resident. While withholding rent is a potential remedy, it is not recommended. Failing to pay rent because your landlord doesn’t make repairs to your residence is dangerous and risky. The landlord may evict you, leaving you homeless. While you can take the case to court, you do not know whether a judge will agree that the problem with the residence was so bad that you had the right to withhold rent. However, it is illegal for a landlord to refuse to make necessary repairs or to shut off utilities because a tenant is simply behind on rent. Under the Iowa Landlord Tenant act, tenants can do a number of different things when repairs are necessary to keep the property safe and in habitable condition. Some remedies may not be an option for tenants who cannot afford to do repairs or aren’t able to find other housing options. Some steps a tenant may take when a landlord fails to make repairs include: 


Making repairs yourself then deducting the cost from rent

Ending the lease and moving out

Call the housing inspector to make a complaint. 


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