Real estate lawyer in Silverdale, WA

Real estate

Real estate sits at the heart of our practice

A property decision can shape your finances and your family's plans for years. Kitsap Law Group has made real estate a core part of its work, advising owners, buyers, sellers, developers and businesses across Silverdale, Bremerton and the rest of Kitsap County.

Much of that work happens quietly, before anything goes wrong: reading a purchase agreement before you sign it, drafting an easement that both neighbors understand, or setting up a shared well so the maintenance question is settled on paper. When a dispute does arise, the same attorneys who draft these documents also try and resolve cases over them.

Rural parcels on the Kitsap Peninsula, waterfront lots along Hood Canal and older properties in Jefferson and Mason Counties often come with access roads, shared wells and boundary lines that were never surveyed carefully. We know those issues well and look for them early.

Purchase and sale agreements reviewed before you commit
Easements, well agreements and boundary lines put in writing
Disputes resolved by negotiation where possible, litigated where needed

Bill H. Broughton, David P. Horton, David A. Weibel and Christy Palmer standing together on the waterfront

Local knowledge of Kitsap County property

Real estate law is state law, but the details that make or break a deal are local. Kitsap County, the City of Bremerton and the surrounding cities each have their own permitting offices, codes and recording practices, and Jefferson and Mason Counties have theirs. Our attorneys have worked with these offices for years, on behalf of private clients and public agencies alike, so we know where a project is likely to slow down and what paperwork the county will expect.

Whether you are buying in Silverdale or selling a family parcel near Seabeck, we aim to give you a clear picture of the risks before you commit.

What we handle

Real estate matters we handle

We advise on transactions and represent clients in disputes. These are the matters that come through our Silverdale office most often.

Buying and selling property

Review and negotiation of purchase and sale agreements, contingencies, title questions and closing documents for residential and commercial property.
Property transfers

Deeds and transfers between family members, business partners or entities, prepared so the record reflects what everyone intended.
Easements

Negotiating, drafting and resolving disputes over access roads, utility easements and shared driveways.
Well agreements

Shared well agreements that spell out water rights, maintenance, cost sharing and what happens when a lot is sold.
Boundary lines

Boundary line negotiations and disputes, including fences, encroachments and conflicting surveys between neighbors.
Condominium formation

Guidance for owners and developers forming condominiums, including the governing documents the project needs.
Landlord and tenant

Leases, notices and evictions for landlords and property owners of residential and commercial rentals.
Construction

Construction contracts, lien claims, defect disputes and public works matters for owners, contractors and suppliers.
Land use

Permitting, platting, development approvals, code enforcement and land use appeals before local governments.

Our approach

Protecting you from liabilities you cannot see yet

Our role in a real estate matter is to find the problems hidden in the paperwork before they cost you. That means drafting, reviewing and advising on agreements and contracts, making sure every document is complete and properly filed, and answering your questions in plain language along the way.

Listen and gather the documents
We start with your goals and the paperwork: the contract, title report, survey, prior deeds or recorded easements.
Spot the risks
We look for gaps, ambiguous terms, missing disclosures and recording problems, and explain what each one could mean for you.
Draft or negotiate
We prepare or revise the documents and, where needed, negotiate directly with the other side or their counsel.
Resolve disputes
If a disagreement cannot be settled by agreement, we are prepared to take it to court in Kitsap County or wherever the property sits.

David P. Horton working at his desk with a tablet

Who handles it

Attorneys who handle real estate

David P. Horton represents property owners and businesses in real estate, construction and land use matters. David A. Weibel has advised clients on real estate, land use and lending matters for two decades. Christy Palmer handles real estate, land use and construction litigation, and John Brennan represents clients in real property and landlord matters.

Meet the full team

Questions

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a lawyer to buy or sell a house in Washington?

Washington does not require one, and many sales close with only a real estate agent and an escrow company. A lawyer is worth calling when the property has unusual features such as a shared well, an unrecorded easement or a boundary question, when the deal is between family members, or when you are not sure what a contract term means. Reviewing a document before you sign is usually far simpler than untangling it afterward.

What is a well agreement and why does it matter?

Many properties on the Kitsap Peninsula and in Jefferson and Mason Counties share a private well. A well agreement sets out who may draw water, how repairs and testing are paid for, and what happens when one of the lots changes hands. Without one, neighbors are often left to argue about costs when the pump fails. We draft new agreements and review existing ones before a sale.

My neighbor's fence is on my side of the line. What can I do?

Start with a current survey so everyone is working from the same facts. Many boundary disputes are settled with a boundary line agreement that is recorded with the county. If that does not work, Washington law provides court remedies, and the right one depends on how long the fence has been there and how the land has been used. An attorney can review the history and explain your options.

Can you help with an easement that was never written down?

Often, yes. Long-standing use of a driveway or road can create rights even without a recorded document, but the details matter. We can help you document an existing arrangement with your neighbor, negotiate a new written easement, or represent you if the use is disputed.

Do you handle real estate disputes in court?

Yes. Our attorneys draft and negotiate real estate documents and also try and resolve cases involving them, including boundary, easement, contract and construction disputes.

What areas do you serve?

We are based in Silverdale and represent clients throughout Kitsap County, including Bremerton, Poulsbo, Port Orchard and Bainbridge Island, as well as Jefferson and Mason Counties.