How much does a real estate attorney cost in California?

Most California real estate attorneys bill hourly for disputes and litigation, and flat fees for defined tasks like contract review or deed work; contingency arrangements are rare in property matters. Business and Professions Code section 6148 requires a written fee agreement when total expense will foreseeably exceed one thousand dollars, and fees are negotiable.

Real estate attorneys in California generally bill hourly for disputes and litigation, and flat fees for defined tasks such as contract review, deed preparation, or escrow questions; contingency arrangements are uncommon in property matters. Whenever total expense to the client is reasonably foreseeable to exceed one thousand dollars, Business and Professions Code section 6148 requires a written fee agreement stating the hourly rates or other basis for the fee. Costs are separate from fees: filing fees, surveys, title reports, recording charges, and expert witnesses are typically owed regardless of outcome, so ask how costs are billed before signing. One structural factor changes the math: most California Association of Realtors purchase agreements contain a prevailing-party attorney fee clause, made reciprocal by Civil Code section 1717, and many require mediation before suit — a party who skips required mediation can forfeit the right to recover fees even after winning. Read the contract's fee and mediation clauses before deciding how hard to litigate.

Authority: Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 6148