A Lawyer Instead of an Agent
Skip the buyer's agent, keep a licensed attorney in your corner for the paperwork that matters.
See pricing — plans from $149What the review covers
A lawyer instead of an agent means you handle the house-hunting and the offer yourself, then bring in optional review by an independent licensed attorney before you sign anything binding. The review looks at your offer and your closing documents — contract terms, contingency deadlines, disclosures, and anything that reads like a red flag. It's a second set of trained eyes on the paperwork, not a substitute for doing your own homework with SoloClose's roadmap and checklists.
Specifically, the attorney is reviewing: your purchase offer before you submit it, counteroffers as they come back, and your closing package before you sign. They flag unusual clauses, missing disclosures, and state-specific requirements that a template can't catch on its own.
Where a lawyer instead of an agent makes the most sense
Some states require an attorney at closing no matter who represents you — that requirement doesn't go away just because you skipped a buyer's agent. In those states, closing counsel is already mandatory; optional review by an independent licensed attorney through SoloClose complements that requirement, it does not replace it. In every state, coverage is state-specific and confirmed before you purchase, so you know exactly what's available where you're buying before you pay for it.
What it costs
Attorney review lives inside the Toolkit + Pro Review kit at a flat $699 — everything in the Complete Toolkit (offer builder, offer templates, negotiation scripts, counteroffer playbook, comps worksheet, deadline tracking) plus optional review by an independent licensed attorney of your offer and closing documents. That tier is waitlist-only right now — join the waitlist to get access as soon as it opens in your state.
You don't have to wait to get started. The Roadmap ($149) and the Complete Toolkit ($399) are available today and cover the state-specific steps, offer tools, and checklists you need whether or not attorney review is part of your plan. Every kit carries a 30-day money-back policy — see terms for details.
To be clear: SoloClose is not a law firm and does not employ the reviewing attorneys or provide legal advice itself. The independent licensed attorney is the one giving legal input on your documents.
What the buyer-agent commission actually costs
Buyer-agent commissions average 2.4–2.8% (NAR research, Redfin commission data). On the roughly $425,000 median U.S. home, that’s roughly $10,000–$12,750.
Savings vary. Commission rates are negotiable and differ by market and transaction; not all sellers will reduce the price by the buyer-agent fee.
Questions, answered straight
Is this legal?
Yes. Buying a home without your own agent is legal in all 50 states. People do it every day — the paperwork doesn't care who fills it out.
Will the seller's agent work with me?
Listing brokers are obligated to present all offers to their seller — unless the seller has directed otherwise in writing (NAR Code of Ethics). A clean, complete offer gets read.
Do I sign a buyer-agency agreement?
No. That's rather the point — no representation contract, no exclusivity clause, no lock-in.
Who represents me?
No one — you act for yourself. SoloClose provides tools, checklists, and education. Optional review by an independent licensed attorney is available.
Does the attorney review replace state-required closing counsel?
No. In attorney-closing states, a lawyer is already required at the closing table regardless of who represented you. Optional review by an independent licensed attorney through SoloClose complements that requirement — it reviews your offer and documents earlier in the process, it doesn't replace state-required closing counsel.
Keep reading: Self-representation done right · Buying a FSBO home with no agents